Start Your Pelvic Health Journey
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: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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Heather Jeffcoat
Healthline Asks Heather Jeffcoat About Abdominal Wall Endometriosis
What is abdominal wall endometriosis?
In a recent interview with Healthline, I mention that Endometriosis is a condition that can develop in the fallopian tubes or ovaries. Though in some occasions the uterine-like cells grow outside the uterus and into other parts of the body. This condition can sometimes occur in rare forms, including a form consisting of cell growth along or within the abdominal wall known as abdominal wall endometriosis (AWE).
Read more: Abdominal Wall Endometriosis : What is it and How is it...
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
- 63340 Views
Heather Jeffcoat
Have You Ever Asked "How Do I Know If I Came or Accidentally Peed During Sex?"
You might be surprised to learn how common this question actually is.
Everyone knows the sensation of having to pee so bad that you thought you would explode. Perhaps the nearest public restrooms are closed for repairs, or you are stuck in traffic with no end in sight, or you're in a long line to get in a movie and you don't want to lose your place in line. In any case, that rush of relief that you feel when you finally get to go is probably the closest you can get to having an orgasm without actually doing so - with the possible exception of a really good sneeze!
Read more: Healthline | How Do I Know If I Came or Accidentally Peed...
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
- 975 Views
Heather
Busting the Myths Behind Vaginal Tightness with Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
Friend groups, skinny jeans, zip-lock seals. These are things that are tight! But vaginas? Not so much.
Actually, the myth that vaginal canals are supposed to be narrow, compact, little, and tight are all myths perpetuated by misogynistic, sex-negative society in order to make vulva havers feel self-conscious of their bodies. Ugh.
Below, sexual health professionals bust the common myths behind vaginal tightness in more detail.
They also outline what to do if you genuinely feel that your vaginal canal is too narrow, or the shape (or elasticity) of your vaginal canal is causing your discomfort in life or lovemaking.
Read more: Healthline | Busting the Myths Behind Vaginal Tightness
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
Everything You Need to Know About the U-Spot
Given all the info online about the G-zone, A-spot, and P-spot, you’d be forgiven for assuming all the pleasure zones get decent publicity.
There’s one pleasure zone that’s been totally overlooked: the U-spot. And that’s why we’re giving it attention here. Scroll down for the U-spot need-to-know.
What is it?
The “U” in “U-spot” stands for urethra. Yeppp, urethra, as in the place that pee comes out.
Read more: Healthline | Everything You Need to Know About the U-Spot
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- Written by: Kasia Gondek, PT, DPT, CLT, CSCS
- 2503 Views
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 Endometriosis: Try These Stretches...
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
- 3422 Views
Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
So You Just Had Great Sex, and Now You're Wondering Why Your Vagina Burns?
Read on for some of the reasons why and what you can do about it.
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. And yet according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), nearly 3 out of every 4 women 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 Burns During or After...
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
- 9087 Views
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 Your Clitoris Affect Your...
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
- 25019 Views
Yes, it’s possible to have scarring down there
Experts estimate around 75 percent of women 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 Scarring Is One of the Top Reasons...
