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: 09 May 2023; Last Updated: 09 May 2023; 1524 Views

We've got lots of articles on dealing with dsypareunia and the painful sex that often accompanies it, but what if it's not you suffering, but instead your partner has dyspareunia? Giddy writer Alex Denny wanted to find some answers and reached out to me for my thoughts. Here are some snippets from the article, followed by a link to the full article at the Giddy website.

Heather Jeffcoat, DPT

Here's What You Need to Know if Your Partner Has Dyspareunia

Author: Alex Denny
Reviewer: Vita Eizans, D.O.

Support goes a long way when your significant other suffers from painful intercourse.

Many people experience painful intercourse at some point in their lives. Whether you needed more lubricant or you just weren't in the mood—the reason doesn't matter—it's not unusual to occasionally feel pain during sex.

Wondering How to Talk With Your Partner About Endo?

The pain of endometriosis can make intimate relationships a huge challenge. Experts and patients give advice on how to talk about this invisible condition so that your partner understands.

By Gabrielle Kassel
Medical Reviewer: Andrea Eisenberg, M.D.

In this article Gabrielle Kassel speaks to a number of experts on endo, including yours truly. If you're suffering from pain during sex and looking for tips on how to talk with your partner about endo, read on. Topics covered include:

Details: Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT; Published: 08 April 2023; Last Updated: 20 May 2023; 1293 Views

image depicting belly press during sex — Image courtesy of Getty Images

The bottom line: If a little belly press during sex helps turn you on more, that’s what matters most.

If you’ve spent much time on our site, you may have noticed that we focus primarily on improving the health of your pelvic floor, particularly if you are having issues due to illness, life changes like pregnancy or menopause, and/or recovering from an injury. But once your pelvic floor is in shape, we also love to present various techniques that help you enjoy sex more. So when Cosmo did a deep dive on the “belly press during sex” craze, they reached out to me for some input on the how’s and why’s about the technique, why it works (or not), and if and when there are times you should avoid it.

Heather Jeffcoat, DPT

The article begins:

If you’re thinking there’s no way that could possibly feel good, hear us out: Gently applying pressure to the lower abdomen during sex can feel amazing and potentially amplify your orgasms. You’ve just gotta figure out how to make it work for you.

Details: Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT; Published: 16 February 2023; Last Updated: 16 February 2023; 995 Views

Postpartum exercise guidelines have been updated by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and while writing an article on the new guidelines for Motherly author Sydni Ellis 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

How Postpartum Exercise Guidelines are Changing and Why

We're not saying "Don't exercise at all!"

In the article Sydni describes the evolution of standard practice for exercising postpartum - with recommendations increasing from six weeks to twelve weeks before any strenuous activity - but with added emphasis on easing into exercise at the six week mark, all the while building to a full regimen at the twelve week mark.

She begins:

Many women can’t wait to start exercising again after pregnancy. For others, sweet baby snuggles tend to win out over exercising for the first few weeks. Once you catch up on sleep and start to gain more energy, you may be ready to do Pilates or go for a jog again—but it might not be safe to jump back in with the same intensity level in your postpartum exercise as in your pre-pregnancy routines.
...It turns out, new research backs waiting until 12 weeks postpartum to do high-intensity workouts, and many OBGYNs have adjusted their postpartum exercise recommendations acccordingly.

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; 1728 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; 1329 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.)