May is National Women’s Health Month, a time for women to focus on their health and wellness. A significant issue gaining attention on social media is pelvic floor health. Craig Hanson, MD, an Obstetrics/Gynecology specialist at OhioHealth Van Wert with over 30 years of experience, notes that women often wait about ten years before seeking help for pelvic floor issues.
Dr. Hanson explains, “Pelvic floor dysfunction is anything from urinary leakage, to prolapse, to muscle weakness, and urologic disorders.” He adds that these conditions can result from back disorders, herniated discs, obesity, or poor muscle tone. Statistics show that at least one in three women will encounter a pelvic floor disorder during their lifetime.
“A lot of people assume that nothing can be done for this,” Dr. Hanson states. “To help, there are a combination of things. First, physical therapy.” He warns against misinformation on social media and advises consulting certified pelvic floor physical therapists for reliable information and assistance.
“They can help a lot,” Dr. Hanson continues. “Especially if you’ve had a nine-pound baby or larger – you may want to consider seeing one sooner rather than later.” He emphasizes the benefits of pelvic floor therapy regardless of delivery method and points out that it is mandatory in Europe for women to receive such therapy in the first three months after childbirth.
Natalie Koester, a physical therapist and director of rehabilitation services at OhioHealth Van Wert Health Center, stresses the importance of personalized care plans tailored to each patient's needs. She advises caution when sourcing information online: “It’s important to know the source and understand their credibility.”
Koester highlights the extensive training required for specialized therapy: “For specialized therapy, we do years’ worth of training to learn and to learn it really well and then to be able to provide patients the best care.”