At Femina Physical Therapy, we specialize in treating these conditions that are all too often misunderstood or dismissed as “normal” by the medical community, including pain during sex, endometriosis, incontinence, bladder pain and other pelvic floor issues.
What sets us apart from other physical therapy offices is the model of care we’ve developed that allows our patients with chronic conditions to reach their goals. Our services are one-on-one with licensed physical therapists for 55-120 minutes. No unlicensed staff are used for treatments as we feel strongly that patients deserve physical therapy done by physical therapists, and that is the only way they’ll achieve their optimal outcomes.
We treat vaginismus, overactive pelvic floor, painful intercourse, vulvodynia, vulvar vestibulitis, vestibulodynia, dyspareunia, interstitial cystitis, and more
Far too often women have been told by doctors and even some sex therapists that the concerns and physical problems they have are normal. In fact, they are common. Peeing on yourself, having painful intercourse, having to go to the bathroom 10+ times per day and many other symptoms that women experience throughout their lives are far from normal. I want women to know that their problems are real and happen to many other women, but should not be normalized. Common ≠ Normal.
Since graduating from Duke University, I have always had a passion for treating my female patients throughout the lifespan. I want to reach as many women as possible and empower them with the tools and knowledge so that they can be their 100% best during pregnancy, postpartum, when trying to conceive, gaining and maintaining a healthy sex life and take care of the many symptoms they have that are TREATABLE!
Our fully licensed staff is experienced, compassionate, and highly trained in pelvic floor therapy. Pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, issues with various pelvic organs, and primary vaginismus can all interfere with normally pleasurable sexual intercourse, and specialized pelvic sex therapy by a pelvic floor physical therapist can do wonders for not only your sexual wellbeing, but your overall health and enjoyment of life.
Thank you for stopping by, Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
AsFeatured In:
Get The Book
Haga clic aquí para la versión españolaSex Without Pain: A Self-Treatment Guide To The Sex Life You Deserve was written by Heather Jeffcoat, DPT, a physical therapist with countless successes in treating pain of this type. Women with vaginismus, overactive pelvic floor, painful intercourse, vulvodynia, vulvar vestibulitis, vestibulodynia, dyspareunia, interstitial cystitis have all benefited from her unique program. Heather uses her orthopedic background to approach treatment of these muscles like they are....muscles! She utilizes a self-treatment tool called a dilator to provide massage and other muscle relaxation and stretching techniques in a gentle fashion to return a women's muscles back to a resting, rather than guarded, state.
• To order "Sex Without Pain" in paperback from Amazon for $24.99, click here.
• To order an electronic read-only non-printable PDF copy of the book for instant download at $19.99, use the button below:
• To schedule an appointment at one of the Femina PT offices, click here.
• For a list of other trusted health care providers, click here.
What Our Patients Have to Say
Prev
Next
Testimonial by Fritzette H.
I went to Heather after the birth of my third child. It was lucky, really, that I was referred to her, because my doctor had referred me to a surgeon for a possible hysterectomy or pelvic wall rebuild. Thankfully, I went to Heather before undergoing either surgery, she was able to fix the problem. She has studied extensively in women's health--even written a book about it--and was able to diagnose my problem, suggest a course of treatment (6 weeks), and then follow through with said treatment. By the end, as she said, I was as good as gold. Boy, was it worth it! Though uncomfortable to talk about, much less write about, it is worth getting the word out there. If you have painful intercourse, especially after birth or other trauma, the treatment may be as simple as Physical Therapy (with Heather, of course). I highly recommend her.
-- Fritzette H., 3/24/16 via Yelp!
Testimonial by Jackie W.
I was in multiple car accidents a decade ago, and I have been to many physical therapists through the years without success. They found the root of my lower back pain problems and after nearly a decade of barely being able to walk I finally can again without pain. They are also the best pelvic floor pts and the only ones who found the connection between my pelvic floor and lower back problems. If you need help with physical pain, they are your answer.
-- Jackie W., 1/19/17 via Yelp!
Testimonial by Lauren B.
Femina PT (née Fusion Wellness & Physical Therapy) has been such an answer to prayer, i'm so glad I found them! I've been struggling with vaginismus my whole life, but didn't have a name for it until about 6 or 7 months ago. Even once I did have a name for it though, I didn't know where to begin in getting help. My OB/GYN had me get a set of dilators, but I couldn't even insert the smallest one by myself. Most times I tried I just ended up frustrated and in tears. I felt really alone, like I was broken and didn't have the energy to keep trying. When I got engaged a few months ago though, I realized I needed to get answers so i wasn't dreading my honeymoon.
