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Explore common diagnoses that we see and treat with pelvic floor physical therapy for women through all stages of life. 

Women's Pelvic Health

Bowel Dysfunction: 

We can help manage and treat prolapse conservatively through the following: pelvic floor strengthening, abdominal strengthening, pressure management, postural strengthening and resolving underlying constipation or bowel dysfunction as a contributing factor. If surgery is needed, we help with pre and post-operative prep for the most successful outcome. The most important thing to manage prolapse if surgery occurs or not is to resolve any bowel dysfunction and pressure management. Our goal is to not have fear of movement and eliminate symptoms like heaviness, pressure and lower back pain. We can help with: cystocele, rectocele, uterocele and rectal prolapse.

Women’s Pelvic Health Conditions We Specialize In:

Urinary leaking affects women as young as 20 years old and affects up to 80% of women after menopause. We help women with all kinds of bladder dysfunction that may present as: 
  • Leaking - constant, with urge (cannot make it to the bathroom), with coughing/laughing/sneezing, with exercise, with jumping/running/walking 
  • Overactive Bladder - frequently and urgently going to the restroom, without or without leakage  
  • Interstitial Cystitis ("Bladder Pain")
  • Frequent UTI's with or without definitive infection
  • Nocturia - getting up at night to pee with or without leakage 
  • Dribbling urination, weak stream, incomplete emptying

Bladder Dysfunction:

We help with all kinds of bowel dysfunction, most commonly constipation. Pelvic floor dysfunction can be responsible for half of cases of chronic constipation. This can present as: 
  • Straining to defecate, with or without pain  
  • Urges to defecate but unable to get anything out or small amounts 
  • Inability to empty fully, can have a lot of wiping 
  • Pain with passing bowel movements, or pain after
  • Inconsistency of stool, may have diarrhea then constipation, or may go days without a movement
  • Abdominal pain, IBS (diarrhea or constipation dependent)
  • Hemorrhoids, Anal Fissures
We also help with leakage that may occur with feces or gas that is uncontrollable. Chronic issues such as ulcerative colitis and IBS can have pain associated that we can help manage. 


Pelvic Organ Prolapse: 

The pelvic floor is involved in many cases of orthopedic pain that has been unresolved. In fact, 95% of women with lower back pain (that have not been been pregnant) have been studied to have pelvic floor dysfunction as a contributing factor. Other diagnoses that have an underlying pelvic floor dysfunction component include:
  • Tailbone pain 
  • Hip pain (especially in the groin or buttock)
  • "Sciatica" 
  • SI joint pain or dysfunction 
  • Groin pain or strain 

Aches & Pains: 

Sexual pain & dysfunction is extremely common. Know you are not alone and we can help. Diagnoses we can help with include: 
  • Vaginismus: involuntary muscle spasms that prevent insertion into the vagina - this can include tampons, ultrasounds, pap smears, and/or intimacy.
  • Vulvodynia: pain at the labia, clitoris, and/or vaginal opening at any time - not just with intimacy. 
  • Dyspareunia: pain specific to sex that may occur with entry, deeper pain, certain positions, and/or pain after sex. 
We understand that pelvic floor physical therapy can be intimidating with the internal exam/assessments with these pain conditions. We have a gentle approach for healing with these conditions. Read more about the internal exam here. 

Sexual Dysfunction & Pain Conditions: 

Hysterectomies are one of the most common female surgeries performed in the US. Common issues that can arise following a hysterectomy include: 
  • Prolapse 
  • Painful sex 
  • Leakage
Our goal in prepping pre-operatively and recovering post-operatively is to optimize pelvic floor strength, resolve underlying bowel dysfunction to reduce straining, and guiding in return to exercise and abdominal strengthening to prevent prolapse and leakage. 



Hysterectomy Prep & Post Op: 

The main changes that a women goes through in menopause can be contributed to a drop in estrogen, which can cause genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). This can present as: 
  • Genital discomfort, painful sex 
  • Bladder frequency, leakage, nocturia, UTI's 
We address these issues through physical therapy by assessing skin changes in the vulva and recommending evidence based treatment approaches with your medical providers for well-rounded care. We address pelvic floor muscle tone, abdominal strength, underlying bowel or bladder dysfunction and overall exercise capability to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis that is common post-menopausal.

Menopause:  

Painful periods affect over 90% of adolescents, and many of them that continue to have pain are later diagnosed with endometriosis. We have many treatment strategies we can employ to help manage period pain by addressing pain and tension in the pelvic floor muscles, abdomen and spine. Painful periods and possible endometriosis may also present with: 
  • Constipation and/or painful bowel movements 
  • Painful sex
  • Bladder pain, frequency or urgency 
  • Lower back or hip pain 
  • Abdominal pain 

Dysmenorrhea (Painful Periods): 

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