Table of Contents . What is Female Pelvic Pain? . How Does Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Cause Female Pelvic Pain? . What are the Symptoms of Female Pelvic Pain? . What are the Causes of Female Pelvic Pain? . What is the Treatment for Female Pelvic Pain? . What Conditions are Commonly Linked to Pelvic Pain? . What are the Diagnostic …
Can Psilocybin Help Manage Pelvic Pain?
Exploring a Psychedelic Frontier in Women’s Health By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, PHRC Pasadena Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a debilitating condition affecting millions of individuals—primarily women—worldwide. For many, the journey toward diagnosis and effective treatment is long, frustrating, and often fruitless. But could a centuries-old compound from “magic mushrooms” offer a new path forward? Recent years have seen a resurgence …
Updates on the Process of Care for Orgasm Dysfunction
The Big “O” – Let’s talk Updates in Care By Jandra Mueller, DPT, MS, PHRC Encinitas When people hear the word “orgasm,” most people probably think about ‘pleasure.’ What actually is an orgasm? When it comes to truly understanding this complex physiological and psychological phenomenon—especially in clinical settings—the conversation is much more nuanced. At the 2025 ISSWSH/ISSM Annual Meeting, …
How Your Muscles Create the Ultimate Crescendo
The Orgasm Orchestra: Designed by PHRC and explained by Dr. Maria Uloko SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT A little bit about Dr. Uloko before we dive into this blog…Dr. Maria Uloko is a board-certified urologist, researcher, and educator, internationally recognized for her work in sexual health, vulvar anatomy, and disparities in care. She is one of only seven experts globally trained in …
Better Orgasms for EveryBODY
By Cambria Oetken, PT, DPT SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT 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 …
Clitoral Adhesions: Clarity on Clitoral Care
By Cambria Oetken, DPT, PHRC Westlake Village SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT 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 …
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 …
10 Things I Wish I Was Taught About My Period
By PHRC Admin Team Menstruation. The word alone can bring a lot of emotions – confusion, embarrassment, relief, or sometimes just plain annoyance. Despite the fact that it’s a natural part of life for many people, there’s still so much we aren’t taught about our periods and menstrual cycles. Here are ten things I wish I was taught about my …
Understanding the Vaginal Microbiome and its Impact on Health
By Amanda Stuart, PT, DPT, PHRC West Los Angeles The vagina, like the gut, hosts its own ecosystem of microorganisms, known as the Vaginal Microbiome (VMB). When there’s a disruption in this ecosystem (dysbiosis), it can lead to various infections affecting genital and reproductive health. These infections may include bacterial vaginosis (BV), aerobic vaginitis (AV), cytolytic vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis …
10 Common Behaviors that Can Lead to Pelvic Pain
By Elizabeth Akincilar, MSPT, Cofounder, PHRC Merrimack Pelvic pain is a complex condition that can have various causes, including medical conditions, injuries, and certain behaviors. In this blog, we will discuss 10 common behaviors that can potentially lead to pelvic pain(and potentially chronic pelvic pain). It’s important to note that while these behaviors may contribute to pelvic pain, they …
Prioritizing Mental Health: A Necessity, Not a Luxury
By Emily Tran In the realm of chronic pain management, the intricate link between physical suffering and mental well-being cannot be overstated. Mental health counselors specializing in chronic pain populations often emphasize that chronic pain is more than a physical condition; it deeply impacts one’s mental health, potentially leading to or worsening conditions such as depression, anxiety, and stress. …
Dealing with Clitoral Phimosis
By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles Clitoral phimosis, while not widely discussed, is a condition that affects many worldwide. It’s characterized by the formation of adhesions or scar tissue that covers the clitoris, causing discomfort, pain, and sexual dysfunction. Understanding and managing this condition can significantly improve the quality of life for those affected. Contact Us What is …
A Guide to Menstrual Products
By PHRC Admin Menstruation is a natural part of life for most. However, navigating the world of menstrual products can be a daunting task, given the variety of options available today. This guide aims to break down the different types of menstrual products on the market, their benefits, and why you might choose one over another. Traditional Disposable Products …
10 Tips to Decrease Your Pelvic Pain
By Elizabeth Akincilar, MSPT, Cofounder, PHRC Merrimack Pelvic pain can significantly impact your quality of life, but there are steps you can take to decrease or minimize this discomfort. In this blog, we will discuss 10 tips that can help alleviate pelvic pain and promote overall pelvic health. Put a stool under your feet when having a bowel …
An Unsettling Reality Exposed by “The Retrievals” Podcast
By PHRC Admin & Co-Author Cecilia Plaza, J.D Have you listened to The Retrievals podcast series? In a world where pain is subjective, women often find themselves marginalized, dismissed, and even ignored when it comes to their own experiences of pain. This issue has recently been brought to light through a thought-provoking podcast called “The Retrievals,” hosted by Susan …
Clitoral Pain: Unmasking Common Culprits
By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles The sole purpose of the clitoris is to be a source of pleasure. For anyone who has experienced provoked or unprovoked clitoral pain their experience can be the opposite and very alarming. There are a number of reasons why people may have clitoral pain and there are also solutions. However like …
National Breast Cancer Month: Raising Awareness
By PHRC Admin Team October is National Breast Cancer Month, a time to raise awareness about this deadly disease that affects millions of people across the globe. Approximately one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, making it the most common form of cancer among women in the United States . This month …
September Marks Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month
By Emily Tran, PHRC Westlake Village September marks Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, an important time to raise awareness about the importance of early detection and preventive measures for several types of gynecologic cancers. Gynecologic cancers refer to several different types of cancer that affect women’s reproductive organs, including cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal and vulvar cancer. While these cancers …
Success Story: How Stacey Recovered from Leaking and UTIs at PHRC
By Emily Eckmann, DPT, PHRC West Los Angeles Stacy’s History Stacy is a woman in her 60s who came to PHRC seeking help for her urinary incontinence that had progressively gotten worse over the last five years. She was eight years into menopause and had seen several gynecologists who did not find ‘anything wrong with her bladder.’ She …
Dyspareunia: Symptoms and Associated Conditions
By Stephanie A. Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles What is dyspareunia? A high number of people with a vagina suffer from painful versus pleasurable sex, including before, during or after sexual encounters. Superficial dyspareunia refers to pain at the opening of the vagina, whereas deep dyspareunia refers to feelings like something is being ‘hot’ or painful, deeper inside. …
Tight Lipped: You’re Not Alone; Patient-Led Communities
By Tight Lipped, guest blogger. “My doctor in college told me that my partner simply ‘didn’t know what he was doing’, and that’s why it felt like his penis was hitting a wall inside me.” “When I saw a doctor for my vaginal pain, he told me to use a cucumber to stretch out my vagina.” “So many doctors …