The Female Pelvis
There are various diagnoses and issues which can arise within the pelvis of a person assigned “female” at birth. (Please note: all gender identities and expressions are absolutely honored and respected at Embodied Physical Therapy, any mention here of “male” or “female” is strictly mechanical description and reference of birthed anatomical parts that have not undergone reassignment surgeries. Please feel safe and open to discuss personal terminology with our Pelvic Health Professionals!)
Some terms you may hear in this neighborhood of the pelvic health world are: endometriosis (please see menstruating persons section here), coccydynia (tailbone pain), pudendal neuralgia (nerve damage/ irritation resulting in pain, discomfort, or numbness,) post-partum tearing/scarring (episiotomies) and lesions within the pelvic bowl, vulvodynia (vulvar pain), vaginismus (vaginal pain), PGAD (persistent genital arousal disorder), interstitial cystitis (bladder pain syndrome), dyspareunia (painful sex), post-hysterectomy, amongst various other diagnoses and medical terms that may or may not be familiar.
A common time for many women to be referred to a physical therapist (despite this still not being as often as one would hope!) is post-partum or after being pregnant. There’s much confusion for mama to experience as she’s starting to get a better understanding of her new body and how it’s healing. However the pregnancy and/or birth experience may be, pregnancy can cause some issues within the physical body which can be addressed so you can confidently return to your “pre-pregnancy” life. Please find further information in the “Post-Partum Pelvis” section.
Female pelvic pain is an undiagnosed epidemic. Often when experiencing pain during menses, they are met with one of two options responses: “it’s completely normal and a part of the female life” OR “here’s some birth control!” The issue with this, for most women, is that even if the birth control helps temporarily “manage” the symptoms— it is a superficial solution for a deep-rooted cause. Often times, diagnoses like Endometriosis (the growth of the uterine lining outside of the uterus during the menstrual cycle), heavy menstrual cycles, and even the skipping or change in your menstrual cycle are symptoms with causes that can be addressed and worked on through holistic dietary changes and lifestyle modifications. Treatments like Arvigo Abdominal Massage, visceral work, and myofascial release techniques have been studied with women who suffer from various conditions such as these, and the results are promising. Womb wellness work can (and should!) be a vital component to the menstruating person’s repertoire of self-care tools.
The aforementioned conditions can all be diagnosed and addressed through a detailed evaluation, internal and external assessment, and the mobility of tissue— as well as strengthening exercises and functional progressions to lead you to a functioning form.
