pelvic pain

In this episode of "Casa de Confidence," host Julie interviews Stephanie, the founder of the Aziza Project. Stephanie shares her long struggle with gynecologic pain, which went undiagnosed by numerous medical practitioners until she met Dr. Corey Babb at the Haven Center. Stephanie's conditions included endometriosis, adenomyosis, and endosalpingiosis, which caused significant pain and affected her life and ability to work.

 After successful treatment, she founded the Aziza Project to provide other women with access to quality medical care, funding for travel and procedures, and support. They discuss the project's goals, including raising $20,000 for 2024 to sponsor treatments for conditions like vaginismus and to support women's mental and physical health.

 Stephanie emphasizes the importance of advocating for one's health and the need for more gynecological specialists. The Aziza Project seeks donations and business sponsorships to help more patients and plans to offer scholarships for medical students specializing in complex gynecological care.

Understanding Gynecologic Conditions
During our conversation, Stephanie educated us on the various conditions she faced, including endometriosis, adenomyosis, and endosalpingiosis. Each condition brought its own set of challenges and pain, impacting her ability to contribute to her family's finances and overall quality of life.

The Path to Diagnosis and Treatment
Stephanie's path to diagnosis was fraught with missteps and frustration. It wasn't until she found an endometriosis excision specialist that she began to see a light at the end of the tunnel. The specialist's approach to excising endometriosis by the roots offered her an 80% chance of non-recurrence, a significant improvement over previous treatments.

The Aziza Project's Vision and Impact
The Aziza Project isn't just about financial assistance; it's about creating a ripple effect of education, advocacy, and support. Stephanie envisions a future where every woman has access to a vaginal specialist within a reasonable distance, where no one has to travel across the country for proper care.

A Call to Action: How You Can Help
Donations and Sponsorships
If you're moved by Stephanie's mission and want to contribute, the Aziza Project's website features a donate button for easy contributions. They're also seeking monthly sponsors, particularly from business owners who wish to support their cause and receive social media recognition in return.

https://www.azizaproject.org/
https://instagram.com/azizaproject

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Dr. Nicole founded PelvicSanity in Southern California to provide the kind of expert care she would want for her own friends and family.

The belief in putting patients first is at the core of what PelvicSanity does.  This includes: 

"Finding the Why" for true, lasting relief

Full-length treatment sessions

Both internal and external treatment for a whole-body approach

A positive, stress-free environment

Seeing the big picture to ensure you receive complete, holistic care​

Within just a few years PelvicSanity gained an international reputation, with patients travelling from all over the world for expert treatment (including 6 continents, 20 countries and 25+ US States).

Nicole now spends much of her time training and mentoring her dedicated staff, enabling far more people to receive expert care at PelvicSanity.


Among other awards, Dr. Nicole was named 2017 Physical Therapist of the Year (ICN) and 2012 Chapman University Alumnae of the Year.

https://www.pelvicsanity.com/

https://www.instagram.com/nicolecozeandpt/?hl=en

https://www.tiktok.com/@tiktokpelvicdoc

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I recommend checking out my comprehensive pelvic health education and fitness programs on my Buff Muff App

You can also join my next 28 Day Buff Muff Challenge https://www.vaginacoach.com/buffmuff

If you are feeling social you can connect with me…
On Facebook https://www.facebook.com/VagCoach
On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/vaginacoach/
On Twitter https://twitter.com/VaginaCoach
On The Web www.vaginacoach.com

Daphne Petrich is a mental health advocate turned pleasure activist, committed to shattering the taboo on sexual pain and fueling the pleasure revolution. After identifying a significant unmet need in the sexual health space, she led the launch of HelloGina in the US. HelloGina is an evidence-based program helping people overcome intimate pain through a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and pelvic floor exercises.

https://www.helloginahealth.com/

https://www.instagram.com/helloginahealth/

https://www.tiktok.com/@helloginahealth

https://www.feel-amazing.com/?ref=vaginacoach

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I recommend checking out my comprehensive pelvic health education and fitness programs on my Buff Muff App

You can also join my next 28 Day Buff Muff Challenge https://www.vaginacoach.com/buffmuff

If you are feeling social you can connect with me…
On Facebook https://www.facebook.com/VagCoach
On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/vaginacoach/
On Twitter https://twitter.com/VaginaCoach
On The Web www.vaginacoach.com

Hey Jen here- Solo episode 2- following on from episode 1, I have a rant about the term 'trauma dumping', how this can invalidate someones's experience, the importance of finding your voice, the connection between physical pain in the now and my experience of childhood sexual trauma, changing the narrative over the past, how being kind, loving and compassionate towards ourselves is a must. I would love to hear your experiences with ovarian cysts, pelvic pain and endo, my emails and socials are open! 

