View Post

Fusobacterium and Endometriosis: New Insights or Media Frenzy?

In Endometriosis, pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Health by Jandra MuellerLeave a Comment

By Jandra Mueller, DPT, MS, PHRC Encinitas   The recent study titled “Fusobacterium infection facilitates the development of endometriosis through the phenotypic transition of endometrial fibroblasts” by Muraoka et al. has generated significant attention and frenzy in the media.  The media coverage of this article has been intense, with headlines highlighting the potential breakthrough in understanding the pathogenesis of endometriosis, …

View Post

Dyspareunia: Symptoms and Associated Conditions

In Endometriosis, Female Pelvic Pain, pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Pain, Vulvodynia by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

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.  …

View Post

March is Endometriosis Month; Current News and Updates

In Endometriosis, Female Pelvic Pain, Pain, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain by Jandra MuellerLeave a Comment

By Jandra Mueller, DPT, MS, PHRC Encinitas   March is the month where we get to talk about all things Endometriosis. Endometriosis (‘endo’) is an estrogen mediated, inflammatory disease characterized by endometrial-like tissue found outside of the uterus. Most commonly it is found in the abdominal and pelvic cavity, but can be found elsewhere in the body as well. Endo …

View Post

What is Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD/GPD)? Part 2

In Endometriosis, Female Pelvic Pain, Pain, pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles   In 2021, a panel of experts published a consensus and management of care paper on Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder/Genito-Pelvic Dysesthesia (PGAD/GPD) in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. The paper describes a treatment algorithm involving five different therapeutic targets for PGAD/PGD! The paper describes how clinicians newer to treating this diagnosis can …

View Post

What is Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD/GPD)? Part 1

In Endometriosis, Female Pelvic Pain, Pain, pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles   Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD) is a syndrome characterized by unwanted genital arousal in nonsexual situations and was first described in 2001. The syndrome is being studied and in 2021 the International Society for the Study of Women’s Health (ISSWSH) published new guidelines about PGAD, broadening the term to genito-pelvic dysesthesia …

View Post

Endometriosis: Frequently Asked Questions & Their Answers

In Endometriosis, pelvic floor physical therapy by Jandra MuellerLeave a Comment

By Jandra Mueller, DPT, MS, PHRC Encinitas   This past month was Endometriosis Awareness Month. It was very exciting to see how many more individuals and providers were sharing amazing information about this disease that affects such a large percentage of our population. This was not always the case, and it is a sign we are moving in the right …

View Post

Pelvic Hip Pain, A Patient Success Story

In Endometriosis, Female Pelvic Pain, pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain by Emily TranLeave a Comment

By Jillian Giannini, DPT, PHRC Pasadena, Jennifer Keesee, DPT, PHRC Westlake Village and Emily Schwerdtfeger, BA, PHRC Westlake Village “I’m the exception, right?” “It could never happen to me.” Emily is a 25 year old female that has had left hip pain for five years now. She describes her hip pain as:   Achy or sharp  In front of L …

View Post

Setting Up for Success after Endometriosis Excision Surgery

In Endometriosis, Pain, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain by pelv_adminLeave a Comment

By Jennifer Keesee, DPT, PHRC Westlake Village & Jandra Mueller, DPT, MS, PHRC Encinitas   Congratulations on taking the next step in your healing journey! You’ve found a great doctor and decided to proceed with endometriosis excision surgery. If you’re like me, after many years of managing endo symptoms, you’re probably excited to address the root cause. If you have …

View Post

Endometriosis: A PT’s Journey to Diagnosis & Treatment

In Endometriosis by pelv_adminLeave a Comment

By Jennifer Keesee, DPT, PHRC Westlake Village March is endometriosis awareness month, and here at PHRC we want to help spread the word about this complex disease that is often hidden in plain sight. Endometriosis is a condition that affects approximately 10% of women, which also includes trans-men, and those who do not identify as a woman, but were born …

View Post

New Perspectives on Endo: Gut-Immune Link & IG Live w/ Dr. Orbuch

In Endometriosis, Female Pelvic Pain, Integrative Health and Nutrition, Pain, pelvic floor physical therapy, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain by Jandra MuellerLeave a Comment

By Jandra Mueller, DPT, MS, PHRC Encinitas   March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, AND National Nutrition Month – what a great time to talk about how optimal gut health and nutrition impacts endometriosis. Optimal gut health and nutrition play a crucial role in one’s endometriosis journey because having a healthy gut means improving our mental health, optimizing our immune system, …

