May is the month dedicated to celebrating women, as we celebrate Mother’s Day, and there’s no better time to shine a light on the stages of life transitions that women go through that often gets brushed aside in everyday conversations. At Break Free Pelvic Health & Wellness in Johns Island, we want to highlight the most common issues that occur not only during the transition to motherhood, but the issues that can arise through the lifespan of womanhood.
Here’s what we want every woman to know this Women’s Health Month:
- Periods are your 5th vital sign. Here is what is normal and what is not:
- Your monthly cycle should be 21 to 35 days long. No matter how long it is, every month it should be within 1-2 days (for example: if you typically have a 28 day cycle, your cycle could fluctuate between 27-29 days).
- Pain during your period should not require you to take high doses of medication, take time off of school or work, or stop your daily life
- You should not be bleeding through more than 1 pad or 1 tampon per hour
- You should not have blood clots
- Fatigue that impacts your ability to function is not normal
- Depression, anxiety, & irritability that affects your daily life and relationships during your cycle is not normal and should be discussed with your provider
- Sex should never hurt.
- Vaginal dryness should not be a reason for painful sex. If you are struggling with vaginal dryness and you are postmenopausal or post-partum, this is a common symptom of genitourinary syndrome and vaginal estrogen should be prescribed.
- Pain or discomfort with sex can occur with insertion, deeper penetration or with certain positions.
- Tight, overactive and/or tender pelvic floor muscles are usually always the culprit for painful sex. Endometriosis is also common. Pelvic floor physical therapy WILL help.
- C-Sections & Hysterectomies are the MOST common surgeries in the USA for women.
- And there is no automatic rehab referral for post operative care.
- Both surgeries are major surgeries that impact abdominal strength, pelvic floor healing and intimacy.
- Pelvic Health can impact fertility, pregnancy and beyond.
- Improving lymphatic flow and blood flow is impactful for fertility
- Optimizing pelvic floor strength and stability is important to reduce pain during pregnancy and teaching the muscles how to lengthen to push is important to reduce tears and trauma during delivery
- Postpartum is forever and you do NOT have to submit to a life of leaking, pain and discomfort after babies
This Women’s Health Month we want to highlight what we continue to hear from the women we help everyday – how they did not know what was normal, how they did not know anything about their pelvic floor, how they were told certain symptoms they had to accept, or needed an unnecessary surgery or procedure. The impact of pelvic floor dysfunction is significant – many women do not exercise due to leaking, prolapse, pain, time, fatigue, etc. – and the impact of the lack of exercise for our bone, cardiovascular and mental health can take a serious toll as we age. Whether you are a young woman navigating your menstrual health, having difficulty with intimacy, planning to conceive or give birth, moving into menopause, or facing a surgery – we are here to help you through all the transitions with ease.
If you’re curious about how pelvic floor therapy can support your health journey, let’s talk. Call us at 843-471-0351 to get started.