Make sure you subscribe so you don't miss an episode

Share your thoughts in a review and help spread the word 

Want to dive deeper into your own self discovery - join my UK retreats www.lunarspiritwellbeing.com 

Connect with me here https://linktr.ee/jennifermckenzie

We had the honor of having Nurse Jenna, Founder of Discovher Health, join us as we discussed intimacy, sex, and active consent. This convo felt like three old friends reuniting after being away from each other for far too long. Nurse Jenna comes through with great tips for getting you started on an intimacy-building journey despite dealing with chronic illness. She treats a wide array of chronic pelvic conditions and also has a great podcast called Tame the Taboo where she invites guests to discuss topics that most of us learned to avoid: sex, pee, poop, and pain. Jenna’s passion for education is an integral component to her practice. She believes it is essential for a person to understand how their body functions in order to heal dysfunction and improve quality of life. She created Discovher Health so she could deliver quality care in an environment that prioritizes patient education, evidenced-based care, and TIME!  Please forgive me (Kimether) for nerding out with Nurse Jenna. When two Nurse Practitioners get together, it's a whole vibe! I love the work she's doing and I aspire to be like her when I "grow up." :) 

The Discovher Health website is fill of FREE resources on various pelvic conditions and her curated HERshop is full of Nurse Jenna-approved health and pleasure products. Check it out! Www.discovherhealth.com ; https://shop.discovherhealth.com/

Find a Sexual Medicine Clinician

• International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH):: https://members.isswsh.org/spma-login
• The North American Menopause Society:: https://portal.menopause.org/NAMS/NAMS/Directory/Menopause-Practitioner.aspx
• The Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA): https://www.smsna.org/patients/

Do you have a topic idea for the podcast? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at endothickofit@gmail.com or reach out on our Instagram, @endothickofit. 

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Thanks so much for your love and support as we build this amazing little community that we love so much! 💛

What IS the fourth trimester?

In this podcast episode, we are beyond thrilled to be in conversation with the two magnificent women who created Fourth Trimester Foundations. Carly and Meg are registered nurses who work on the frontlines - they are present with moms in labor and delivery every day. They’re also moms themselves, and have experienced firsthand the many gaps in the healthcare system that doesn’t prepare people for the fourth trimester experience.

In this episode you’ll learn about:

• The pediatrician who brought forth the science behind fourth trimester
• The concept of still being a “unit” with your baby after birth
• How taking POSTPARTUM CLASSES is equally as important as taking  CHILDBIRTH CLASSES
• The question Carly and Meg get most after EVERY patient gives birth - no matter if it was vaginal or surgical
• The importance of setting FIRM boundaries to start, knowing that postpartum is YOUR experience and you get to change your mind if you feel like it
• Stories from nurses who have seen it all and are tired of society telling women they have to keep their postpartum struggles under wraps

Notable Quotes from Carly & Meg:
“There's a couple of reasons that people don’t prepare for postpartum. Frankly, you don't have to, nobody's gonna make you do it. You can still show up in labor and you'll get to the other side, and you'll still have your fourth trimester, whether it's good or bad, or somewhere in between, and you'll survive and life will go on - you don't have to do it. I think the other reason that people don't [prepare] is because the society portrays to us that you're done after you give birth - the event is over. You know, it's not like any other experience in the hospital. You go into the hospital sick, you get treated, you get better, you go home, and it's over. You go in for surgery, your surgery’s done, you recover from your surgery, and it's over. Your birth, whether it was surgical or vaginal, it's not a finished experience. Once your birth is over, people forget that there's this whole life left to live. The collateral damage of what happened to your body in the process doesn't have to just fall apart.”

“There's so much focus on creating a registry for baby and having all the right baby products and making sure you have every kind of bottle or every kind of product you could possibly need for all of your motherhood journey. [But] there's a better [use of] time, finances or the support you’re being gifted with to prepare for postpartum before it's there.”

Resources & Links
Learn more about Carly and Meg and Fourth Trimester Foundations on their website where you’ll find the free postpartum planner and post-birth warning signs guide mentioned in the episode. Use code DEVOTEDMAMAS20 for $20 off any workshop or 1:1 call!. Carly and Meg also keep it real on Instagram + TikTok:

If you’re postpartum and ready to start your core and pelvic floor recovery, check out our Postpartum Repair & Restore 8-week program with LIVE coaching. In this program, we guide you through the exact workouts you need to feel your muscles strengthening + the education and LIVE supervision you need to know you’re doing it right.  For more information, go to devotedmamas.com/repair

If you’re currently pregnant, check out our Expecting to Flourish membership, a mom-driven and expert-guided virtual community that we created to help you stay your strongest during pregnancy, physically practice for birth and move easily into early postpartum. Find out more at devotedmamas.com/flourish

Forget Glastonbury! There's a women's health festival happening in Cardiff on Saturday June 24th, 2023, and it's going to be epic!

