First of all, congratulations! You’ve booked (or want to book) your initial evaluation with us at Pelvic Health and Wellness! We’re here to help you understand what to expect at your pelvic floor physical therapy evaluation. Our goal is to ease your nerves and ensure a positive experience. First, we listen and chat The first thing we do is listen to your story. You can expect to talk a lot at your first visit to give us a thorough understanding of your current symptoms and the history of how they developed. We’ll ask different (often very specific) questions about: Bladder and bowel he ..read more

Endometriosis is a painful condition that affects 1 in 10 women and people with uteruses worldwide. If that number includes you, we’re here for you! Endometriosis causes inflammation and scar tissue formation when tissue similar to the lining inside the uterus grows outside the uterus. This tissue can be commonly found on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and pelvic floor. Over time, fibrous tissues may grow and form adhesions, which cause pelvic organs to stick together.  Symptoms of endometriosis vary but often include pelvic pain and extreme cramps (especially during menstruation), excess ..read more

Part 3: Exercise Recommendations (with Videos) to Strengthen Your Pelvic Floor In this 3-part blog series, we’ve been addressing how to strengthen your pelvic floor so you can enjoy running without leaking or experiencing pelvic pressure or pain. Blog 1 gave us an overview of the pelvic floor, and blog 2 delved more into running and pelvic floor dysfunction. If you haven’t done so yet, please read both of these articles, as they will lay the groundwork for the exercises we are discussing in this blog. Now that you understand the pelvic floor's importance and its connection to running, it ..read more

In this 3-part blog series, we are tackling how to prevent peeing while running so you can get back to doing what you love! In our first blog post, we explored the anatomy, function, and importance of pelvic floor muscles. In this blog post, we'll delve into the connection between your pelvic floor and running, and provide valuable insights and strategies to help you continue running comfortably and confidently. Part 2: Running with Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Do you love running? Running is a valuable, accessible, and popular form of exercise, providing so many physical and mental health benefi ..read more

Do you ever leak urine or suddenly have an urgent need to pee while running? Or do you experience uncomfortable pelvic pain or pressure? If so, you’re not alone. These issues can really put a damper on your workout, and you may even be avoiding running because of it. In this 3-part blog series, we will tackle how to prevent peeing while running so you can get back to doing what you love! We will begin by exploring the anatomy, function, and importance of pelvic floor muscles. In the following blog posts, we’ll examine the role of the pelvic floor during running, typical problems you might enc ..read more

We’ve all been there at one time or another, feeling like you have to pee so bad you might not make it to the bathroom. Maybe it’s during a trip to the grocery store, parking the car in the garage, or unlocking the front door. Or if you’re Dr. Lauryn, it is when you are half way through Ikea and there isn’t a bathroom in sight! This feeling is known as urinary urgency and is something that you can learn how to control. The bladder is responsible for signaling when it’s time to pee but can get into bad habits over time. Ideally, it gives us a small sensation to go to the bathroom when it’s abo ..read more

Exploring the Uses and Benefits of this Holistic Fertility Treatment Mercier Therapy is quickly gaining recognition as a safe, gentle, and effective approach to fertility and women’s health. Developed by Dr. Jennifer Mercier, this innovative modality focuses on pelvic organ mobility and aims to enhance overall reproductive wellness. It has been paramount in helping women with fertility challenges conceive naturally or achieve better outcomes using medically assisted cycles such as IVF. It can also benefit those with pelvic pain, menstrual disorders, or a history of C-sections or traumatic birt ..read more

Traditionally, going to physical therapy meant rehabilitation from an injury, surgery, or other medical event. And there are still plenty of physical therapists who do this important work.  More recently, however, the industry has shifted into the health and wellness space. Now, going to physical therapy can also mean proactively supporting your wellness goals in preparation for a big event…such as having a baby.  Just like you may want a PT on your team to prepare for an upcoming race or surgery, many people seek out a prenatal physical therapist during pregnancy (also called a pel ..read more

Looking to adapt your exercise routine to fit your body’s needs for fertility? When I am working with someone as they try to conceive, we first have to consider their activity level prior and their overall health status. I recommend that, before starting the egg retrieval and IVF process, people do what they can to optimize their, and their partner or donor’s health status. Regular exercise is wonderful for fertility as it not only helps with hormone balance and blood sugar regulation, but is a wonderful form of stress relief for many people. Once pregnant, regular exercise is incredible for t ..read more

If you’ve never heard of pelvic floor physical therapy, you’re not alone. Many people are surprised to learn there is an entire specialty of physical therapy dedicated to pelvic health and wellness.  Just like a physical therapist can help you rehabilitate after an injury or recover from a surgery, pelvic floor PT can help strengthen your pelvic floor and provide relief from bladder and bowel dysfunction, pain in the pelvic area, constipation, incontinence, painful intercourse, and more. Let’s take a look at what pelvic floor physical therapy is, what conditions it treats, and what you ca ..read more