When transgender or gender non-conforming individuals use packing, tucking, or binding methods, or undergo gender affirming surgeries, it can lead to discomfort and dysfunction in the trunk, lower extremities, pelvic floor, and surrounding areas. Pelvic floor physical therapy is instrumental in alleviating or eliminating pelvic, back, and chest pain, as well as addressing urinary, bowel, and sexual dysfunction that may arise from these practices and procedures.
Symptoms
- Pain associated with surgical scars
- Pain during vaginal penetration
- Difficulty achieving vaginal penetration
- Difficulty or inability to achieve orgasm
- Urinary dysfunction, including urgency, frequency, hesitancy, incontinence, and spraying
- Pelvic pain
- Chest and back pain
- Shoulder pain
When transgender or gender non-conforming individuals use packing, tucking, or binding methods, or undergo gender affirming surgeries, it can lead to discomfort and dysfunction in the trunk, lower extremities, pelvic floor, and surrounding areas. Pelvic floor physical therapy is instrumental in alleviating or eliminating pelvic, back, and chest pain, as well as addressing urinary, bowel, and sexual dysfunction that may arise from these practices and procedures.
Symptoms
- Pain associated with surgical scars
- Pain during vaginal penetration
- Difficulty achieving vaginal penetration
- Difficulty or inability to achieve orgasm
- Urinary dysfunction, including urgency, frequency, hesitancy, incontinence, and spraying
- Pelvic pain
- Chest and back pain
- Shoulder pain
Causes of Symptoms
- Surgical scars
- Stenosis of neovagina
- Loss of neovagina depth
- Pudendal neuralgia
- Persistent granulation tissue
- Pelvic floor dysfunction
- Compression
- Lower extremity muscle dysfunction
- Poor posture
Causes of Symptoms
- Surgical scars
- Stenosis of neovagina
- Loss of neovagina depth
- Pudendal neuralgia
- Persistent granulation tissue
- Pelvic floor dysfunction
- Compression
- Lower extremity muscles dysfunction
- Poor posture
Diagnostic Challenges
Regrettably, many healthcare providers, including pelvic floor physical therapists, lack familiarity with packing, tucking, binding techniques, and gender affirming surgical procedures. These procedures are not widely accessible in the United States, and there is limited education for healthcare professionals on managing care for these patients.
At PHRC, we are fortunate to operate in regions where these procedures are available, allowing us to collaborate closely with surgeons who perform them. We have proactively pursued specialized training as physical therapists to effectively support this patient population. As a result, we have successfully treated numerous patients who utilize these techniques or have undergone gender affirming surgeries.
Diagnostic Challenges
Regrettably, many healthcare providers, including pelvic floor physical therapists, lack familiarity with packing, tucking, binding techniques, and gender affirming surgical procedures. These procedures are not widely accessible in the United States, and there is limited education for healthcare professionals on managing care for these patients.
At PHRC, we are fortunate to operate in regions where these procedures are available, allowing us to collaborate closely with surgeons who perform them. We have proactively pursued specialized training as physical therapists to effectively support this patient population. As a result, we have successfully treated numerous patients who utilize these techniques or have undergone gender affirming surgeries.
Treatment:
How We Can Help You
Pelvic floor physical therapy plays a crucial role in supporting transgender and gender non-conforming individuals, whether they undergo surgical procedures or utilize nonsurgical techniques. For trans men, binding is a common practice, while trans women often use tucking and packing techniques.
Physical therapy helps ensure safe binding practices to prevent issues like chest, shoulder, and back pain, numbness, and scarring, while promoting proper posture. It also educates trans women on avoiding gait abnormalities and lower extremity muscle dysfunction associated with packing or tucking.
In cases where gender affirmation surgeries are involved, pelvic floor physical therapists can alleviate pain from surgical scars, enhance neovaginal penetration during intercourse, improve orgasm capability, normalize urinary function, and alleviate pelvic pain. Patients typically begin physical therapy around eight weeks post-surgery, although this timing varies based on the specific procedure performed.
Treatment:
How We Can Help You
Pelvic floor physical therapy plays a crucial role in supporting transgender and gender non-conforming individuals, whether they undergo surgical procedures or utilize nonsurgical techniques. For trans men, binding is a common practice, while trans women often use tucking and packing techniques.
Physical therapy helps ensure safe binding practices to prevent issues like chest, shoulder, and back pain, numbness, and scarring, while promoting proper posture. It also educates trans women on avoiding gait abnormalities and lower extremity muscle dysfunction associated with packing or tucking.
In cases where gender affirmation surgeries are involved, pelvic floor physical therapists can alleviate pain from surgical scars, enhance neovaginal penetration during intercourse, improve orgasm capability, normalize urinary function, and alleviate pelvic pain. Patients typically begin physical therapy around eight weeks post-surgery, although this timing varies based on the specific procedure performed.
How Can We Help You?
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