The EveryWoman Festival is about offering empowerment, support and education on health topics that may be difficult or considered taboo to talk about.

In this bonus episode, Helen is joined by the colorectal surgeon and EveryWoman founder, Julie Cornish, as well as fellow-speakers: the GP and health educator Dr Aziza Sesay and author of PMSL, Luce Brett. They give us a flavour of what's to come - smashing pelvic health taboos, closing the gender health gap, periods, menopause, mental health and sexual wellbeing...alongside belly dancing, cookery, music and more!

You can buy tickets from The EveryWoman Festival website

You can follow @theeverywomanfestival on Instagram

If you've ever Googled your pelvic floor problems, you've probably come across Hypopressives. They're not easy to describe, but are essentially a series of breathing and posture exercises for your core and pelvic floor, with a focus on decreasing intra-abdominal pressure.

While they're not currently a recommended NHS treatment, more evidence is emerging about the use of hypopressives in treating symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction, including incontinence and prolapse. Alice Housman is a hypopressives trainer with a background in gynaecology nursing, and she’s working to publish her own research. She's also a mum with pelvic organ prolapse, who found that hypopressives helped her to become virtually asymptomatic.

In this episode Helen and Alice discuss hypopressives - what they are, how they're thought to work and what the evidence is behind them.

As ever, this content is not intended as medical advice, so please seek out your own professional support and, of course, do your own research.

You can find Alice's website here

Alice is @hypopressives_with_alice on Instagram

The paper that Alice refers to is Effectiveness of Hypopressive Exercises in Women with Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: A Randomised Controlled Trial (Navarro-Brazález, B.; Prieto-Gómez, V.; Prieto-Merino, D.; Sánchez-Sánchez, B.; McLean, L.; Torres-Lacomba, M. Effectiveness of Hypopressive Exercises in Women with Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: A Randomised Controlled Trial. J. Clin. Med. 2020, 9, 1149. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9041149)

Not an ad!

In this episode, Kristine debunks different myths and bad advice you might have been giving during pregnancy and postpartum!


Connect with Kristine:

• Email - kristine@mamaprojectllc.com
• Instagram - @kristine.adele.fit 
• YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@kristine.mamaproject
• Subscribe to receive my weekly emails - https://bit.ly/mpemaillist

1 in 4 women are affected by perinatal mental health issues and of those, 20% have suicidal thoughts.  With the pressure and expectations on mums rising coupled with the growing strain on our health system, the theme for this years Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week 2023 is perfect: Together in a changing world.

Please be aware that you may find todays episode emotional distressing and comes with a TRIGGER WARNING as I discuss issues including maternal bonding, mental health, suicide and other long term physical and mental affects - please use your discression and seek professional support as appropriate.  

Please, do reach out to your doctor, health visitor or midwife if you think you need more mental health support and here are some other resources you may find useful. 

@perinatalmhpartnership 

Maternal Mental Health Alliance 

NHS Perinatal Mental Health information 

In 2022, for the first time, a pelvic health guide was published to help non-specialist clinicians advise women on pelvic floor muscle training. It's for GPs, midwives, nurses and health visitors - to try to plug a long-standing knowledge gap and help more women with pelvic floor dysfunction to access practical support.

In this episode, Helen speaks to Dr Adanna Okeahialam, an Obstetrics & Gynaecology registrar with an interest in Urogynaecology, and co-author of the 'Pelvic Floor Muscle Training: A Practical Guide'.

They discuss the sudden spotlight on pelvic health, why pelvic floor exercises are a first line treatment and their role in preventing pelvic floor dysfunction.

NICE Guideline: Pelvic floor dysfunction: prevention and non-surgical management (Published 9 Dec 2021)
RCOG Position Statement: Pelvic Floor Health
RCOG Survey: Pelvic Floor Health
Pelvic health resources from POGP

If you're new to pelvic floor dysfunction and want to go back to basics, go back and listen to this episode.

The book, Why Mums Don't Jump: Ending the Pelvic Floor Taboo, is available NOW!

Postpartum Dyspareunia 

With up to 40% of individuals experiencing dyspareunia at the 2 month mark, this is a conversation that we need to nurture, especially since symptoms can and should be treated. In this episode I speak about 3 common contributors to pain with penetration in the postpartum period, how they may present and potential treatment options. My hope is to reduce stigma and fear through information sharing and improve comfort and confidence when communicating about this topic, whether that’s with a partner, friend or health care provider. 

Solo episode:

Candice Langford, pelvic and sexual health physiotherapist.