I went to Heather after the birth of my third child. It was lucky, really, that I was referred to her, because my doctor had referred me to a surgeon for a possible hysterectomy or pelvic wall rebuild. Thankfully, I went to Heather before undergoing either surgery, she was able to fix the problem. She has studied extensively in women's health--even written a book about it--and was able to diagnose my problem, suggest a course of treatment (6 weeks), and then follow through with said treatment. By the end, as she said, I was as good as gold. Boy, was it worth it! Though uncomfortable to talk about, much less write about, it is worth getting the word out there. If you have painful intercourse, especially after birth or other trauma, the treatment may be as simple as Physical Therapy (with Heather, of course). I highly recommend her.
-- Fritzette H., 3/24/16 via Yelp!
Testimonial by R.H.
No one could tell me why I was having pain during sex--sharp pain, not just uncomfortable, pain. I was referred to Heather Jeffcoat after researching several different options. I had seen a specialist who told me physical therapy would not help and my only option was surgery. I really didn't want to go that route, so when we got a referral, I decided to try it--it can't hurt, I thought. I am so glad I did. She diagnosed the problem right away, which was a relief in itself.
To know why I was having pain eased my mind immensely. And to hear that she could fix it without surgery was another relief. She said she could fix the problem in 6 weeks. I think it was actually 4 for me. She was very methodical, and treated me as an intelligent human being capable of participating in my own recovery. I would absolutely recommend her to anyone. She did not try to prolong my session numbers, she worked hard to accommodate my schedule (and the fact that I had to bring a baby to sessions), and she was completely honest the entire time. It is so hard to find someone with these characteristics, much less a professional who is so good at what she does. She has my highest respect.
-- R.H.
Testimonial by S.P., Age 26
I would like to start off by thanking Heather Jeffcoat for educating me and curing me of Vaginismus. I had been married for almost three years before I was referred to Heather. I never knew about Vaginismus until almost three years into my marriage. I knew something was wrong when I went on my honeymoon and came back a Virgin. I had always imagined how magical my first night would be but boy was I wrong.
Our site uses cookies to implement some of its features. We encourage you to visit our Terms of Use page for more information.
Like what you are seeing so far? Register for our mailing list and receive periodic updates via email, a 15% discount code for the "Sex Without Pain" ebook, and instant access to our Downloads area!
Our site uses cookies to implement some of its features. We encourage you to visit our Terms of Use page for more information.
Like what you are seeing so far? Register for our mailing list and receive periodic updates via email, a 15% discount code for the "Sex Without Pain" ebook, and instant access to our Downloads area!
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.
I was asked by Shelby Heinrich of BuzzFeed for my advice on how peeing too often can affect your bladder health, and how we need to stop peeing when our bladders are only half full instead of at full capacity. Here is a brief summary with a link to the full article.
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.
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.
At Femina Physical Therapy, we specialize in treating these conditions that are all too often misunderstood or dismissed as “normal” by the medical community, including pain during sex, endometriosis, incontinence, bladder pain and other pelvic floor issues.
What sets us apart from other physical therapy offices is the model of care we’ve developed that allows our patients with chronic conditions to reach their goals. Our services are one-on-one with licensed physical therapists for 55-120 minutes. No unlicensed staff are used for treatments as we feel strongly that patients deserve physical therapy done by physical therapists, and that is the only way they’ll achieve their optimal outcomes.
We treat vaginismus, overactive pelvic floor, painful intercourse, vulvodynia, vulvar vestibulitis, vestibulodynia, dyspareunia, interstitial cystitis, and more
Far too often women have been told by doctors and even some sex therapists that the concerns and physical problems they have are normal. In fact, they are common. Peeing on yourself, having painful intercourse, having to go to the bathroom 10+ times per day and many other symptoms that women experience throughout their lives are far from normal. I want women to know that their problems are real and happen to many other women, but should not be normalized. Common ≠ Normal.
Since graduating from Duke University, I have always had a passion for treating my female patients throughout the lifespan. I want to reach as many women as possible and empower them with the tools and knowledge so that they can be their 100% best during pregnancy, postpartum, when trying to conceive, gaining and maintaining a healthy sex life and take care of the many symptoms they have that are TREATABLE!
Our fully licensed staff is experienced, compassionate, and highly trained in pelvic floor therapy. Pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, issues with various pelvic organs, and primary vaginismus can all interfere with normally pleasurable sexual intercourse, and specialized pelvic sex therapy by a pelvic floor physical therapist can do wonders for not only your sexual wellbeing, but your overall health and enjoyment of life.
