What is vaginismus? Vaginismus is an anticipatory, involuntary contraction of the pelvic floor muscles which may prevent any sort of penetration into the vagina or cause it to be painful. Why does someone develop vaginismus? There are many different reasons that contribute to the development of vaginismus. It...
Everyone knows we should eat fiber and that it helps to “keep things moving” with regards to bowel movements, but that’s often where it stops. 'Figuring out fiber' can help with bowel health (making bowel movements not too soft or too hard, but just right),...
Obstetric anal sphincter injuries, otherwise known as OASIS, may occur during a vaginal delivery. OASIS occurs when the degree of perineal trauma is categorized as a third or fourth degree tear. A third degree tear involves injury to the perineum and the anal sphincter complex. Third...
If you have seen an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner for care it is very likely that a portion of your session involved the gentle hands-on approach of craniosacral therapy (CST). CST is often referred to as an alternative treatment approach which is mostly applied by trained...
Surgery for the removal of the prostate is a common course of treatment for prostate cancer. Common side effects with surgery include urinary incontinence (leakage) and erectile dysfunction, both of which can have an impact on resuming sexual activity. Erectile dysfunction can make it difficult...
Tracking cervical mucous is an age-old conversation and one which I have with my fertility patients every time they come in for a visit. Your cervical mucous changes in texture, volume and colour at different parts of your menstrual cycle and these are important changes...
Dyspareunia is the term used for recurring pain in the genital area or within the pelvis during sexual activity. This can be very distressing physically and emotionally for the person experiencing these symptoms and their partner. Dyspareunia can be further defined as superficial or deep. ...
Historically, a new mom would visit their health care provider at about 6 weeks postpartum for a check up. At this appointment, there is typically a discussion about symptoms, a quick visual check of the vaginal tissues, and then they are “cleared for return to...
The condition diastasis rectus abdominis (DRA) is defined as the compromised integrity and function of the abdominal wall due to the separation of the two rectus abdominis muscle bellies from the linea alba (Noble, 1982). In other words, DRA is the overstretching, thinning and widening...
Going to the bathroom for a bowel movement is something that we all do regularly, but don’t often talk about, especially when one is struggling with fecal incontinence issues. Many of us understand the importance of a healthy bowel regimen and know that you should...
