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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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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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The host of the Mommy Diary podcast, Angela Kim, recently reached out to me for a wide ranging interview on prenatal and postpartum pelvic floor health, and I was glad to spend this valuable time with her. A link to the full podcast is below.
Heather Jeffcoat
The secret's out: peeing your pants after birth does not have to be your new state of normal.
Yes, you read that correctly. I was just as surprised as you to learn that physical therapy can be the answer, and my guest, Dr. Heather Jeffcoat, is the expert. Heather is the owner of Femina Physical Therapy with 3 Los Angeles locations. She is pilates-certified and a certified fascial stretch therapist. Today she's providing us with valuable knowledge on the functions of the pelvic floor and the importance of it's health.
During this episode, Heather exploits myths about vaginal pain and the benefits of pelvic health. This is very important because she stated 9 out of 10 women have pain during sex after birth. There is no doubt that pelvic floor physical therapists are the best kept secret in medicine for moms.
Read more: Mommy Diary | Understanding Pelvic Floor Health with...
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
- 5169 Views
Heather Jeffcoat
I don't know about you, but I was always taught growing up that it's good to pee before leaving the house.
Not really sure if you actually need to go? Wait - you may need to stop peeing "just in case"!
Makes sense, right? Why not pee now in order to avoid having to pee later, at a more inconvenient time? Well, according to TikToker @nosuchthingastmi, it's actually not a good idea!
In the TikTok, she explains that if you frequently urinate when you don't actually need to, you're emptying your bladder when it's only half full instead of at full capacity.
This can lead to increased feelings of urgency because your bladder gets used to functioning at a lower capacity than it's supposed to. Once that happens, you need to need to stop peeing "just in case" so it stops signaling that it needs to be emptied when it's really only half full.
Read more: BuzzFeed | A Woman On TikTok Claimed We Need To Stop...
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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Painful penetration is common—in fact research shows that 75 percent of vagina-owners will experience it at some point in their lifetime. But, common is not synonymous with acceptable. Unless pain during penetration is a sensation you’re actively seeking out, the experience of it can be a sign that something is going on with your body.
If you’re experiencing pain during penetration, your first and second stops should be your OB/GYN and a trauma-informed pelvic floor therapist who can help you suss out the underlying cause. Your third stop? A sex shop for a penis bumper, which is a sex aid that can be used on any phallus, including dildos, G-spot vibrators, and wands. It's designed to slide down a shaft of the person or toy doing the penetrating, thus eliminating some of its length to prevent as much from going inside the receiver's vagina or anus.
Read more: Well and Good | 5 Penis Bumpers To Make Sex Enjoyable and...
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- Written by: Kasia Gondek, PT, DPT, CLT, CSCS
- 2654 Views
In an ideal world, we would all have perfectly balanced strength and crush workouts left and right. But here in the real world, however, many people struggle with muscular imbalances that make certain movements extra challenging.
Shoulder imbalances are particularly prevalent, says Kasia Gondek, physical therapist and certified strength and conditioning specialist at Fusion Wellness and Physical Therapy. It's common — but not normal — for one shoulder to have less strength, activation or coordination than the other, Dr. Gondek says:
Read more: Livestrong | 2 Tests to Help Determine if One Shoulder Is...
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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 Your Clitoris Affect Your...
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
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Endometriosis bloat, also called endo belly, describes the uncomfortable bloating that's associated with endometriosis — an incurable, inflammatory condition that affects one in 10 reproductive-aged individuals worldwide.
"It may not be a true medical term, but those who have endometriosis are all too familiar with the term endo belly, which is painful bloating and swelling of the abdomen," says Sherry Ross, MD, and author of "She-ology: The Definitive Guide to Women's Intimate Health. Period."
Unlike the typical bloating that an individual may experience during menstruation, endo belly can last a few hours, days, or even weeks which can take a toll on your mental, emotional, and physical health.
Read more: Insider | What is endo belly? How to manage the severe...
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- Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
- 2278 Views
Heather Jeffcoat
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Working out at home is more common than ever right now, and everyone is on the hunt for space-efficient gym equipment that doesn't cost a fortune. To help you upgrade your exercise routine, Bustle reached out to fitness experts who offered their recommendations for the most effective home fitness products on Amazon. Best of all, each of these items costs under $40, so you can break a sweat without breaking the bank.
Read more: Bustle | Experts Say These Are The 36 Most Effective Home...
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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 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...
