By: Chelsey Vasquez, PT, DPT, PRPC Abdominal bloating and distension are common concerns I hear from patients in pelvic health physical therapy. Many people feel uncomfortable pressure in their abdomen after eating or by the end of the day. While digestive conditions can contribute, another often overlooked factor is abdominophrenic dyssynergia. Abdominophrenic dyssynergia occurs when...
By: Kristin Carpenter, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT If you’re a woman in your 40s or 50s and suddenly experiencing more joint pain, muscle aches, or back pain, you’re not imagining it. Many women notice new or worsening musculoskeletal pain during perimenopause, the hormonal transition leading up to menopause. These symptoms can feel confusing especially if...
By: Chelsey Vasquez, PT, DPT, PRPC and Erica Tran, PT, DPT, OCS For many women, childbirth recovery includes more than just sleep deprivation and adjusting to life with a newborn. Perineal tearing during delivery is extremely common and can sometimes lead to lingering pelvic pain, scar sensitivity, or pain with intercourse months after giving birth....
By: Chelsey Vasquez, PT, DPT, PRPC When it comes to pelvic health, misinformation is everywhere. Whether it’s a social media post encouraging everyone to do Kegels or outdated advice to just “deal with” pelvic pain, these myths can prevent people from seeking the care they need. Pelvic floor dysfunction can affect people of all genders,...
By: Erica Tran, PT, DPT, OCS Working with individuals during pregnancy, we’re often asked, “What is the best position to deliver a baby in?” Our response is consistent: there is no one perfect position. Just like with posture, the best position is the one that keeps changing and allows you to feel most supported, safe,...
Meet Sarah, a new mom grappling with the challenges of her evolving sex life. Like many new parents, she finds herself facing painful intercourse and a decrease in sexual desire just three months after welcoming her baby. Unfortunately, this struggle is not uncommon. Up to 88% of new parents report sexual well-being issues, yet less...
What is GSM? Genitourinary syndrome of menopause is a relatively new term that describes various signs and symptoms associated with menopause. These include genital symptoms (vaginal dryness, burning, and irritation), sexual symptoms (dryness, pain, discomfort, and impaired function), and urinary symptoms (urgency, dysuria, and recurrent UTIs). During menopause, the production of estrogen and progesterone decreases....
Yes, men have a pelvic floor too! At Mend in Boulder and Lafayette, our pelvic health specialists treat all male pelvic health concerns. Some signs of a male pelvic health dysfunction could include: Frequent urination Strong urge to urinate Delayed start of stream or disrupted stream Erectile dysfunction Chronic constipation Pain in genitals or rectum...
Vaginal dilators are tools that help stretch and expand the vaginal introitus (or opening) and surrounding tissues. Dilators come in many shapes, sizes, and material types but all utilize the underlying strategy of desensitizing and stretching the tissue gradually and progressively. Most often dilators are prescribed for conditions that cause pain with vaginal penetration. Common...
Findings in a new study are now more than ever clearly defining the link between the brain and the gut microbiome. The study showed regular laxative use tied to increased risk of dementia. Researchers followed over 500,000 UK residents over 10 years and those that regularly used osmotic laxatives (stool softeners) or a combination of...