View Post

Success Story: How Jennifer Beat Endometriosis

In Endometriosis by Jandra Mueller1 Comment

By Jandra Mueller, DPT, MS, PHRC Encinitas Jennifer was referred to PHRC by her urogynecologist who diagnosed her with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS). For more information on this condition, check out Melinda’s webinar on IC/PBS.  She was diagnosed with IC in 2012/2013 because she had been experiencing significant cramping in her bladder, as well as urinary urgency and frequency. …

View Post

Summary from IPPS 2019: Chronic Pain in Endometriosis

In Endometriosis by pelv_admin2 Comments

By: Morgan Conner, DPT, PHRC Los Gatos In October I had the pleasure of attending the International Pelvic Pain Society’s Scientific Meeting with a number of my colleagues here at PHRC. On the second day of the main conference, Catherine Allaire MDCM, FRCSC gave the James E. Carter keynote lecture titled Endometriosis: Towards Prevention of Chronic Pain. There were two …

View Post

Pelvic Pain Explained: Endometriosis + Resource List

In Endometriosis by Jandra Mueller2 Comments

By Jandra Mueller, DPT, PHRC Encinitas At PHRC we want to do our part to help people better understand pelvic pain syndromes and more importantly, help people suffering with these diagnoses get the help they need to recover. Since knowledge is power we created 6 videos and blog posts that we hope people find useful. This week, in our sixth …

View Post

Endometriosis: Beyond the lesions

In Endometriosis by Jandra Mueller2 Comments

  By: Jandra Mueller, DPT, MS, PHRC Encinitas In our second post of our series covering the Third World Congress on Abdominal and Pelvic Pain, I will cover the lecture titled Endometriosis-associated pain, why should we consider the central nervous system? If you missed our first post, click here.     This year at the annual meeting of the International Pelvic …

View Post

THINKING OUTSIDE THE GUT: Could Endometriosis be the culprit behind your Constipation or Bloating?

In Endometriosis by Stephanie Prendergast1 Comment

By Iris Kerin Orbuch, MD   Did you know that Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are as common as gynecological symptoms in women with endometriosis? Do you suffer from bloating and/or constipation? Endometriosis may be the cause of your bloating and/or constipation. Over 90% of women diagnosed with endometriosis actually present with GI symptoms as their initial symptoms. Before we delve into why …

View Post

Period Drama: Endometriosis Diagnosis and Treatment

In Endometriosis by Stephanie Prendergast1 Comment

  By Stephanie Prendergast, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles   Severe menstrual pain is not normal. If you experience severe pain during your period it is possible you are suffering from an underdiagnosed disease called Endometriosis.   Endometrial tissue lines the uterus. In response to hormonal influences, the endometrium of a healthy uterus thickens and then sheds through the cervix, through …

View Post

The Blunt Truth About Medicinal Marijuana and Pelvic Pain

In Endometriosis, Female Pelvic Pain, Male Interstitial Cystitis / Nonbacterial Chronic Prostatitis / Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome, Male Pelvic Pain by Shannon Pacella10 Comments

By Shannon Pacella, DPT, PHRC Lexington   Medical marijuana. You’ve probably heard of it. You’ve maybe even used it. But what you might not know about is the tug-of-war going on between researchers and lawmakers, and how this impacts the ability of this stigmatized substance to be studied – potentially missing out on an alternative treatment option for a multitude …

View Post

Treatment Solutions for Endometriosis

In Endometriosis, Female Pelvic Pain by Stephanie Prendergast1 Comment

By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles Did you know that severe menstrual pain is not normal?  If you experience severe pain during your period it is possible you are suffering from a very underdiagnosed disease called Endometriosis.   Endometrial tissue lines the uterus. In response to hormonal influences, the endometrium of a healthy uterus thickens and then sheds …

View Post

How Pelvic Floor PT helps Endometriosis

In Endometriosis, Female Pelvic Pain by pelv_admin16 Comments

Endometriosis is a common contributing factor to pelvic pain. Just to give you an idea of its prevalence: in laparoscopic procedures done to uncover possible causes of pelvic pain, endometriosis was found 80% of the time. The good news is that endo-related pelvic pain can be successfully treated with the proper pelvic floor PT! But, I’m getting ahead of myself. …