Dyspareunia is a medical term for painful sexual intercourse. It is characterized by persistent or recurrent pelvic pain that occurs before, during, or after intercourse. This condition affects both men and women, and can significantly impact your quality of life, relationships, and emotional well-being. Pain associated with dyspareunia can include sharp, burning, throbbing, or cramping sensations in the genital or pelvic region.

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) happens when your bladder, uterus, or rectum drops down into the vagina. This is caused by laxity of connective tissue. Sometimes, weak pelvic floor muscles and/or poor pressure management can be related factors.‍ POP is particularly common after pregnancy and childbirth. While lots of women have it, not all experience symptoms. A pelvic floor physical therapist can help determine if you have POP and what to do about it.

For many new moms, the desire to return to your pre-pregnancy fitness levels, including running, can be strong. However, resuming a running routine postpartum requires careful consideration of various factors to ensure safety and decrease risk for injury.‍ Historically, there haven't been very many guidelines to help new moms navigate returning to running/exercise postpartum...

Yay!!! You’re having a baby! It is a very exciting time for your growing family! For 9 months, the baby has been growing in your abdomen with the body changing to accommodate and nurture the growing baby. But eventually… The baby is going to be leaving their current residence. This may cause some anxiety for you or it may not. Many people take classes prior to feeling more prepared. However, the reality is that every baby, every mother, and every birth is different.

You probably feel more muscular, tendon and/or joint pain in your 40s and 50s than you did in your 20s and 30s. But it may not be for the reasons you think.‍ As women enter the ages of perimenopause (8-10 years prior to their final menstrual cycle) they may notice a myriad of subtle or not so subtle symptoms. One of which being an increase of musculoskeletal pain. In fact, the majority of menopausal women report muscle and joint aches as major symptoms of the transition.

As a pelvic health physical therapist, a question I get often is, "When should I come back to physical therapy after my baby is born?" Typically there's no clear answer to this. While our society dictates 6 weeks as the "normal" recovery period; in reality, we should address the body (especially the pelvic floor) both before this and far after it. The short answer is: you can come in whenever you need it!

So you had your baby, congratulations! As a pelvic health physical therapist, I often get the question, “If I had a c-section, do I still need pelvic floor physical therapy?”. The answer is that pelvic PT is not just for those who birthed vaginally, it's also hugely beneficial for those who underwent a c-section. No matter how you gave birth, pregnancy affects the pelvic floor muscles.

You just returned from your 6-week follow up appointment with your medical provider and they cleared you to return to activities and sex. What are the first thoughts that go through your mind? Are you excited? Or hesitant? Maybe nervous or scared? Some moms are thrilled and get right back to it. Great! BUT the majority are on the other side...

Intra-abdominal pressure is the pressure within the abdominal cavity created by the interaction between the abdominal wall and organs. This pressure changes with breathing and the resistance from the abdominal wall. When you are lifting an object or even lifting a limb, you increase intra-abdominal pressure.

Many people who give birth are ‘cleared’ at either 6 or 8 weeks by their medical provider. However, there is often a lot of confusion about what exactly someone is cleared for at that early postpartum checkup. Many people have questions about when they can resume exercising and often interpret that 6 or 8 week checkup as the green light to start their pre-partum exercise routine.