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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Details: Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT; Published: 03 March 2021; Last Updated: 04 November 2021; 4969 Views

Photo courtesy of Alexandra Camara showing her belly before and after her endometriosis related bloating. Alexandra Camara/Personal Photo

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.

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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.

Details: Written by: Heather Jeffcoat, DPT; Published: 05 February 2021; Last Updated: 04 November 2021; 23324 Views

citrus fruit representing vaginal scarring — Image courtesy of Healthline.com

In this Healthline article written by Gabrielle Kassel on May 29, 2020, Heather Jeffcoat was tapped for her experise on vaginal scarring and its effects on painful penetration during sex, tampon insertion, etc. Here are some excerpts from the article, and a link to the full article is shown below.

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.

If you’re looking for specific diastasis recti exercises, we can help you get back into a fitness groove after pregnancy and childbirth and help heal and strengthen the deep core muscles.

What is Diastasis Recti?

Diastasis recti happens when the two muscle bellies of the rectus abdominis separate. The separation between the right and left sides of this muscle can happen during pregnancy when the linea alba, or the tissue between the rectus abdominis muscles, stretches to allow the body room for your baby.

Your OB/GYN or physical therapist can determine if the separation you have is considered wide enough to be diastasis recti. In general, separation of more than two centimeters at one or more points of the linea alba meets the criteria for diastasis recti.1

Visually, diastasis recti can look like a bulge of the abdominal contents or a pooch in your belly area. Physically, you may notice back pain, abdominal weakness, and poor posture.

How and why you'd want to give your vagina a workout.

By Gina Vaynshtey

January 8, 2021

You've got your at-home workout equipment, signed up for a wellness app, and maybe even a meal kit—but what have you done for your vag lately? The best Kegel weights, as well as smart trainers and machines, exist to strengthen your pelvic floor. Unsure what the pelvic floor even is? Think of it as a hammock that supports some very important organs, like your uterus, bladder, and bowels—and keeps you from going number one or two when you have to go. The pelvic floor enables childbirth, but it's also a major player in your sex life.

How do Kegel exercises help strengthen your pelvic floor?

Kegel exercises, whether you choose to use a product or not, can help. These exercises involve a series of contracting and relaxing your pelvic-floor muscles to help strengthen them.