Femina Physical Therapy in the Media

Heather Jeffcoat, DPT and the team at Femina PT are routinely sought out by major online sources, print publications, and broadcast media for our knowledge of all things related to pelvic health. The recognition we have received as leading experts in our field has resulted in appearances on "Loveline with Mike and Dr. Drew" , US News & World Report, Huffington Post, ABC News, Cosmopolitan, Women’s Health, Bustle, "Sex With Emily" with Dr. Emily Morse, and in New York Magazine and Health Magazine, to name but a few. The demand for our expertise is greater than ever as more and more women seek to remedy the issues that we work with on a daily basis.

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As Featured In:

Details: Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT; Published: 26 December 2022; Last Updated: 11 January 2023; 1482 Views

Gymgasms Are a Thing — Khadija Horton//Getty Images

Perhaps you're one of those people who look at working out as necessary durdgery at best just to stay physcially fit - or maybe just to keep your figure how you like it. Well, Megan Schaltegger at Cosmo had heard about this new thing called "gymgasms", and she decided to find out if they are fact or fantasy. Here is a brief synopsis of the article, along with a link to the full article below.

Heather Jeffcoat, DPT

Yes, Gymgasms Really Are a Thing

Now Learn to Make Them Happen for Yourself!

Megan begins the article with:

While it might have just popped up on TikTok, the gymgasm isn’t exactly new. Pelvic floor therapist Dr. Heather Jeffcoat, founder of Femina Physical Therapy, says it’s a lot more common than you might think. In fact, according to a study published by famed sexologist Alfred Kinsey, the phenomenon dates back to the early 1950s. The research varies, but the Journal of Sexual and Relationship Therapy reported that one in 10 women report having an exercise-induced orgasm in their life, while an even smaller population experiences them on the reg. (Hello! Teach me!)

A little background on how this is all possible

First of all, let's familiarize ourselves with the pudendal nerve. It's the superhighway of arousal, and because of its close proximity to the large muscle groups of the pelvis, it is easily stimulated by certain movements. The key to maximizing your pleasure is to find out which movements do this for you, and though everyone is wired a little differently, there are some commonalities that make achieving gymgasms easier for many people.

Details: Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT; Published: 16 December 2022; Last Updated: 12 June 2023; 1797 Views

Giddy author Tabitha Britt penned an in depth article on how dyspareunia causes pain during sex, and she reached out to me for my opinions in this wide ranging exposé on this common issue. Here is a brief synopsis of the article with some of my thoughts, and I encourage you to read the full article at the link below.

Heather Jeffcoat, DPT

Find Out How Dyspareunia Causes Pain During Sex

Intercourse shouldn't hurt, but if it does, find out why and how you can reduce the discomfort.

As the article states, if you experience pain during sex, you're far from alone. Dyspareunia, or painful intercourse, affects about 3 in 4 women. Although this condition is most often associated with women, studies have shown about 1 percent to 5 percent of men suffer from pain from intercourse, too.

Learn How To Strengthen The Pelvic Floor Pre And Post Baby

Tips for pregnancy and beyond

The article opens with a brief overview of the impacts of pregnancy on the pelvic floor pre and post baby:

As pregnancy progresses, and even after delivery, you may notice changes in your pelvic floor — including leaking when you cough or sneeze or pain during sex — which could be signs of weaker pelvic floor muscles. Pelvic floor muscles are often impacted by pregnancy, and childbirth puts considerable pressure on the pelvic floor and can cause issues long after delivery, which can in turn impact its functions and anatomy.
"Fortunately, you can strengthen pelvic floor muscles. Pelvic floor training can help your muscles cope with the demands of pregnancy and childbirth, and may also help the muscles restore themselves after injury.

Details: Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT; Published: 16 November 2022; Last Updated: 31 January 2023; 1388 Views

VeryWell Health author Claire Wolters reached out to with the question "should you add pelvic floor physical therapy to your healthcare routine?", and of course I was more than glad to lend my expertise. Here is a synposis of the article with my further comments interspersed in italics. A link to the full article is included below.

Heather Jeffcoat, DPT

Should You Add Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy to Your Healthcare Routine?

What Causes Pelvic Floor Problems?

Pelvic floor dysfunction tends to occur with age, during pregnancy, or in tandem with life events linked to plummeting hormone levels, such as the postpartum period and menopause. (Pelvic floor issues can also arise from injuries due to accidents or chronic stress, but regardless of the cause we have a number of treatments and modalities that can help.)

