By Cambria Oetken, PT, DPT The lost art of breathing… I recently read the book Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, written by author James Nestor who explores the power of breath, its impact on our health, and the ways in which we’ve lost touch with the ancient practices that can unlock optimal wellbeing. Breathing is …
Better Orgasms for EveryBODY
By Cambria Oetken, PT, DPT In every one of my pelvic floor evaluations, I always ask about your sexual health. How does it function? Do you experience any pain? Where is the pain located? Can you achieve an orgasm? If so, is it painful or difficult to achieve? The list of questions depends on what brings you into pelvic floor …
Overcoming Hysterectomy, Prolapse Repair Surgery, and Returning to Paddle Boarding!
By Cambria Oetken, PT, DPT Background Diane is a 66-year-old woman with a history of three vaginal deliveries. She came to PHRC with a significant history of pelvic floor pain, muscle spasms, urinary incontinence, pain with intercourse, and muscle weakness. Diane had undergone multiple pelvic reconstruction surgeries for pelvic organ prolapse (POP), the most recent being a total hysterectomy and …
Clitoral Adhesions: Clarity on Clitoral Care
By Cambria Oetken, DPT, PHRC Westlake Village Our sexual medicine experts have written a review shared in the International Society of Sexual Medicine Journal in regards to Clitoral Adhesions through a literature review written by Jennifer P. Romanello, Monica C. Myers, Elsa Nico, and Rachel S. Rubin. If you have not already, check out our recent blog on “How …
Attention Moms: Breast Feeding & Genitourinary Symptoms Are Connected!
By Cambria Oetken, DPT, PHRC Westlake Village Here is What You Need To Know! This year new moms are finally getting the attention they deserve! We are excited to report our trusted sexual medicine experts coined a new term that describes the genitourinary hormonal deficiencies of lactating moms experience. What is the Genitourinary Syndrome Lactation? Earlier this year, …
How High is Your Clitoris IQ?
By Cambria Oetken, DPT, PHRC Westlake Village The Clitoris. We Found it! There is conflicting evidence as to when the clitoris was exactly discovered and studied. It is thought to date back to 400 BC when Hippocrates described the clitoris as a protrusion which functioned to protect the vagina. There was a later time when anatomists denied its …
Acknowledging the Musculoskeletal Syndrome of Menopause
By Cambria Oetken, DPT, PHRC Westlake Village and Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, PHRC Pasadena HOT off the Press: Menopause is finally getting the attention it deserves in recent years with an exponential amount of attention in 2024. This year, Let’s Talk Menopause has considered their advocacy work, heading to Capital Hill and hosting in-person events for women. Tamsen Fadel and …
Dilators: helpful or harmful for recovering from pelvic pain?
By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Pasadena and Cambria Oetken, DPT, PHRC Westlake Village Spoiler alert: the answer is both. Let us explain. Vaginal dilators are tools used to assist in the treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction, specifically when there are issues with penetration of any kind. Historically, patients have had to direct their own care and may have purchased …
The “Skinny” on Ozempic and Your Pelvic Floor
Slimming Success or Health Setback? Weight Loss Drugs + The Pelvic Floor By Cambria Oetken, DPT, PHRC Westlake Village What is Ozempic? You may be familiar with the name “Ozempic,” “Semaglutide” or even “GLP-1” likely due to their social media presence and celebrity influencers, so what really are these drugs and what do they do in our bodies? Semaglutide …
A Guide to Relaxing Your Pelvic Floor
By Cambria Oetken, DPT, PHRC Westlake Village What is the Pelvic Floor? The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and connective tissues that form a supportive “sling” at the base of your pelvis. They help control the collection of and release of urine, feces, and gas, they support pelvic organs, and the muscles contribute to sexual function. Just …
Success Story! How Josh recovered from Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS)
By Cambria Oetken, PHRC Westlake Village June is Men’s Health month, and men suffer from pelvic pain too. Research shows that up to 16% of men suffer from Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS) at some point in their life. However, we suspect this number is lower than the actual prevalence because it is so commonly misdiagnosed as a …