You Are Invited to Becoming unWOUND: A Conversation About Female Sexual Health and Pelvic Pain

A Conversation about Female Sexual Health & Pelvic Pain

with Screening of Animated Short Film "Tightly Wound"

Femina PT, the Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center, and the Milli, the first Expandable Dilator, are teaming up to bring Shelby Hadden and her animated short film about vaginismus, Tightly Wound, to Los Angeles on Saturday, May 19th! Many of you may know of Shelby and her past struggles with pelvic pain. Her journey getting diagnosed and treated combined with her skills as a filmmaker inspired her to create Tightly Wound to help raise awareness about vaginismus and pelvic pain, helping women get diagnosed and get the help they need.

As pelvic pain physical therapists, we understand all too well the challenges women face getting diagnosed and successfully treated for such personal issues. Every day we witness the emotional and physical drain pelvic pain syndromes have on our patients, threatening everything from one’s sexuality, daily comfort, relationships, and professional and personal lives.

Pelvic floor physical therapists are well-positioned to help women navigate the complicated medical system to get the help they need. A key to recovery is knowing you can and will get better. That’s why we teamed up with Shelby and three other patients to share their success stories, struggles, and how they ultimately recovered from pelvic pain.

May is Pelvic Pain Awareness Month, we want to do our part to help, so here are our plans and goals. We hope you join us!

Our Goals:

1. Raise awareness about female pelvic pain
2. Host a seminar for patients:
   1. To meet women who have recovered from pelvic pain & regained the ability to have pleasurable sex
   2. Learn tips about sexuality and intimacy while recovering from pelvic pain
   3. Tightly Wound Los Angeles screening with filmmaker Shelby Hadden (screening and Q and A!)
3. Raise money for Tightly Wound’s distribution (Filmmaker’s Collaborative, 501c3)

Ladies recovering from pelvic pain, you are invited to our seminar!

Patient Seminar:

Becoming UnWOUND: A Conversation about Female Sexual Health & Pelvic Pain with Screening of Animated Short Film“Tightly Wound”

On Saturday morning, May 19th from 10:00am to 1:00pm the Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center in Los Angeles is hosting an event for women recovering from pelvic pain. This event is intended for patients, their partners, and anyone who is interested in this conversation.

To be frank, pelvic pain is a beast. Women in the throes of it often wonder if they will ever recover and have enjoyable sex. We are using this morning to say the answer is YES and remind those struggling that they are not alone!

The Panel

Three amazing women who successfully recovered from pelvic pain are teaming up with their pelvic floor physical therapists Stephanie Prendergast, Heather Jeffcoat, and Jandra Mueller, to share their stories. The treatment process for pelvic pain is challenging, in this physical therapist/patient panel we will discuss how we troubleshooted problems and eliminated pelvic pain.

Stephanie Prendergast, Heather Jeffcoat, and Jandra Mueller

Experience has taught us that even when the pelvic pain is gone the transition from ‘patient’ to ‘person’ isn’t easy and comes with it’s own challenges. Women often tell us that is hard to bring their sexy back. This is more common than not! We get it, you are not alone, and we want to provide resources to help.

Erica Marchand, PhD

Erica Marchand, PhD, psychologist and sex therapist is joining us to share tips and strategies on sexual pleasure and intimacy while recovering from pelvic pain. Erica practices in Los Angeles and is also the creator an online program for women to have more, better, and easier orgasms, even with pelvic pain.

Shelby Hadden

And finally, we are proud to offer a special screening of Tightly Wound and a Question and Answer period with director Shelby Hadden!! Shelby was brave enough to create this film based on her own experience and we are honored to be sharing it.

We are requesting a non-refundable tax-deductible donation of $25.00 (or more if you can!) to help Shelby meet her financial goals for the film. 100% of the proceeds go support Tightly Wound’s distribution. Space is limited, register NOW! Please RSVP to donate and reserve your spot here.

Financial contributions were also made by the Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center, Femina Physical Therapy, and Milli, the first expandable dilator. Stay tuned to our blog and social media for more information about Milli!

Light refreshments will be offered and, of course, there will be breaks and time to mingle.

Please share, retweet, and post this blog to help us spread the word about pelvic pain and improve the diagnosis and treatment landscape for patients!