PELVIC HEALTH SUPPORT

Pelvic health. Could we have picked a broader topic? But the fact is the pelvic area holds so many vital organs, is innervated with an immense map of nerves and sits on structures that are vital for day-to-day functioning.

When we talk about the pelvic floor this refers to the muscles that line the base of the pelvis, supporting the uterus, the vagina, the bladder and the bowels. When we then talk about pelvic health we refer to these structures along with the multitude of nerves that sit in and around these structures. Your pelvic floor is not something you pay much attention to unless you have to, or have already become familiar with. In some cases, it may be evident that the pelvic floor is the culprit of your issues when it affects the organs it houses. Sometimes - say with abdominal pain or sciatic pain - it may be less obvious that assisting the pelvic floor would alleviate these symptoms.

Overall Pelvic Health

Acupuncture for pelvic pain helps reduce inflammation in a specific area of the body and in the whole body overall. It also encourages the body to produce pain-relieving chemicals like endorphins and serotonin. Moreover, acupuncture encourages the immune system to clear out things such as smaller fibroids which should not be there.

Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy is designed to train the pelvic floor muscles how to contract and relax, while also taking into consideration any issues with bladder, bowel and/or sexual function that may be affecting quality of life. There is a close connection between the pelvic floor, low back, and hips - understanding how your pelvic muscles are operating may be the key to unpacking the origin of some of your pain. Internal assessment and treatment assist in targeting specific muscles inside the pelvis, however non-internal therapy can also be provided based on patient preference.

Massage therapy for pelvic health can help by providing professional guidance and a safe space where we can reconnect with our bodies after periods of disassociation. Therapeutic touch has also been known to reduce feelings of anxiety and improve symptoms of depression, giving a greater sense of being. A massage therapy treatment aimed specifically at stress reduction and relaxation can help our nervous system shift from sympathetic state (fight or flight) to parasympathetic state (rest and digest) and help us feel a little bit better prepared to face the challenges of every day life.

Pelvic Pain

Many adolescents experiencing dysmenorrhea have primary dysmenorrhea which is painful menstruation in the absence of a pathology or stimulus. The first line of defense for patients presenting with primary dysmenorrhea is the use of non-specific anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Advil, as it has shown to reduce inflammation and improve quality of life for these individuals. If a patient does not respond well to NSAIDS, it tends to point to secondary dysmenorrhea which is painful menstruation due to the presence of a stimulus/disease such as endometriosis and/or adenomyosis. At that point a patient should undergo further testing including imaging such as ultrasound, and should be referred to a specialist for medical management.

Read below for some information on causes of secondary dysmenorrhea. However, note that we don’t gatekeep helpful tools and services based on a diagnosis. Someone experiencing painful periods should look into pelvic floor physiotherapy, massage, acupuncture and naturopathic medicine for the same reasons described in the sections below.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is an illness that can cause debilitating pain and unusually heavy bleeding. Some individuals find that they are in pain from their belly-button downward, causing pain during their cycle, during bowel movements, sometimes during urination, and during intercourse. While endometriosis is often in the pelvic area, it can grow on other organs such as the appendix, lungs and diaphragm. Extra-pelvic endometriosis is not rare!

Acupuncture for endometriosis helps reduce inflammation in a specific area of the body and in the whole body overall. It also encourages the body to produce pain-relieving chemicals like endorphins and serotonin. As many patients also suffer from bowel issues associated with their cycle, acupuncture can calm the nerves so the bowels can take a break. The use of acupuncture not only assists with the pain, but it aims at balancing out the blood flow during your menstrual cycle and can help with stress, sleep and overall quality of life.

Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy for endometriosis is designed to train the pelvic floor muscles how to contract and relax, while also taking into consideration any issues with bladder, bowel and/or sexual function that may be affecting quality of life. There is a close connection between the pelvic floor, low back, and hips - understanding how your pelvic muscles are operating may be the key to unpacking the origin of some of your pain. Internal assessment and treatment assist in targeting specific muscles inside the pelvis, however non-internal therapy can also be provided based on patient preference.

Massage therapy for endometriosis can help by providing professional guidance and a safe space where we can reconnect with our bodies after periods of disassociation. Therapeutic touch has also been known to reduce feelings of anxiety and improve symptoms of depression, giving a greater sense of being. A massage therapy treatment aimed specifically at stress reduction and relaxation can help our nervous system shift from sympathetic state (fight or flight) to parasympathetic state (rest and digest) and help us feel a little bit better prepared to face the challenges of every day life.

A big part of endometriosis is what we call ‘endobelly’. It is the distention of the belly when the body has been triggered, and much of this has to do with foods and environmental triggers. Using Naturopathic Medicine the goal is to identify what triggers your symptoms and how that can be altered with a few lifestyle goals. In Naturopathic Medicine the key to treating menstrual disorders is not to treat the hormones themselves. Rather they are a clue to an underlying inflammatory or pain condition such as endometriosis. Through charting of your cycle - which is often helpful - we can obtain blood work during ovulation to truly assess your hormone levels. From there the approach of an endometriosis naturopath is individualized, and may include bio identical hormones that may be received well by your body.

Adenomyosis

Adenomyosis occurs when the tissue that normally lines the uterus breaks through the muscle wall of the uterus. Those who suspect adenomyosis often experience painful periods, heavy menstrual bleeding, abdominal bloating and pressure, pain that radiates to the lower back and down the legs. Often adenomyosis and endometriosis are explored together, with pain management exploration and hormonal therapies to regulate the occurrence of bleeding.

Acupuncture helps reduce inflammation in a specific area of the body and in the whole body overall. It also encourages the body to produce pain relieving chemicals like endorphins and serotonin. As many patients also suffer from bowel issues associated with their cycle, acupuncture can calm the nerves so the bowels can take a break. The use of acupuncture not only assists with the pain, but it aims at balancing out the blood flow during your menstrual cycle and can help with stress, sleep and overall quality of life.

Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy is designed to train the pelvic floor muscles how to contract and relax, while also taking into consideration any issues with bladder, bowel and/or sexual function that may be affecting quality of life. There is a close connection between the pelvic floor, low back, and hips - understanding how your pelvic muscles are operating may be the key to unpacking the origin of some of your pain. Internal assessment and treatment assist in targeting specific muscles inside the pelvis, however non-internal therapy can also be provided based on patient preference.

Massage therapy can help by providing professional guidance and a safe space where we can reconnect with our bodies after periods of disassociation. Therapeutic touch has also been known to reduce feelings of anxiety and improve symptoms of depression, giving a greater sense of being. A massage therapy treatment aimed specifically at stress reduction and relaxation can help our nervous system shift from sympathetic state (fight or flight) to parasympathetic state (rest and digest) and help us feel a little bit better prepared to face the challenges of every day life.

Using Naturopathic Medicine the goal is to identify what triggers your symptoms and how that can be altered with a few lifestyle goals. In Naturopathic Medicine the key to treating menstrual disorders is not to treat the hormones themselves. Rather they are a clue to an underlying inflammatory or pain condition such as endometriosis, or adenomyosis. Through charting of your cycle - which is often helpful - we can obtain blood work during ovulation to truly assess your hormone levels. From there the approach is individualized, and may include bio identical hormones that may be received well by your body.