The Pelvic Floor: Understanding Its Anatomy and Function

The pelvic floor is a remarkable and intricate part of the human body, yet it often goes unnoticed until problems arise. Pelvic floor physical therapy (PFPT) is a specialized form of therapy that focuses on this area, offering relief and improvement for a variety of conditions. Understanding the anatomy and function of the pelvic floor is crucial to appreciating the importance of PFPT.

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Endometriosis and Fertility

Endometriosis is a chronic condition in which the tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus grows outside of it. It can cause a variety of symptoms, including painful periods, heavy bleeding, and infertility. If you have endometriosis and are trying to conceive, it's important to seek the help of a fertility specialist.

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Preparing for Perimenopause in your 30s

Perimenopause is the period of time leading up to menopause, when a woman's hormone levels start to fluctuate and her menstrual cycles become irregular. It usually begins in a woman's 40s, but it can start as early as her 30s. If you are a woman in your 30s and are starting to think about perimenopause, here are some steps you can take to prepare for the changes that lie ahead.

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Do Certified Nurse Midwives Provide Care Other Than Pregnancy and Childbirth?

Certified nurse midwives (CNMs) provide a wide range of healthcare services beyond just pregnancy and childbirth. CNMs are registered nurses who have completed advanced education and training in midwifery, which includes a focus on the health needs of women throughout their lifespan.

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What is PCOS?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder that affects women of reproductive age. It can present in different ways and the symptoms can vary from person to person, but here are some common signs and symptoms of PCOS.

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Top Supplements for Improving Lactation

Lactation Supplements and Breast Milk Production | Milk supply is among one of the most common things breast/bodyfeeding parents stress about. Unfortunately, our bodies aren’t transparent vessles equipped with lines for measuring ounces like a bottle. It may be anxiety provoking for some, to not know EXACTLY how much milk is being transferred to baby.

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Perimenopause vs. Menopause

What is the difference between perimenopause and menopause? And how do I know which phase I am in? Perimenopause and menopause are two stages of a woman's reproductive life that can be confusing but have significant differences.

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A Midwife's Top 5 Tips to Surviving Postpartum

Whether you had a vaginal delivery or a surgical birth, your body has been through a lot and will need time to heal. You will want to take time before you're in the thick of it, to think about how you will make time to rest, recover, and more importantly what kind of help you would like to receive in those early days.

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Should I Get My Hormones Tested?

Should I get my hormones tested? This is a question I get daily. Women want more answers . . . a concrete reason to justify the symptoms they are experiencing. Hormone testing can be helpful in some clinical situations, but not in all. I always warn patients that we may not get answers when running a hormone panel.

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A Fertility Ultrasound: What Are We Looking For?

When we are trying to determine what may be causing fertility challenges, one of the key tests that we recommend is a fertility ultrasound. This ultrasound is very similar to a pelvic ultrasound but is done by an ultrasonographer with experience and training in the evaluation of infertility.

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Egg Quality and Testing for Ovarian Reserve

So much of what we do in the field of fertility is interconnected. I often see patients who have been trying to get pregnant for months (or years) and are seeking answers as to why it hasn’t happened! I also see patients who have gone through the painful experience of miscarriage (sometimes multiple). Starting a fertility evaluation early can help identify what challenges may be causing the difficulty in conceiving.

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The Link Between Age, Egg Quality, and Miscarriage

Every day we see patients in our clinic who have experienced loss in the form of a miscarriage. Miscarriage is more common than most people realize. It can occur in as many as one in four women in their lifetime. Evaluation of a couple having miscarriages focuses on anatomic, genetic, immune, and hormonal issues that can be detected in a couple. However, before testing, I warn patients that most often the tests come back normal. Hearing that we will most likely not find a reason for the miscarriage/s can be frustrating for a couple.

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Nutrition and Fertility: How to Fuel Your Body For Fertility

It may seem like a no-brainer, but what we eat impacts our overall health immensely. Taking time to choose the right foods and supplements will help bring your body into balance and help prepare you for pregnancy. We all need to eat, so make sure the foods that you are putting into your body are working for you, not against you!

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What’s the deal with annual exams? Do you need one?

If you feel like you need or want to see your healthcare provider, then you should feel empowered to have a visit!Besides covering your questions, the actual physical exam and which tests (like a pap smear) need to be performed by your healthcare provider are going to depend on a number of variables that this article addresses.

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