Sexual Health As We Age with Pelvic PT Cindy Furey

Sexual Health As We Age with Pelvic PT Cindy Furey

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2554474/fan_mail/new] Today we have Cindy back for yet another important episode all about sexual health.  We talk about: * Hormone changes to tissue and structure of the genitals * The importance of moisturizing our vagina (its as important as moisturizing our skin) * The importance of early intervention to maintain flexibility of the vaginal canal/tissues and prevent atrophy * The role of hormones in the health of vaginal tissue * The fears many women have when it comes to using hormone support * The ideal time to implement a vaginal care protocol, and some things you can do if you feel like you are behind on this * The importance of understanding your arousal and sexual response languages * The impact of stress on both sexual desire and pelvic floor function and some things you can do to help with it * Ways outside of sex that you can tell if you have vaginal dryness (and the times you might think you have an infection but don't) * How often you should have sex to maintain sexual health and pelvic floor integrity * The changes in orgasm with perimenopause, the role orgasm plays in tissue and mental health, and the hope in improving it Cindy's favorite products:  Bonafide: Revaree vaginal moisturizer [https://hellobonafide.com/products/revaree] Good Clean Love [https://goodcleanlove.com] Intimate Rose [https://www.intimaterose.com] Uqora Urinary Health [https://uqora.com] The Pelvic People [https://thepelvicpeople.com/collections/all-products] Find Cindy:  Comprehensive Therapy Services, Inc. https://www.comprehensivetherapy.com [https://www.comprehensivetherapy.com] Socials: @comprehensivetherapyservices Find other Pelvic PTS [https://www.aptapelvichealth.org/ptlocator] Episodes on hormone replacement:  HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY IN PERIMENOPAUSE & MENOPAUSE [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2554474/episodes/18831994] NON-HORMONE SUPPORT IN PERIMENOPAUSE AND MENOPAUSE [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2554474/episodes/18858726] Chapters 00:00 Understanding Sexual Health in Midlife 02:49 The Impact of Hormones on Sexual Function 05:28 The Importance of Early Intervention 08:07 Exploring Treatment Options for Sexual Health 11:06 Addressing Stigma and Fear Around Hormone Therapy 13:48 The Role of Communication in Sexual Relationships 16:31 The Connection Between Stress and Sexual Desire 19:09 Body Awareness and Sexual Health 22:08 The Importance of Foreplay and Arousal 24:44 Navigating Conversations About Sexual Health 31:43 Exploring Hormonal Support and Vaginal Health 36:10 Understanding Vaginal Dryness and Its Indicators 41:06 Maintaining Sexual Health and Frequency 45:21 The Role of Orgasm in Sexual Health 50:38 Hope for Improved Sexual Response 56:56 Final Thoughts on Sexual Health If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

Let's Talk About Poop, Baby

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2554474/fan_mail/new] In this episode we'll talk through all the "fun" changes that happen in our digestive function with hormone changes during perimenopause and menopause: * The "normal" amount of bowel movements per day, and when to worry * Factors influence bowel regularity * Medications that can cause constipation * Aging isn't just on the outside, we also experience aging in our internal organs * How our lifetime habits that we learn as children can impact bowel function in adulthood * Taking time to poop is also self care!!! * Techniques to help our bowels function optimally and change leaned patterns * The connection between pelvic bowl/floor health and bowel movements * Best ways to prepare your digestive system to have bowel movements with ease Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Pelvic Health and Bowel Health 01:40 Understanding Bowel Health and Hormonal Impact 05:17 Normal Bowel Frequency and Dietary Considerations 08:49 The Connection Between Constipation and Bladder Health 12:38 Childhood Constipation and Its Long-Term Effects 16:16 Self-Care and the Importance of Regular Bowel Movements 19:23 Understanding Rectal Health and Complications 21:36 Breathing Techniques for Pelvic Health 25:06 Understanding Bowel Movements and Pelvic Floor Dynamics 29:08 Dietary Impacts on Bowel Health 35:24 Optimal Bowel Movement Practices 40:56 The Interconnection of Bowel and Urinary Health If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

Don't Pee in the Shower (And Other Things Nobody Told Us) w/ Pelvic PT Cindy Furey