Details: Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT; Published: 16 November 2022; Last Updated: 01 December 2022; 1335 Views

People en Español author Karla Montalván reached out to me about how to integrate guided masturbation into your sex life to increase your overall sexual pleasure, and of course I was more than glad to lend my expertise. Here is a synposis of the article with my further comments interspersed in italics. A link to the full article is included below.

Heather Jeffcoat, DPT

A More Pleasurable Sex Life is Possible with Guided Masturbation

In an exclusive interview with People Chica, Dr. Heather Jeffcoat shares tips on how women can achieve more intense orgasms and greater self-pleasure.

The world of masturbation continues to be an unknown territory, especially when it comes to women. (Well maybe not so much unknown, but rather untapped to its fullest potential.)

From the plethora of sex toys readily available in the market to myths about sexuality, it can be confusing to find joy in personal pleasure. However, masturbation is an important part of women's sexual health and once incorporated as part of a self-care routine, can bring great benefits to one's mental and physical well-being. (Long gone are the days when you had to visit a 'sex shop' to find toys like these!)

Read more: People en Español: Guided...

Details: Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT; Published: 02 November 2022; Last Updated: 02 November 2022; 1472 Views

Health Digest author Catherine Caruso reached out to me about why pelvic floor health is so important during pregnancy, and of course this being one of our major areas of expertise I was more than glad to answer her questions. Here is a brief synopsis of the article, along with a link to the full article below.

Heather Jeffcoat, DPT

What's So Important About Pelvic Floor Health During Pregnancy?

If you've never been pregnant but think it may be in the cards for you, here's a mental trick you can try - just imagine strapping a bowling ball to your abdomen for a day and going about your normal routine. Your pelvic floor muscles would let you know soon enough what an extra strain you've put on them, haha! But seriously, in the real world pregnancy doesn't just overtake your life in one day (thank goodness!), and your body has time to adjust to this new task it's been given. That said, there are a lot of issues to be aware of and tactics you can take to make the whole experience go as smoothly as possible, and that's what we are here for.

Catherine's article begins:

Believe it or not, your pelvic floor muscles can actually play an important and essential role during pregnancy. Located at the base of the pelvis, the pelvic floor consists of a group of muscles that help support your pelvic organs, including your bladder, bowel, and uterus (via Better Health Channel). While many people may not even be aware of their pelvic floor muscles prior to becoming pregnant, they can certainly have a significant impact on your health throughout your life, especially during pregnancy and childbirth.
In an exclusive interview with Health Digest, Dr. Heather Jeffcoat, DPT, owner of Femina Physical Therapy in Los Angeles and PT with plusOne, discusses the importance of maintaining good pelvic floor health during pregnancy. According to Dr. Jeffcoat, pelvic floor muscles "serve important functions through all stages of life, but when women start to experience urinary urgency and frequency, bladder leakage or sexual dysfunction, they become intimately aware that this is a region that is deserving of more attention."

Details: Written by: Kasia Gondek, PT, DPT, CSCS; Published: 28 October 2022; Last Updated: 16 December 2022; 1146 Views

We take a look at yoga poses to relieve period cramps. — Photo credit: Mimi Ghandour

Insider journalist Rebecca Strong reached out to me fior my advice on yoga poses to relieve period cramps, and I was glad to offer some insights into what works best. Here is a brief synopsis of the article, along with a link to the full article below.

Kasia Gondek, PT, DPT, CSCS

What Are the Best Yoga Poses to Relieve Period Cramps?

Cramping during "that time of the month" is something nearly every woman has had to deal with at one time or another. The causes are not always easy to pin down, though certain types of tampons have been linked as one possible cause for some women. But whatever the root cause, it's good to know that there are some yoga poses that can help ease the pain. The article at Insider begins with three main points:

Details: Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT; Published: 25 October 2022; Last Updated: 10 September 2023; 875 Views

When Well + Good author Gabrielle Kassel was writing an article about lifting and your pelvic floor she reached out to me for my insights. Here is a brief synopsis of the article along with a link to the full article below.

Heather Jeffcoat, DPT

While pelvic floor dysfunction is not ideal for anyone—after all, these deep stabilizer muscles support sexual function, bladder and bowel control, sound posture, plus arm and leg power, among other tasks—for people who like to pick things up and put them down (i.e. lift weights), it can lead to improper movement mechanics, as well as leakage mid-lift.

So if you regularly hit the weight room with the goal of getting stronger, doctor of physical therapy Corey Hazama, DPT, an expert with Pelvic Gym, a pelvic health education platform, says properly strengthening and engaging your pelvic floor is as important as any other muscle group you’re training. Below are six things you should know about the pelvic floor and its function if you lift —including exactly how to brace your core and breathe while strength training in order to optimize your efforts and avoid injury.