FAQ
Your frequently asked pelvic health questions answered…
If y’all missed out on our Kegel and Cones workshop last week at Crank and Boom then you’ll definitely want to read this! I’m going to cover some of the commonly asked questions from the workshop as well as questions I get often in the clinic in regards to pelvic health. Also make sure to follow us on social and join us for our second Kegels and Cones workshop on Feb 12th at 7pm!
Q1: Could you address pelvic floor issues for young women in medically-induced menopause?
Medically- induced menopause either through surgery or medication can have a significant impact on the pelvic floor muscles as well as the rest of the body. When there is a drop in estrogen (one of the hormones that decreases with removal of ovaries or certain medications) there will be changes to both vaginal lubrication as well as blood flow to the muscles of the pelvic floor. In some women this can lead to a sensation of vaginal dryness or pain with intercourse. This can be treated by adding topical estrogen or specific products designed to improve vaginal tissue health. If this is you, talk with your gynecologist about safe products that could work for you. Women may also experience changes in pelvic floor muscle function due to the change in blood flow to the area. This can lead to urinary leakage, prolapse or pain. If you’re experiencing any of these things then give us a call. We can address all of them in pelvic floor PT as well as help prevent the onset of these issues before they happen! If you want to learn more about how menopause can affect the body, how to prepare, and what you can do about it check out my friend and yoga instructor Lisa King’s course “The Menopause Rebellion: Taking Control of Your Journey” or click the link below:
https://momence.com/Lisa-King-Yoga/The-Menopause-Rebellion%3A-Taking-Control-of-Your-Journey-/99161
Q2: What about vaginal odor - when is it concerning and what to do about it?
Vaginal odor can come from a variety of sources and everyone is unique in how that area of their body may smell. You can notice a change in odor if you are dehydrated or consuming excessive sugar or it can be a sign of an infection. If you notice a change in odor smell or color or amount you should contact your doctor for further consultation to rule out any infection present.
Q3: Are there exercises one can do to help their first time engaging in intercourse be less painful?
There are absolutely things one can do to prepare for first time intercourse to help with muscle relaxation and pain. I’m going to write this from the assumption the question is asking regarding pain related to vaginal penetration. I want to take a minute to say that while it's common to have some soreness with first time intercourse it doesn’t HAVE to be painful! First you want to learn to perform proper diaphragmatic breathing as this will allow natural range of motion and lengthening to the pelvic floor. Check out our blog post titled “Just Breathe” for more information on this. You can do this in positions such as child’s pose, deep squat, happy baby, and many more to improve pelvic floor range of motion. Second is to look out for any warning signs that you could already have pelvic floor dysfunction.
These include but are not limited to:
Difficulty inserting a tampon or menstrual cup
Pain or inability to tolerate pelvic exam by OBGYN
Chronic constipation or straining to empty bowels/bladder
Tailbone pain
Pain with prolonged sitting
Frequent UTIs
If you’re experiencing any of the above, schedule a free phone consultation with us to find out more on how they can affect pelvic floor function. Thirdly you can do some gentle self stretching or dilator use. There are these tools called vaginal dilators (see the link below to a great resource on this) which can help to provide gentle stretch and desensitization to the pelvic floor muscles. They can help people prepare for vaginal penetration with less discomfort and know how to maintain good pelvic floor relaxation. If you are interested in learning more, schedule an appointment with us as it can be tricky to figure out alone and we are experts in teaching patients to use these tools!
https://www.intimaterose.com/collections/vaginal-dilators
Q4: Are menstrual cups good for the pelvic floor?
Short answer…it depends. They are great for people who are able to insert and remove them with no pain and maintain normal muscle tone in the pelvic floor. Where I see menstrual cups have a negative impact on the pelvic floor is when people push through pain to insert them or can’t get them situated correctly then feel pain when they are sitting or moving which in turns causes them to clench their pelvic floor muscles. Finding the right menstrual cup is key - you want a good fit, that as it fills , it stays in place without you having to contract your pelvic floor muscles around it. So if you’ve been wearing a menstrual cup and aren’t experiencing these symptoms then keep rocking it out! If you are struggling with inserting or removing the cup or are experiencing discomfort while wearing it, feel free to give us a call as we can help address any muscle dysfunction that could be preventing you from using your menstrual cup.
These are just a few of the questions commonly asked in the pelvic health realm. Continue to follow along on the blog as we will do more “FAQ” posts in the future. If you have a pelvic health question or any movement-related question don’t hesitate to schedule a free phone consult! Our therapists would love to talk with you.
Written by: Kelsey Karnes PT, DPT