Thank you for stopping by, Heather Jeffcoat, DPT
AsFeatured In:
Get The Book
Haga clic aquí para la versión españolaSex Without Pain: A Self-Treatment Guide To The Sex Life You Deserve was written by Heather Jeffcoat, DPT, a physical therapist with countless successes in treating pain of this type. Women with vaginismus, overactive pelvic floor, painful intercourse, vulvodynia, vulvar vestibulitis, vestibulodynia, dyspareunia, interstitial cystitis have all benefited from her unique program. Heather uses her orthopedic background to approach treatment of these muscles like they are....muscles! She utilizes a self-treatment tool called a dilator to provide massage and other muscle relaxation and stretching techniques in a gentle fashion to return a women's muscles back to a resting, rather than guarded, state.
• To order "Sex Without Pain" in paperback from Amazon for $24.99, click here.
• To order an electronic read-only non-printable PDF copy of the book for instant download at $19.99, use the button below:
• To schedule an appointment at one of the Femina PT offices, click here.
• For a list of other trusted health care providers, click here.
What Our Patients Have to Say
Prev
Next
Testimonial by Fritzette H.
I went to Heather after the birth of my third child. It was lucky, really, that I was referred to her, because my doctor had referred me to a surgeon for a possible hysterectomy or pelvic wall rebuild. Thankfully, I went to Heather before undergoing either surgery, she was able to fix the problem. She has studied extensively in women's health--even written a book about it--and was able to diagnose my problem, suggest a course of treatment (6 weeks), and then follow through with said treatment. By the end, as she said, I was as good as gold. Boy, was it worth it! Though uncomfortable to talk about, much less write about, it is worth getting the word out there. If you have painful intercourse, especially after birth or other trauma, the treatment may be as simple as Physical Therapy (with Heather, of course). I highly recommend her.
-- Fritzette H., 3/24/16 via Yelp!
Testimonial by Jackie W.
I was in multiple car accidents a decade ago, and I have been to many physical therapists through the years without success. They found the root of my lower back pain problems and after nearly a decade of barely being able to walk I finally can again without pain. They are also the best pelvic floor pts and the only ones who found the connection between my pelvic floor and lower back problems. If you need help with physical pain, they are your answer.
-- Jackie W., 1/19/17 via Yelp!
Testimonial by Lauren B.
Femina PT (née Fusion Wellness & Physical Therapy) has been such an answer to prayer, i'm so glad I found them! I've been struggling with vaginismus my whole life, but didn't have a name for it until about 6 or 7 months ago. Even once I did have a name for it though, I didn't know where to begin in getting help. My OB/GYN had me get a set of dilators, but I couldn't even insert the smallest one by myself. Most times I tried I just ended up frustrated and in tears. I felt really alone, like I was broken and didn't have the energy to keep trying. When I got engaged a few months ago though, I realized I needed to get answers so i wasn't dreading my honeymoon.
I went to Heather after the birth of my third child. It was lucky, really, that I was referred to her, because my doctor had referred me to a surgeon for a possible hysterectomy or pelvic wall rebuild. Thankfully, I went to Heather before undergoing either surgery, she was able to fix the problem. She has studied extensively in women's health--even written a book about it--and was able to diagnose my problem, suggest a course of treatment (6 weeks), and then follow through with said treatment. By the end, as she said, I was as good as gold. Boy, was it worth it! Though uncomfortable to talk about, much less write about, it is worth getting the word out there. If you have painful intercourse, especially after birth or other trauma, the treatment may be as simple as Physical Therapy (with Heather, of course). I highly recommend her.
-- Fritzette H., 3/24/16 via Yelp!
Testimonial by R.H.
No one could tell me why I was having pain during sex--sharp pain, not just uncomfortable, pain. I was referred to Heather Jeffcoat after researching several different options. I had seen a specialist who told me physical therapy would not help and my only option was surgery. I really didn't want to go that route, so when we got a referral, I decided to try it--it can't hurt, I thought. I am so glad I did. She diagnosed the problem right away, which was a relief in itself.
To know why I was having pain eased my mind immensely. And to hear that she could fix it without surgery was another relief. She said she could fix the problem in 6 weeks. I think it was actually 4 for me. She was very methodical, and treated me as an intelligent human being capable of participating in my own recovery. I would absolutely recommend her to anyone. She did not try to prolong my session numbers, she worked hard to accommodate my schedule (and the fact that I had to bring a baby to sessions), and she was completely honest the entire time. It is so hard to find someone with these characteristics, much less a professional who is so good at what she does. She has my highest respect.
-- R.H.
