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Heather Jeffcoat at Healthline.com
You’re on a journey to health and wellness. And we’re right there with you.
How you feel affects every single day of your life, which is why you work so hard to get well and stay well. No matter your journey, we’re here to support, guide, and inspire you.
We cut through the confusion with straightforward, expert-reviewed, person-first experiences — all designed to help you make the best decisions for yourself and the people you love.
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- Written by Kasia Gondek, PT, DPT, CSCS
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Kasia Gondek, PT, DPT, CSCS
What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological condition that affects approximately 176 million women worldwide. Though it can occur at any age, it’s most common during a woman’s reproductive years, which are usually between ages 15 and 49.
If you’ve experienced endometriosis, you know how painful it can be. Part of managing endometriosis is managing the pelvic pain that usually accompanies the condition. Recent research has shown that yoga might be one way to do just that.
Yoga for endometriosis can ease symptoms and improve your overall well-being. It helps reduce pain, relieve tension, and encourage relaxation. Yoga can also help you manage stress and develop mindfulness.
Read more: Healthline | Yoga for...
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- Written by Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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Heather
Sex should be good. Like, really, really good.
It definitely shouldn’t be painful or uncomfortable, and yet, for far too many people, it is.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), nearly 3 out of every 4 vulva owners will experience pain during intercourse at some point in their lives. And one of the most common types of pain is a burning sensation.
If this has happened to you, know that it isn’t “normal” and you don’t have to “put up with it.”
Read more: Healthline | Why Your Vagina...
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- Written by Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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Yes, it’s possible to have scarring down there
Experts estimate around 75 percent of vulva owners find sex painful at some point in their life.
Known by medical personnel as “dyspareunia,” there are basically a bajillion different reasons this could happen.
One of them is vaginal or vulvar scarring.
What exactly is it?
Scar tissue is the body’s way of healing what’s been damaged or injured — it’s the body’s healing mechanism,” says Heather Jeffcoat, a doctor of physical therapy who specializes in sexual dysfunction, pain, and incontinence, and author of “Sex Without Pain: A Self-Treatment Guide to the Sex Life You Deserve.”
Vaginal scarring occurs when scar tissue has developed inside the vagina as a result of injury, damage, or tearing — like during vaginal childbirth.
Read more: Healthline | Vaginal...
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- Written by Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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Q: Can the size of your clitoris affect your ability to orgasm?
I have a larger clit, and I’ve always wondered if that’s why I have difficulty reaching orgasm during vaginal intercourse. I can usually orgasm when using a toy, so I’m not sure why I can’t do the same during partner sex. Is there anything I can do to make orgasm more likely during partner sex?
The size of your clitoris won’t affect your ability to orgasm, but the size of your clitoral hood might.
If your clitoris is covered by a thicker hood, you may have to apply more direct pressure in order to reach orgasm. You may also be able to gently draw back your clitoral hood so that you can more directly stimulate your clitoris.
I find that using a high-speed vibrator, such as a Hitachi wand, works best.
Read more: Healthline | Can the Size of...
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- Written by Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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What’s the short answer?
Can pigs fly? Can mules give birth? Can you get blood from a stone?
“Can a vagina get too wet during sex?” is just as absurd a question, worthy of being added to the list of Idioms of Improbability.
So, you can’t get ‘too wet’ during sex?
N-O-P-E!
It is, however, possible for the vagina to produce too much fluid (i.e., vaginal discharge) in nonsexual settings, but we’ll get to that below.
Is wetness important?
Without wetness, the rubbing can irritate and even cause little microtears in the delicate vaginal tissues, which increases the risk of infection.
Read more: Healthline | Is It Possible...
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- Written by Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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We all get erections
Cue your Oprah voice, because you get a hard-on, and you get a hard-on, and you get a hard-on…
That’s right, folks of all genders and genitalia can get erections, not just people with penises!
But chances are you didn’t learn that in health class. So, to help you become more cliterate, we put together this sheet on clitoral erections.
What’s the average increase in size?
Read more: Healthline | 14 Things to...
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- Written by Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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What exactly is a "bad orgasm"?
Bad orgasms are defined as a non-positive, non-pleasurable, or negative orgasm.
And according to a 2019 study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, “bad” orgasms can negatively affect a person’s relationships, sexuality, and psychological health.
It’s important to note that bad orgasms can occur during consensual sex or acts of assault. Here, we’ll be focusing on the former.
Read more: Healthline | Yes, It’s...
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- Written by Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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Maybe you massage CBD into your muscles, or let a droplet of oil dribble into your mouth.
But have you ever gotten your CBD by inserting it anally or vaginally? For a number of reasons, ranging from decreased pain to increased pleasure, more and more people — especially vagina owners — are. Here’s the lowdown on inserting CBD down there.
What are CBD suppositories, exactly?
