Start Your Pelvic Health Journey
Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
Did you know there was such a thing as a pelvic floor therapist — that’s right — a physical therapist for your vagina? They can help you fix things like incontinence, improve sexual experience and provide pelvic stability after giving birth. And I want to know why the hell is this not common knowledge?
I know I can’t be the only one that was clueless about this. After having kids, I thought I was relegated to peeing on myself for the rest of my life. And I had also resigned myself to not feeling my husband during sex as much as I use to before birthing my little crotch destroyers. But after a sneezing incident where I managed to shatter my phone when I panicked and snatched my legs together, a doctor friend told me my problem can be fixed. What?! You mean I am not ruined for life?
I have been dealing with this for basically a decade. I am accustomed to stopping everything and quickly crossing my legs together every time I sneeze. I carry extra underwear in my purse and car for emergencies and use incontinence products like bladder supports and pads. But frankly, I got fed up with not being able to control a simple bodily function.
I finally got fed up enough to get over my fears and visit a urologist. I wanted to find out what the heck was going on with my lady parts. And yes, I saw a urologist first because you typically need a diagnosis and a referral for a pelvic floor therapist.
I was diagnosed with a weakened bladder neck, the area that connects the bladder to the urethra. Or rather, as the urologist said in layman’s terms, a “wonky” bladder neck and also some possible nerve damage. Thanks kids … thanks a lot.
After explaining the possibility of surgery to rectify my “wonky” bladder neck, he referred me to a pelvic health therapist. And although I was excited to finally take some steps closer to no longer peeing on myself, I was apprehensive about what exactly a pelvic health therapist does and what I will have to do during the appointments.
Meet A Physical Therapist For Your Vagina
Dr. Heather Jeffcoat, DPT, Pelvic Health Physical Therapist, and Poise® partner, shared with me that pelvic health therapists restore function, reduce pain and improve coordination and strength of the pelvic floor. And pelvic floor therapy isn’t just for mommas that are tired of peeing on themselves or women that experience pain during sex. It can help everybody – because all humans, of all genders and ages, have pelvic floor muscles. And it can even help with things like chronic lower back pain, constipation, and abdominal pain. Who knew?
Still curious about whether you should get a physical therapist for your vagina? Click here to continue to the full article.
