About Holistic Pelvic Care™
The female body is miraculous and complex, and women and menstruators go
through incredible changes at every stage of life, each providing its own unique
physical challenges - from starting the menstrual cycle in adolescence to the
fluctuation in hormones and physiology during pregnancy and postnatal recovery to
menopause and beyond. These natural changes can cause discomfort, pain, and
challenges for some women and menstruators. Holistic Pelvic Care™ can support
you during the transitions (and any stage of your life!), aiming to restore balance in
your pelvic bowl, ease pain, and enhance your overall health and support your
creative expression.
If you’re seeking support for your female body or pelvic health but are unsure
whether you need osteopathy or HPC™, you’re welcome to book a free call with our
osteopath and HPC™ practitioner, Flurina, to discuss your situation.
What is holistic pelvic care?
Holistic Pelvic Care™ is an integrative gynaecological approach developed by Tami
Lynn Kent, a women’s health physiotherapist based in Portland, Oregon. It
incorporates a range of therapeutic practices to restore balance in a woman and
menstruator`s pelvis. HPC combines gentle internal work on the pelvic floor muscles
and fascia with techniques that address core patterns (including emotional imprints)
held in the pelvic area. This may include guided dialogue, visualisation, breathwork,
and external abdominal contact. The treatment supports pelvic floor balance and
enhances circulation to pelvic organs, which can help alleviate various symptoms.
What can I expect at a treatment?
The initial consultation is 75 minutes and includes a detailed case history,
discussion of treatment aims, basic introduction to female pelvic anatomy, a pelvic
floor assessment and treatment. With your consent you will be asked to remove
your lower underwear so that the practitioner can assesses the pelvic muscles
intravaginally (like a “squeeze” exercise). This is done with a gloved, lubricated
finger inserted in the vagina. Pelvic muscle engagement, trigger points, tension and
pain patterns are noted.
The assessment is followed by a treatment to balance the pelvis. Techniques
include intravaginal massage with myofascial release and trigger point work
assisted by breath-work and visualisation tools for both physical and energetic
balance.
Follow-up consultations are 60 minutes and begin with a brief re-
assessment and then focus primarily on treatment. The pelvic work is gentle and
respectful, following the lead of the body. It should never hurt, and the response of
a woman’s body guides the depth and direction of the hands-on work.
The number of treatments depends on the extent of a woman’s symptoms and how
long she has been having them. Usually, three sessions are recommended and
encouraged to restore basic pelvic balance, but this will be discussed with our
practitioner Flurina during the first consultation. She will also be able to recommend
if you benefit from an Osteopathic session as part of your management plan.
What can Holistic Pelvic Care™ support you with?
There are many reasons women and menstruators seek out and benefit from
HPC™. It may support you with the following:
Prepare for pregnancy, physically and emotionally
Post-partum recovery: including episiotomy and c-section scar work, pelvic
prolapses and the experience of birth trauma
Menstrual challenges, irregular cycles, painful cycles, endometriosis
Urinary leakage, incontinence
Pelvic organ prolapse, uterine prolapse, cystocoele
Pain during intercourse
Vaginismus
Coccyx pain
General pelvic pain
Improve pelvic floor tone
Enhance general wellness and
Fertility challenges
HPC™ is basic women`s health and is encouraged to receive yearly to prevent
pelvic health issues in the first place. Treatments can also offer help for women who
seek to reconnect with their pelvic space, natural cycles, and creativity.
Can I have treatment when I’m pregnant?
Internal pelvic work is not done during pregnancy, but the process of postnatal
recovery is greatly assisted by HPC. Any pelvic floor imbalances that may have
occurred during pregnancy or birth can be addressed early on. Six weeks post-
partum is a good time to begin but it can be useful months, even years, after birth.
What if I have a caesarean birth?
Women who have had a caesarean birth will benefit from HPC as well, with fascial
work directly to the caesarean mark and internal work to address the imbalances
caused by any prolonged vaginal birth attempt.