Sara Reardon

So this is how we assess the muscles is inserting a glove lubricated finger into the vagina and assessing the pelvic floor muscle through the vagina. In male bodies, we do this through the anal opening. So that's how we access the muscles to see if the pelvic floor itself is affected.

So this is how we assess the muscles is inserting a glove lubricated finger into the vagina and assessing the pelvic floor muscle through the vagina. In male bodies, we do this through the anal opening. So that's how we access the muscles to see if the pelvic floor itself is affected.

You know, I would say 70-30, just a guess. Like I would say over the course of my career, Sometimes I have men as 50% of my caseload, sometimes less. But I would say, you know, it's typical for me to have majority female bodies and then a handful of male bodies. But I'll tell you this. I think that a lot of men experience pelvic floor issues that are underreported.

You know, I would say 70-30, just a guess. Like I would say over the course of my career, Sometimes I have men as 50% of my caseload, sometimes less. But I would say, you know, it's typical for me to have majority female bodies and then a handful of male bodies. But I'll tell you this. I think that a lot of men experience pelvic floor issues that are underreported.

I think females for sure have underreported symptoms, but we go to see a gynecologist. We talk to our girlfriends. We go online. We kind of do the health investigation. I think that there's as much shame and embarrassment as women have around these issues. I think men also have it, and that's a barrier for them to get treatment.

I think females for sure have underreported symptoms, but we go to see a gynecologist. We talk to our girlfriends. We go online. We kind of do the health investigation. I think that there's as much shame and embarrassment as women have around these issues. I think men also have it, and that's a barrier for them to get treatment.

And oftentimes I'll be seeing a woman, the wife, and then she's like, I think my husband might need to come in, you know? And so it's just to kind of be, you know, make a generalization. I feel like men can have urinary issues, rectal pain, you know, abdominal pain, all these things, but it's when it affects their sexual function is when they start being like, okay, I need to get help.

And oftentimes I'll be seeing a woman, the wife, and then she's like, I think my husband might need to come in, you know? And so it's just to kind of be, you know, make a generalization. I feel like men can have urinary issues, rectal pain, you know, abdominal pain, all these things, but it's when it affects their sexual function is when they start being like, okay, I need to get help.

And yet then it's gone on for a really long time. And we're like, okay, now we're peeling layers of the onion for a bit before we get to the pelvic floor. But it usually takes something pretty significant for them to say, okay, now I need to get help.

And yet then it's gone on for a really long time. And we're like, okay, now we're peeling layers of the onion for a bit before we get to the pelvic floor. But it usually takes something pretty significant for them to say, okay, now I need to get help.

No, we definitely see young people, young men and women. So I would say in the female population, it's unfortunate because for women, we often think like, well, it's after you have babies, you have pelvic floor problems, or it's when you're in menopause. But there are so many young women who have painful periods, painful sex, urinary leakage, and they don't know where to go to for help.

No, we definitely see young people, young men and women. So I would say in the female population, it's unfortunate because for women, we often think like, well, it's after you have babies, you have pelvic floor problems, or it's when you're in menopause. But there are so many young women who have painful periods, painful sex, urinary leakage, and they don't know where to go to for help.

They're not even seeing a gynecologist yet. And so they're learning about us on TikTok and social media and YouTube because they're looking for answers, right? But I think for men, if you have an issue as a young man, it's likely not a hormone issue and it's likely not a prostate issue. Those are issues that come on later in life. It could be muscle tension.

They're not even seeing a gynecologist yet. And so they're learning about us on TikTok and social media and YouTube because they're looking for answers, right? But I think for men, if you have an issue as a young man, it's likely not a hormone issue and it's likely not a prostate issue. Those are issues that come on later in life. It could be muscle tension.

It could be which muscles affect nerves, right? Muscles affect connective tissue. They affect relaxation. So different things like a hard time urinating or starting your stream, feeling like you can't empty completely, feeling like it's burning when you urinate, pain with sitting. pain with bowel movements, hemorrhoids. I mean, all of these things are pelvic floor related.

It could be which muscles affect nerves, right? Muscles affect connective tissue. They affect relaxation. So different things like a hard time urinating or starting your stream, feeling like you can't empty completely, feeling like it's burning when you urinate, pain with sitting. pain with bowel movements, hemorrhoids. I mean, all of these things are pelvic floor related.

And if you've gone to see a urologist and they've ruled out infections and you still have symptoms or you've taken antibiotics and you still have symptoms, your pelvic floor should be assessed.

And if you've gone to see a urologist and they've ruled out infections and you still have symptoms or you've taken antibiotics and you still have symptoms, your pelvic floor should be assessed.

You know, I think exactly the way that we're doing this. I think, you know, bringing it to people themselves, I feel like a lot of medical information, it was like gatekept behind physicians. And maybe we're lucky enough to be in a city with a physician who maybe knew about pelvic floor therapy, but it was still a last resort.

You know, I think exactly the way that we're doing this. I think, you know, bringing it to people themselves, I feel like a lot of medical information, it was like gatekept behind physicians. And maybe we're lucky enough to be in a city with a physician who maybe knew about pelvic floor therapy, but it was still a last resort.