Cynthia McClure

Are you pregnant? Postpartum? Newly married? Having discomfort during intercourse? A feeling of heaviness in your vagina? Perhaps you know your bladder has prolapsed?

How would you like to be pain free? To run without worrying about peeing your pants? Or how about just some guided recovery after childbirth, like why ain’t this just standard care and common knowledge?!

Let me get down to the nitty gritty and the TMI and tell you why you need a pelvic floor therapist… And how I wish I had gone in sooner.

MY STORY

I heard it from my midwife during prenatal care, I heard it from my doula during childbirth education classes, I heard it from other moms who had been through it. Go see a pelvic floor therapist before you go into labor.

Did I? No, I didn’t. In my defense I was working full time and commuting two hours a day to do said work, but man I wish I had listened. I’m curious if it would have made a difference in my labor, but labor went well so whatever.

No, the real reason I wish I had listened is because starting about a week into my marriage I had excruciating pain during intercourse. Everyone tries to prepare you for your wedding night but that actually went well; It was a week or so later that it was so bad I just couldn’t go there. I just decided to suffer through it, I guess because I thought it would get better with time, and it sort of did, but it never went away.

More than a year later, and a few weeks postpartum, I finally saw a pelvic floor therapist. She poked around my hips and said “yeah, you really should have come in sooner.” Like dang, is it that obvious?

A few months of seeing her every other week and I had totally pain free sex for the first time since my wedding night, and now nine months postpartum I’m easing back into running without any trouble, and if there is trouble, I know who to call.

I hope this personal story helps you make the dreaded phone call (or text message) to schedule with a pelvic floor therapist. It is totally worth it; don’t wait until your postpartum or peeing your pants to ‘just do it’. You won’t regret it… But I don’t take responsibility if you do.

Now for some FAQ

WHAT IS PELVIC FLOOR THERAPY HELPFUL FOR?

Pregnancy and postpartum are the big ones, but pelvic floor therapy is helpful for other things as well and yes, men can see a pelvic floor therapist as too!

Issues that can be addressed include: urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, chronic constipation, emptying issues. Chronic pelvic pain or painful intercourse, pelvic organ collapse, and rehab after prostate or gynecological surgeries.

WHAT IF I DON’T WANT SOMEONES FINGERS UP MY VAGINA?

Fair enough! I understand the sentiment and to be honest my pelvic floor therapist has as of this writing never given me a vaginal exam. She simply worked on the outside messaging my hips and showing me exercises to strengthen targeted areas. She gave advice and lots of lube samples and listened to my concerns and health goals.

If you don’t want a vaginal exam then just say so, most PTs will work with that and still get you amazing results. If they insist they can’t help you within what your comfortable with, then find a different therapist.

WHO DO YOU RECOMMEND?

The only pelvic floor therapist I have personally worked with is Becky Montag from Montag Physical Therapy. She’s located in grand junction and only takes female clients. She is quite busy though.

I would recommend Google and a phone to find someone that fits your needs.

WHAT ABOUT INSURANCE?

Medicaid will usually cover pelvic floor therapy if you have a referral. If you are postpartum and don’t have a primary care provider on speed dial for said referral you can drop by an urgent care to have them write you one. This works great for when you can’t afford to wait three months for an appointment. This trick is also great for lactation referrals.

If you found this article helpful please share it with someone who needs that kick in the pants to take care of their pelvic floor health!