Suppositories are small round or cone-shaped medications designed to be inserted into the vagina, anus, or urethra. Once inside, the medication melts or dissolves and is absorbed by the body.
Read more: Healthline | Are CBD...
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- Written by Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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The following are some excerpts from an article on Healthline.com which quotes Heather Jeffcoat on a number of topics related to prenatal (and postpartum) joint pain. There is a link to the full article at the bottom.
Relieving joint pain during pregnancy
Joint pain is the worst, especially during pregnancy. But the good news is there are several safe ways to find relief.
Correct postural dysfunctions
Heather Jeffcoat, DPT, owner of Femina Physical Therapy, says there are two places to start:
- correcting postural dysfunction to reduce joint strain
- ensuring adequate flexibility and strength around the affected joints
Read more: Healthline | Parenthood |...
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- Written by Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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Healthline reached out to Heather Jeffcoat for her advice on cycling when you are pregnant. Read on for Heather's expert advice.
Outdoor cycling safety
Taking your cycling to the street or trails is a bit more dicey than exercising indoors. That’s because there are variables you can’t control.
Physical therapist Heather Jeffcoat, DPT, agrees.
The biggest risk with cycling outdoors is the risk of falling, leading to abdominal trauma,” she says. That’s why she advises her patients to stop cycling after their first trimester.
Read more: Healthline | Is It Safe to...
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- Written by Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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Healthline reached out to Heather Jeffcoat for her expert opinion on anorgasmia
Wait, what’s anorgasmia?
Anorgasmia is defined as the inability to achieve orgasm, despite sufficient sexual stimulation and is associated with personal distress,” says Dr. Heather Jeffcoat, a doctor of physical therapy who specializes in sexual dysfunction, pain, and incontinence, and author of “Sex Without Pain: A Self-Treatment Guide to the Sex Life You Deserve.
Those last four words are important: associated with personal distress.
The inability to orgasm only qualifies as anorgasmia if it’s accompanied by feelings of:
Read more: Healthline | Here’s What You...
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- Written by Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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Painful Orgasms: What are Some of the More Common Causes?
Healthline's latest article on painful orgasms includes Heather's insights into pelvic floor over-reactivity and its correlation to issues of painful vaginal and anal orasms.
Orgasms are always pleasurable, right? Actually, wrong.
For some people, orgasms aren’t even “just OK.” They’re downright painful. Officially known as dysorgasmia, painful orgasms are something someone of any anatomy can experience.
Pelvic floor over-reactivity
In vulva owners, the most common cause of dysorgasmia is pelvic floor dysfunction.
As a refresher: the pelvic floor muscles are located in the — you guessed it! — pelvis. They span from the pubic bone (in the front) to the coccyx (in the back) and from side to side.
Read more: Healthline | Orgasm...
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- Written by Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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Many of us know Kegels as the dreaded exercise our doctor tells us to do while standing in line at the store or sitting at a red light, but these pelvic floor exercises have a valuable place in your daily to-do list during pregnancy.
What are Kegel exercises?
Named after gynecologist Arnold Kegel, these exercises can strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which stretch during pregnancy and childbirth. If done correctly, Kegels can minimize stretching and make the muscles in your pelvic and vaginal area strong.
Read more: Healthline | Everything You...
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- Written by Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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Healthline has once again reached out to Heather Jeffcoat for her expert opinion on staying healthy via postural exercise.
Foam roller: $25
These firm, yet comfortably supportive rollers are great for doing basic postural exercises to advanced core stabilization techniques, says Heather Jeffcoat, physical therapist and certified Pilates instructor.
Read more: Healthline | How to Build a...
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- Written by Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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Healthline has once again reached out to Heather Jeffcoat for her expertise in pregnancy related matters.
This latest article begins:
"The excitement (or sheer panic) you felt when you saw those two blue or pink lines appear is likely something you’ll never forget. And now that you’re pregnant, you might be wondering what needs to change and what can stay the same.
The good news? Staying active tops the list of things to keep for the next 9 months."
Read more: Healthline | The Best...
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- Written by Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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The highly trafficked website Healthline has penned yet another article in which the author Gabrielle Kassel quotes our own Heather Jeffcoat on the topic of sexual wellness.
What to expect in your 30s
For vulva owners, the 30s might as well be called the Do It All decade.
It’s a time when many vulva owners are trying to build a career, sustain a (or many) romantic relationship(s), be a parent, spend time with friends, and more. Because the entire endocrine system is connected, when your cortisol levels surge, it can throw your sex hormones out of whack. That’s why this can be a decade of sky-high stress and ground-low libido, especially for new parents.
Heather Jeffcoat, a doctor of physical therapy who specializes in sexual dysfunction and incontinence, adds that the body goes through a temporary period during pregnancy and breastfeeding that mirrors menopause.
Read more: Healthline | Hey Vulva...
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