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2554474/fan_mail/new] In this episode, Jenn, Karen, and Aliza sit down with pelvic floor physical therapist Cindy Furey for the conversation we all wish we had decades ago. Cindy has a gift for making the complicated feel completely approachable, and yes, she will absolutely tell you to stop peeing in the shower and to quit going just in case! In this episode we cover: * What the pelvic floor (bowl) actually is and why it does so much more than you think. * The important role the pelvic bowl health plays in organ function, abdominal health, and joint stability, especially in hip and lower back comfort.   * Why normal urinary frequency is every two to five hours (yes, really). * Tips on how to train your bladder to reach maximum capacity for optimal bladder health and uninterrupted sleep. * How prompting little girls and boys to pee "just in case" may be accidentally teaching them to stop trusting their own bodies, and what that costs them in body awareness and agency as they grow up. * The effects of carbonation and caffeine on bladder health and urinary frequency. * The connection between your nervous system, fight or flight and your bladder. * The link between TMJ clenching and pelvic floor tension. * How chronic tension and the freeze stress response can shut down glandular function, leading to dryness, pain with insertion, and why it is not just a hormone problem. * The 12 second rule: how long you should actually be peeing and what it means if you are done in five. * Why hovering over the toilet is working against you. * How de-estrogenization during perimenopause impacts pelvic organ function and floor health. * Why letting go is sometimes how you gain control. * The case for vaginal estradiol and personalized pelvic PT. The bottom line: Your pelvic floor is not broken. It just needs some attention, some education, and maybe a squatty potty. This is Part 1 of 4 with Cindy. Trust us, you will want to come back for the rest. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Pelvic Health Awareness 01:43 Understanding the Pelvic Floor 06:35 Bladder Health and Frequency 11:57 The Impact of Habits on Bladder Control 14:14 Peeing in the Shower: Myths and Facts 19:23 The Connection Between Pelvic Floor and Nervous System 20:19 Understanding the Pelvic Floor and Nervous System Connection 33:01 Exploring Bladder Health and Incontinence 45:22 Conclusion and Future Topics on Women's Health If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

Moving from Obligatory to Optional

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2554474/fan_mail/new] Karen shares an experience she had where she had to make a very hard choice to say no to her father's deathbed wish regarding her supporting another family member. Her process of moving from guilt to love in this situation helped her see that it has far reaching impacts in all of her life.  Some of the things we touch on:  * The shift from obligatory to optional in how we evaluate how we are spending our time and our emotional energy * Navigating the emotions that can come up with letting go of these expectations, of ourselves and of our relationships * The importance and difficulty of accepting "what is" in life * How grief and relief can exist in the same space * Being driven by guilt or doing something because of love - and the freedom and healing that can come from recognizing you have a choice * Love is everything and it magnifies the healing of every choice we make * Saying no when you are coming from a place of obligation is more loving than showing up with guilt or an empty tank * That we don't always have to choose to be nice * Moving from obligation to choice is relevant in the day to day and the big things in life * Having to work through something over time doesn't always mean it is the wrong thing to do - it might not be hell yes or no * There can be healing in the reflection time we spend thinking through something that challenges who we think we are or how we show up in the world - especially if you have competing values * Values change over time, and sometimes our struggles help us see a shift in values * We can always add "right now" to the difficult choices we have to make in recognition that things are always changing Chapters 00:00 Navigating Complex Emotions in Midlife 07:42 The Shift from Obligation to Choice 12:41 Understanding Values and Decision-Making 17:53 Evolving Values in the Sandwich Generation If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.

Doing the Things We Struggle to Do For Ourselves

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2554474/fan_mail/new] We've talked together previously about blocks that stop us from doing what we know we need, in all areas of our lives. On this episode, we touch back on some of our struggles and Aliza shares some of the shifts she's experienced recently that have helped her move forward. We talk about: * The fear that something we're counting on to help us won't really help * How do we not lose hope? * Being gentle with ourselves and not self-blaming * How emotions, overwhelm, fear all play into our blocks - sometimes we can't handle even one more thing to do * Blocks are not self-sabotage - there are legitimate and valid reasons for them * The work that we do on ourselves and our belief systems doesn't always show up immediately with the results we want, but it's the foundation for allowing obstacles to clear - the layers that build on each other are the magic * Change isn't linear, and we can fluctuate between the different stages of change * We don't have to beat ourselves up about not making a change sooner...we can be proud of ourselves for the change happening when it did * The relief that finally comes with acceptance Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Resistance in Self-Care 01:27 Understanding Personal Blocks to Health 04:19 Exploring Emotional Connections to Health Decisions 08:07 The Role of Self-Sabotage in Healing 10:34 The Journey of Letting Go and Moving Forward 13:04 Stages of Change in Personal Growth 15:51 Acceptance and Non-Attachment to Outcomes 19:02 Finding Freedom in Acceptance 26:44 Conclusion and Future Outlook If our messy is your kind of messy, we would love for you to rate, review and follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  We would also love to know what is on your mind. If you were to join us, what would we be talking about? Email us at messymidlifepodcast@gmail.com or message us on Instagram or TikTok @messymidlifepodcast.