More from Candice 

IG: @nurtureyourvagina 

NurturePelvicHealth.com 

Use the code NURTUREPOD for a 20% discount on any course.

Todays Sponsor: Lil-Lets Incontinence Range

Details 

Lil-Lets incontinence range now available in store!

Disclaimer: Material and content discussed on the Nurture Pod are intended as general information only and should not be substituted for medical advice 

Thank you and as always, stay curious!

Candice

How do you safely return to exercise when you have pelvic floor problems? Maybe you're afraid to make a prolapse worse, or you leak when you run or jump. Maybe you've been advised to avoid running, jumping or lifting, and if so, how do you find a way to feel strong again?

Helen speaks to the pre and postnatal exercise specialist Shakira Akabusi - founder of the maternal wellness platform, Strong Like Mum, public speaker, author and TV fitness expert. They discuss postpartum rehabilitation, the power in taking things slowly, and the role that fitness professionals can play in helping mums with pelvic floor dysfunction.

Shakira is @shakira.akabusi on Instagram

Shakira's book: The Strong Like Mum Method is available here

If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like this one, with pelvic health physio, Emma Brockwell

The book, Why Mums Don't Jump: Ending the Pelvic Floor Taboo, is available NOW!

If you have or are currently struggling with infertility, you have to listen to today's episode! Jacqui Giuliano is a wife, teacher and Ironman triathlete who struggled to get pregnant for 5 years! She talks all about her journey with infertility, IUI and finally the IVF transfer that brought her twin baby boys into the world! We also discuss the postpartum journey that got her back to the Ironman World Championships!


Connect with Kristine:

• Email - kristine@mamaprojectllc.com
• Instagram - @kristine.adele.fit 
• YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@kristine.mamaproject
• Subscribe to receive my weekly emails - https://bit.ly/mpemaillist

We all experience immense changes when we become mothers. Motherhood impacts you physically, socially, emotionally, hormonally, etc. In this episode, I talk about my own personal experience with pregnancy, postpartum and motherhood. I touch on what I expected my experiences to be like in comparison to what I actually experienced.

Thank you for listening and I hope you enjoy the show!


Connect with Kristine:

• Email - kristine@mamaprojectllc.com
• Instagram - @kristine.adele.fit 
• YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@kristine.mamaproject
• Subscribe to receive my weekly emails - https://bit.ly/mpemaillist

Kristine's mom, Kerri Gaspari, talks about her journey throughout motherhood, the highs and lows, good and bad and everything in between!


Connect with Kristine:

• Email - kristine@mamaprojectllc.com
• Instagram - @kristine.adele.fit 
• YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@kristine.mamaproject
• Subscribe to receive my weekly emails - https://bit.ly/mpemaillist

Welcome to the Mama Project Podcast where we discuss all things pregnancy, postpartum, motherhood, parenting, and beyond!

Connect with Kristine:

• Email - kristine@mamaprojectllc.com
• Instagram - @kristine.adele.fit 
• YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@kristine.mamaproject
• Subscribe to receive my weekly emails - https://bit.ly/mpemaillist

People think that weakness is the only problem that affects the pelvic floor, but in reality holding the pelvic floor and abdominal wall too tight causes SO many problems. It can be a tricky one to unpick, coupled with a fear or disbelief that letting go is really 'OK'! 

So, today I build in a simple analogy to help you understand the  muscular and fascial mechanics of why letting go can give you MORE connection in the pelvic floor. 

Here is your video link:  www.FitFannyAdams.com/PILLOWCASE

...ANd if you still want to jump into 6 Weeks Transform Your Core before APril 28th, you can still do so HERE at www.FitFannyAdams.com/LASTMINUTE

and please, do take a moment to rate and review this podcast... not only do I do a little happy dance across the studio, but it also helps get this podcast out to those that need to hear it! Thank you xxx Sj 

Welcome to the Mama Project Podcast where we discuss all things pregnancy, postpartum, motherhood, parenting, and beyond!


Connect with Kristine:

• Email - kristine@mamaprojectllc.com
• Instagram - @kristine.adele.fit 
• YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@kristine.mamaproject
• Subscribe to receive my weekly emails - https://bit.ly/mpemaillist

<T/W: description of birth, perineal tear and blood loss>

In this episode, Helen speaks to listener, Prudent Haughton, who developed prolapse, pelvic pain and incontinence following a severe tear during the birth of her second child, fifteen months ago. Prudent talks about how she, like so many of us, was taken completely by surprise, but how she's tackling her issues head on. 

Prudent describes her experience of birth,  pelvic health physiotherapy, osteopathy and fitness. She speaks about the importance of having supportive family and friends, and the benefits of learning to stop, relax and breathe. 

The book, Why Mums Don't Jump: Ending the Pelvic Floor Taboo, is available NOW!