Testimonial by S.P., Age 26
I would like to start off by thanking Heather Jeffcoat for educating me and curing me of Vaginismus. I had been married for almost three years before I was referred to Heather. I never knew about Vaginismus until almost three years into my marriage. I knew something was wrong when I went on my honeymoon and came back a Virgin. I had always imagined how magical my first night would be but boy was I wrong.
Our site uses cookies to implement some of its features. We encourage you to visit our Terms of Use page for more information.
Like what you are seeing so far? Register for our mailing list and receive periodic updates via email, a 15% discount code for the "Sex Without Pain" ebook, and instant access to our Downloads area!
Our site uses cookies to implement some of its features. We encourage you to visit our Terms of Use page for more information.
Like what you are seeing so far? Register for our mailing list and receive periodic updates via email, a 15% discount code for the "Sex Without Pain" ebook, and instant access to our Downloads area!
My last appointment with Heather was over 6 years ago but I still think of her every day. I don’t take for granted that I can easily get out of bed, care for my two active and busy young boys, run, play tennis, clean my house, or sit at a desk for several hours at a time. None of these tasks were easy for me before meeting Heather. Eight years ago my car was struck from behind by a tractor trailer that was estimated to have been speeding. I spent 3 years working with different PTs and Drs trying to heal and move on with my life. When I became pregnant and the hormone relaxin that “relaxes” all the joints of the body and the additional weight gain erased all my progress and I was suddenly in a lot of pain again. My OB sent me to Heather for one last try.
Femina PT (née Fusion Wellness & Physical Therapy) has honestly changed my life. Before receiving treatment at Femina, I was going doctor to doctor to try and find the answer to my pelvic pain. It has taken me YEARS to find someone that can help fix this. It wasn't until my gynecologist recommended your clinic that I finally felt relief. My pelvic pain is almost gone, and granted I still have a lot more to work on with Laureen (my PT), my original problem is nearly cured. I am so grateful to her.
What is even better is she gave me practical exercises to do at home that were not tedious and provided instant (and lasting) relief. Although I mainly work with Laureen, my interaction with the owner (Heather) has been great. She is very generous, kind, and committed to her business.
It hurts to know there are women out there suffering who will never know or have the opportunity to work with women like Laureen and Heather because this issue is hardly talked about and this field is so rare. I hope more doctors and physical therapists see the value in this work and can relieve more woman of their pain.
-- Julie T., 12/4/16 via Yelp!
Testimonial by Amanda W.
Heather's unique physical therapy program literally changed my life! After years of struggling with vaginismus, a condition that made it impossible for me to have intercourse and very difficult to use tampons without pain, a gynecologist referred me to Heather. I was nervous for my first appointment, but Heather's professional and friendly demeanor put me at ease. She did a great job explaining each technique she was using to help my muscles relax. Heather uses a combination of internal and external stretches and exercises to relax the pelvic floor and build muscle strength. Her specially developed home program helped me quickly recover from an issue that seemed insurmountable before meeting Heather. She was optimistic about my progress and incredibly encouraging. Less than 6 months after my first session, I was able to have pain-free sex for the first time in my life! If you are suffering from vaginismus or any other pelvic floor issues, I highly recommend making an appointment with Heather and reading her book!
-- Amanda W., 2/15/16 via Yelp!
Testimonial by S.B.
As someone who suffered the debilitating physical and emotional effects of vaginismus (as well as a complicated history of back injuries) for more than 15 years, I thought a "normal" life was just a fantasy. Then I found Heather.
My husband and I were married for 5 years and unable to have intercourse, but I never knew why. After numerous awful experiences at doctor’s offices (where many doctors told me I “just needed to relax”), a surgery that didn’t fix the problem, and a year of owning dilators that didn’t get me anywhere, someone finally referred me to Heather for Physical Therapy. I finally had answers and information from someone who knew exactly what I was dealing with!
I wanted to let you know that my pelvic floor held strong and gave me no trouble whatsoever in my trail race this morning (12 miles)! In a way, I felt like I ran better than ever because my core feels so rock solid from all the exercises you have me doing. That was especially valuable on the technical downhill - I just flew down the trail because I had confidence in my balance and form. Thank you for helping me get back to doing what I love.
-- A.W., age 32
(completed Post-partum Renewal Program using the InTone biofeedback/stim unit)
Our site uses cookies to implement some of its features. We encourage you to visit our Terms of Use page for more information.
Like what you are seeing so far? Register for our mailing list and receive periodic updates via email, a 15% discount code for the "Sex Without Pain" ebook, and instant access to our Downloads area!