This article discusses sexual trauma and may be difficult for some readers. Please take care while reading and engage with this content in a way that feels safe for you. Sexual Trauma Prevalence This is not the easiest topic to discuss. But it is one that affects many of my patients — and, as I eventually came to understand, it also shaped my own journey into pelvic health. Sexual assault and sexual trauma are unfortunately common experiences. According to RAINN, nearly every minute, someone...

Vaginismus is often described as a psychosexual condition characterized by involuntary contraction of the pelvic floor musculature that interferes with vaginal penetration. However, this definition alone fails to capture the complexity of what is truly occurring within the nervous system, musculature, and threat-response pathways of the body. Vaginismus is not simply a muscle problem. It is not simply a psychological issue. It is a learned, protective, nervous system response. Clinical...

As pelvic health rehabilitation continues to evolve, clinicians are expanding their understanding of how to assess and influence the complex neuromuscular systems that regulate pelvic floor function. Pelvic floor dysfunction is rarely isolated to muscle tissue alone—it reflects an interaction between the peripheral nervous system, central nervous system and the autonomic nervous system. Dry needling is increasingly recognized as a valuable and evidence-informed intervention in pelvic health...