Discussions around female sexual health, including issues like sexual dysfunction and sexual pleasure, have often been avoided due to societal norms. Women have been taught that discussing the lady business is not polite conversation, but it’s one of the biggest parts of our lives; it is our health and happiness. Women’s healthcare providers are looking to change that by destigmatizing women’s health and encouraging open and honest discussions about therapies that can improve women’s lives and relationships.
Hormone health is integral to a person’s well-being. Hormone loss and imbalance are common and can be due to aging, lifestyle, genetics, medical conditions, medication and environmental factors. Changes in hormone levels can also be a function of pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause.
Carolina Hormone & Health Center in Mount Pleasant uses bioidentical hormone replacement therapy to optimize their patients’ hormone levels. “As we age,” explained Physician’s Assistant Karen Gadol, “we may see a drop in our hormones, typical in menopause. Optimized hormones have anti-aging benefits but also strong benefits in terms of bone health, cardiovascular protection and prevention of neurodegenerative diseases, as well as the ability to boost energy, stamina and libido.”
However, the need for hormone support can start long before menopause. Per Gadol, many women seek hormone replacement therapy to manage PMS and other symptoms as early as their 30s and 40s. “The benefits of hormone replacement therapy range from improving sleep quality, focus, memory and sexual energy to reducing irritability, brain fog, hot flashes, vaginal dryness and night sweats,” explained Noelle Jennings, DO. “Patients can enjoy results as quickly as one to three weeks after beginning treatment,” she added.
Using a personalized combination of oral supplementation and bioidentical hormone pellets based on thorough test results, Carolina Hormone & Health optimizes thyroid function and sex hormones progesterone, estrogen and testosterone to help patients feel their best. “Patients often seek us out because they have not found answers for the symptoms they are experiencing. Their medical providers may not have told them about this option. By Mary Ann Sims holding a model of a woman’s pelvis. the time they find their way to us, they are ready to feel better,” Jennings concluded.
Pelvic Floor Therapist Mary Ann Sims, PT, DPT, WCS, sees female patients under similar circumstances. Many complain of urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, pelvic area pain and bowel issues. Those issues include fecal incontinence, diarrhea, constipation, as well as uncomfortable or painful sexual activity. These symptoms impact their daily lives and may make it difficult for them to exercise, travel, socialize and enjoy intercourse.
“Our main focus in pelvic floor therapy is the muscles of the pelvic floor, which are important in bowel, bladder and sexual function. They are part of the core and play an important role in pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period,” explained Sims.
Pelvic floor dysfunction is not, however, limited to mothers. Sims and her team at Private Therapy Services’ Pelvic Floor Centers in West Ashley, Mount Pleasant and Summerville also see teenagers and young women hoping to address endometriosis, painful periods, painful urination, bladder disorders, back and hip discomfort and urinary leakage during sports.
“The pelvic floor is our specialty area, but we look at the body as a whole,” continued Sims. “We evaluate how you move, stand, lift, walk and run, as well as your posture. We ask screening questions to assess symptoms and may recommend internal assessment of the pelvic floor muscles to understand the overall anatomy.”
Pelvic floor therapy usually yields results in four to six weeks. It is designed based on the individual’s history, comfort levels with the recommended therapies and the severity of their condition. Treatment may include stretching, strengthening and toning, some of which can be done in the center or at home using specialized tools and exercises. Benefits of pelvic floor therapy include improved posture, a boost in athletic performance, greater satisfaction during sexual intercourse, confidence, increased participation in social activities and improved quality of life.
Ashton Guichard, AGNP-C, co-owns Jag Medical Cosmetics in Summerville and St. George. She also works with women suffering from pelvic floor weakness, incontinence, vaginal dryness and painful intercourse.
“Vaginal rejuvenation is a blanket term for procedures that improve the overall health of the vagina and pelvic floor,” Guichard explained. “As women age, children or not, they lose muscle function and develop weakness. Childbirth and pregnancy can impact it, but it can happen to anyone. Everyone will deal with it at some point in their lives. Even activity and lifting weights can cause pelvic floor dysfunction and vaginal weakness.”
Vaginal rejuvenation treatments aim to tighten the vagina, reduce incontinence, and eliminate dryness by helping the mucus membranes maintain moisture. “Women often come to us for vaginal rejuvenation because they notice leaking or waking up more often to use the restroom overnight. As women age, vaginal dryness and painful intercourse become increasingly common,” Guichard added.
Using advanced technology known as “Emsella,” Guichard and her team offer their clients a breakthrough treatment. “The Emsella is a round chair on which patients sit fully dressed. The Emsella utilizes electromagnetic supra maximal pelvic floor contractions, equivalent to 11,000 Kegels in under 30 minutes,” Guichard explained. “Emsella is an evidence-based procedure, which led me to pursue this treatment. Most women start with two Emsella sessions per week for three weeks for a total of six sessions. Maintenance is patient dependent; some come back annually for another round of treatments or a single session.”
Guichard considers Emsella an excellent alternative to pelvic floor surgery. “One of our clients was in tears; she was so happy that she didn’t have to go into surgery, leave her kids, plan her downtime and recovery because this option was available to her.” Guichard believes that pelvic floor strengthening is a great place to start and will refer women with severe cases to a pelvic floor specialist for additional support if needed.
Many women suffer from physical symptoms that disrupt their qualities of life, relationships and mental health. Thankfully, many of the symptoms women experience when they become mothers, age and live their lives to the fullest can be addressed with minimally invasive, evidence-based therapies. With continued open discussion, these therapies will earn their deserved place in the broader conversation surrounding women’s health.
