I’m a pelvic floor physical therapist which means I casually talk about the things that most likely make you uncomfortable: pooping, peeing, sex, orgasm, pain in your vagina and penis…..yes, I just said vagina and penis and sex all in one sentence. These words have become normal, everyday things that I talk about. I no longer wince and I can openly have a conversation among friends describing what I do for a living. Although, sometimes I do wait until after dinner is finished to really get into the nitty gritty! 

It is (one of) my mission(s) to de-stigmatize and encourage more open, matter-of-fact conversations about the pelvic floor and ultimately what the main point of having a well-functioning pelvic floor is; to painlessly excrete waste (urine and feces), support our pelvic organs, and provide enhanced sexual experiences. There are a couple other functions of the pelvic floor but those three are the most exciting ;) 

So, since we all poop and pee daily (well, hopefully daily...if not, maybe you should call me) and we all want our organs to stay in place and a majority of us crave some form of sexual pleasure (it is 100% okay if you don’t), why can’t we talk about it? I’m not saying we need to discuss every time we have a bowel movement and what it looked like. BUT, if these topics weren’t so taboo in our society, then when something wasn’t feeling quite right, we might be more apt to bring it up with a friend, family member or healthcare practitioner and get the help we need sooner rather than later. 

Pelvic floor physical therapy is much more than teaching how to perform kegels. As a physical therapist who specializes in pelvic floor, I teach how to integrate your entire core (pelvic floor, diaphragm, deep back muscles, and the deep abdominal muscles) into your every day routine. I educate on how breathing can make a significant impact on chronic pain, indigestion, and how breath can help you learn how to activate muscles. I talk about proper positioning for having a bowel movement and how many seconds you should pee for to know that you are in control of your bladder and not the other way around. I focus on bringing the “black box” of the body out into the light, educating on it, and help to make talking about it less stigmatized. The more we feel comfortable talking about these things, more people will know about conservative measures for their pain and dysfunction; less unnecessary surgeries will be performed and less people will suffer thinking they are alone in their pain.

Want to talk about all things related to pelvic floor, learn about your entire core and how to use in to improve function and strength, or know you need to see a pelvic floor PT and just haven’t made it happen? Contact me today and let’s get the conversation started!