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: 02 November 2022; Last Updated: 02 November 2022; 2077 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, CLT, CSCS; Published: 28 October 2022; Last Updated: 16 December 2022; 1877 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; 1392 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.

Details: Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT; Published: 28 September 2022; Last Updated: 01 December 2022; 2320 Views

As you probably know by now if you're a regular reader of our site, we consider good pelvic health to be a major factor in overall health, and that includes the ability to get good sleep. Porch.com writer David De la Mora found me when researching one piece of the overall sleep puzzle, namely how to get a better sleep when dealing with the symptoms of endometriosis. Here are some excerpts from the article with my comments. A link to the original article which covers a number of non-endo related topics is included below.

Heather Jeffcoat, DPT

How to Minimize Endometriosis Symptoms and Get a Better Sleep

The article begins:

There’s no doubt that sleeping is good for you. Who doesn’t enjoy waking up after a good night of sleep? Your body goes through a number of changes as you sleep, allowing you to get the rest you need for general health. Sleeping helps the body and brain to calm down and participate in healing processes, improving physical and mental performance both over the long term and immediately thereafter.

As we mention in this article entitled "Endometriosis and Sleep Blog: Improving Melatonin Levels", with chronic pain conditions, such as endometriosis, sleep quality can be impaired. Sleep is essential for cognitive function, immune function, and overall health. The relationship between pain and sleep is a vicious cycle as pain can lead to poor sleep, but at the same time, poor sleep can increase sensitivity to pain and worsen depressive thoughts and thus experience a poorer quality of life. In fact, sleep disorders and changes in your melatonin level can have an effect on the reproductive system, not making it any easier to conceive.

With this in mind, the article continues:

Details: Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT; Published: 23 September 2022; Last Updated: 01 December 2022; 4003 Views

As part of our whole body approach here at Femina PT, we look at a woman's ability to enjoy a good orgasm as an indicator of not just good pelvic health, but overall physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing as well. When Jennifer Geddes was penning an article for Parade on the subject of how to orgasm after menopause, she wanted to know more about the role pelvic health plays in the postmenopausal "Big O" puzzle so she reached out to me for my take. Here are some snippets from the article with my comments mixed in. A link to the original article is included below.

Heather Jeffcoat, DPT

Tips From the Experts on How to Orgasm After Menopause

And why it often comes down to "use it or lose it"

Let's presume you are a postmenopausal woman whose overall health is good. You eat right, get enough exercise, and live a mostly pain-free, comfortable life. Even with all that going for you, chances are your sex life has slowed down a bit from when you were younger. This is only natural, but it doesn't mean you have to shun sex altogether or enjoy it any less when that moment arrives.

As the article states:

No more periods, cramping, bloating or PMS to ruin your mood—or your plans between the sheets? It may sound divine, but entering the menopausal phase of your life can also come with a few downsides.

In short, take stock in the freedom this gives you to explore this new phase of life! Sure there are other challenges, but try to see the glass as half full, not the other way around.

Details: Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT; Published: 20 September 2022; Last Updated: 01 March 2025; 1634 Views

I recently appeared on the Wholistic Endo Expert podcast hosted by Dr. Lj Johnson, and we talked about all matter of things endo related and how to find accurate information not only online, but from your health care provider(s). Here is a brief synopsis of our talk along with a link to the full episode below.

Heather Jeffcoat, DPT

Hear Heather Jeffcoat, DPT on the Wholistic Endo Expert Podcast

Here's a brief description of the show, directly from Dr. Johnson:

The Wholistic Endo Expert, hosted by Dr. Lj Johnson, is the ultimate combination of all things endometriosis and women's health. After waiting 16 years for a diagnosis she knows first hand how frustrating it can be dealing with all the misinformation online and the medical gaslighting which plagues our endo community. This podcast will help take the weight off your shoulders by providing you with practical holistic options so that you can get back in the driver's seat of your health!

What's covered in today's episode:

Details: Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT; Published: 15 September 2022; Last Updated: 27 September 2022; 2346 Views

Fitness giants Nike recently reached out to me for an article entitled "How To Strengthen Your Pelvic Floor, According to a Physiotherapist", and of course I was glad to offer my insights. It's great to see such a highly visible company in the fitness market taking interest in the topic of pelvic floor health. While at first blush taking care of the pelvic floor may not seem as "sexy" a topic as sculptured calves or bulging biceps, at Femina PT we of course understand the pivotal role that pelvic floor health plays in sexual function (of course!), proper posture, freedom from back and hip pain, avoiding embarrassing bouts of incontinence, and so on. That said, here are some snippets from the article, interspersed with my onw commentary. A link to full article at Nike's site is included below.

Heather Jeffcoat, DPT

Strengthen Your Pelvic Floor to Improve Your Core

What if you can't "Just Do It?"

Nike's longstanding slogan presupposes that your pelvic floor is in full health - but what if it isn't? Pelvic floor issues can have a profound effect on your ability to enjoy sports and other activities, and even if you are able to participate, recovery times may increase and other issues such as incontinence may come into play if things are quite right "down there".

In this article we take a quick look at how to best strengthen your pelvic floor with the aim of improving not only athletic performance but overall wellbeing.

Details: Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT; Published: 09 September 2022; Last Updated: 28 December 2022; 21825 Views

the look on your face when inserting a tampon is painful — Illustration by Josh Christensen

As Ashley Broadwater was researching an article she was writing for the website Giddy on the vasovagal repsonse and why inserting a tampon is painful, she reached out to me for my opinions on the causes of and solutions for this common issue. Here is a brief synopsis of the article along with a link to the full article below.

Heather Jeffcoat, DPT

Find Out Why Inserting a Tampon is Painful

Feeling dizzy and nauseous after putting in a hygiene product? Doctors have some theories.

As mentioned throughout our website, there are a multitude of potential causes of painful penetration, some with overlapping symptoms. A proper diagnosis will always include a deep dive into the background issues that led to the condition, including both physical and emotional causes. And when these issues coincide they can lead to what is called a "vasovagal response":

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