According to First For Women writer, Chad Birt, "Researchers estimate that up to 84% of women suffer from painful sex after menopause." Founder of Femina Physical Therapy, Dr. Heather Jeffcoat explains that pelvic floor weakness might coincide with the hormonal changes and thinning tissue experienced during and after menopause. Moreover, she says that this weakness can lead to prolapse, which causes a bulge in the vagina and “creates discomfort during sex, as well as during daily activities.” 

What to expect in your 30s

For vulva owners, the 30s might as well be called the Do It All decade.

It’s a time when many vulva owners are trying to build a career, sustain a (or many) romantic relationship(s), be a parent, spend time with friends, and more. Because the entire endocrine system is connected, when your cortisol levels surge, it can throw your sex hormones out of whack. That’s why this can be a decade of sky-high stress and ground-low libido, especially for new parents.

Heather Jeffcoat, a doctor of physical therapy who specializes in sexual dysfunction and incontinence, adds that the body goes through a temporary period during pregnancy and breastfeeding that mirrors menopause.

Learn Why Sex Can Be Painful After Menopause - And What You Can Do About It

First we had the Baby Boom, and then the Menopause Boom. Since then we've learned a lot about what menopause is all about, but as happens with any time of change in our lives, there are still a number of questions to be answered. One of the more common ones concerns why sex can be painful after menopause.

Some of the answers to this question will be familiar to any woman who has experienced insufficient lubrication for any number of reasons, often to the point where they either cannot enjoy sex to the fullest - or cannot even do it at all due to the pain and discomfort. But during the fertile period of a woman's life, these issues can often be corrected depending on the cause.

There Are Several Options For Non-Hormonal Treatments for GSM.

Some include hormones, while others do not.

Today we will review some non-hormone treatment options. As always, consult with your physician to help you make the best decisions regarding your health.

What are the Links Between Menopause and Pelvic Health?

Menopause is a period of life transition for many of us. Today we will review what menopause is and how symptoms can negatively affect pelvic health, including bowel, bladder and sexual function.

What Happens During Menopause?

Menopause is an important life transition for those with female anatomy, marking the end of the regular menstrual cycle and the transition to life beyond the reproductive period.

Babies born with female anatomy have a set number of eggs which are stored in their ovaries. The ovaries make the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which control monthly periods and ovulation. Menopause happens when ovaries no longer regularly release an egg every month and menstruation stops.

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.

September is Healthy Aging Month!

Curious about pelvic floor physical therapy for menopause? Read on.

You’ve probably already considered a visit to your primary care doctor and your gynecologist. But what about pelvic floor physical therapy for menopause?

About 6,000 women enter menopause every day in the US, usually between the ages of 45 and 55; and as life expectancy increases, so does the number of years most women will spend on the other side of it. Approximately half of all women can expect to live 40% of their lives in the post-menopausal stage. It makes sense to develop a solid strategy for optimal health, the earlier the better – and regular physical therapy can be an important component of that plan.

Getting back to activities like sex after a hysterectomy can be intimidating. 

Learn what a hysterectomy is, how it can affect your sexual function, and what pelvic floor physical and occupational therapy can do to help. 

What is a hysterectomy?

Acording to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), a hysterectomy is surgery to remove the uterus. It is a common type of surgery for women in the United States.

• Hysterectomy is used to treat many women’s health conditions including:
• Uterine fibroids (this is the most common reason for hysterectomy)
• Endometriosis (although it states this on ACOG, it is more correct for this to state Adenomyosis, which is endometriosis in the uterus. Please be clear -- a  hysterectomy is NOT a cure for endometriosis).
• Pelvic support problems (such as uterine prolapse)
• Abnormal uterine bleeding
• Chronic pelvic pain
• Gynecologic cancer

September is Healthy Aging Month! In recognition, this blog will talk about Menopause and how it can affect your genitals and sexual function.

What Happens During Menopause?

Menopause marks the end of the regular menstrual cycle and the transition to life beyond the reproductive period.

Babies born with female anatomy have a set number of eggs which are stored in their ovaries. The ovaries make the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which control monthly periods and ovulation. Menopause happens when ovaries no longer regularly release an egg every month and menstruation stops.

The History of Estrogen Therapy - A Cure for Hot Flashes, Insomnia, Vaginal Discomfort and More?

Hello, menopause! If you’re experiencing any of those symptoms, your doctor may have recommended some form of menopausal hormone therapy.

But is it safe?
When should you start?
And which therapy is right for you?

Researchers have been trying to answer those questions for decades, often with confusing and even conflicting results. Let’s take a look at the history of estrogen therapy, and how past studies are informing the latest recommendations.

A French physician coined the word ‘menopause’ in the 1800s and advanced the revolutionary idea that the health concerns of aging women deserved medical attention. Throughout that century, doctors experimented – sometimes on themselves – with various animal hormones. The science was far from perfected; but by the 1890s, women were being treated successfully for symptoms of menopause with a powder or pill made from cow ovaries.

Michelle Lyons interviews Heather Jeffcoat, DPT.

Michelle Lyons is a women's health physiotherapist, who hosts a YouTube channel to discuss and educate women on topics related to helping women live well. Heather Jeffcoat was a featured guest on Michelle Lyons Youtube Channel to discuss sexual health during menopause.

Michelle & Heather discuss the following topics related to sexual health during menopause:

• loss of lubrication

• the negative impact of body image, toxins, sleep disruption, and other factors can have on sexual health during menopause

• the importance of education the genital-urinary symptoms and changes that occur during menopause and how that can impact sexual function

• Heather's book, "Sex Without Pain: A Self-Treatment Guide to the Sex Life You Deserve"

Every person with a uterus will experience menopause during their lifetime.

Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) is a term that describes the different genital, sexual, and urinary signs and symptoms that can occur during menopause.

The symptoms of GSM can greatly affect quality of life, so it is important to be aware the signs so that you can seek out appropriate care and support from your healthcare team.