Menstruation and Pelvic Health

The Menstrual Cycle is one of the most natural of all human processes that is experienced by half of the population of the world. There are many challenging aspects to the Menstrual Experience to be managed and many positive aspects to be celebrated, but social stigma and taboo can make it difficult to make changes and find solutions.

Based on years of experience as a family medicine physician working in women’s health, Nicholas Gaffga, MD, FAAFP, MPH developed this course to be a practical and engaging forum that fosters discussion and sharing of information so that pelvic floor therapists can make changes in how they take care of patients who have a Menstrual Cycle. Teaming up with Dr. Amy Meehan, PT, DPT, MTC, an amazing pelvic floor PT, educator, and business owner provides a that empowers pelvic floor practitioners to provide care to their patients on every day of the month. Updated based on feedback from previous participants and from exciting advances in the field, this continuing education course combines pre-course video lectures and live remote lectures via Zoom to explore practical and interesting menstrual topics

In Part 1, Cultural aspects of the Menstrual Experience, topics include why it can be so challenging to talk about periods and what is missed when periods are difficult, and the highly elusive but valuable Positive Aspects of the Menstrual Experience are explored.

In Part 2, Menstrual Structures and Processes, topics include the hormones, anatomical structures, and physiological processes that make up a ‘normal’ Menstrual Cycle, including the HPO Axis that regulates the cycle and the hormones and organs involved in preparing the uterus for a most amazing experience.

In Part 3, Menstrual Symptoms and Disorders, a wide variety of symptoms are discussed, such as dysmenorrhea, heavy bleeding, off-cycle spotting, emotional concerns, and challenges managing vaginal discharge. Common Menstrual Disorders such as premenstrual disorders, endometriosis, adenomyosis, PCOS, and fibroids are also discussed.

In Part 4, Menstrual Interventions, topics include non-hormonal, non-prescription, and non-surgical interventions to improve the Menstrual Experience of patients, as well as the use of a variety of interventions in a holistic manner to help patients make real changes.

In the live remote session, Dr. Meehan demonstrates yoga and stretch poses that can help patients appropriately on any day of the month. Demonstrations will also include insertion and removal, absorptive and collective capacities, pros and cons, and care and maintenance of a wide variety of disposable and reusable Menstrual Products.

This 2nd edition of the course features new interviews with expert pelvic floor practitioners Ramona Horton, Jenna Ross, and Beth Kemper to give insight into years of experience in the field of pelvic health that can be used to help patients.

Additionally, important, provocative, and sometimes controversial Menstrual Topics are explored such as: Chronobiology, Interoception, Menstrual Mindfulness, Menstrual Molimina, Menstrual Optimism, Menstrual Pride, Cultural Menstrual Milestones, Menstrual Seasons, If Men Could Menstruate, Toss or Keep: An Underwear Journey, What is a ‘Normal Period’ Anyway?, Prostaglandins and Period Poops, Irritable Male Syndrome, Wearing White at Wimbledon, Women are not Small Men, High Performance Cycling, Cycle Syncing, Seed Cycling, Toxic Shock Syndrome, PFAS, Menstrual Products and the Environment, Menstrual Cups and IUDs, Menstrual Cups and Uterine Prolapse, Investing in a Period Basket, a Go Bag, and a Cycle-Friendly Wardrobe, and my favorite…The Kindest Gift: A Better Menarche. To help sift through infinite information and mis-information available on social media, reviews of influencers and products are provided.

Prerequisites
- Basic knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the Menstrual Cycle
- Willingness to engage and re-conceptualize challenging aspects of the Menstrual Experience
- It is not a prerequisite to have a regular Menstrual Cycle or a Menstrual Cycle at all in order to attend and participate in this course

Pre-Course Learning Requirements
10-14 days before the course, participants will receive an invite to join Teachable, an online learning platform. In Teachable, registrants will find video lectures, other pre-course learning materials, course manual files, mandatory liability waiver, and URLs for any Zoom meetings. We require registrants to complete teachable components in sequential order. Videos lectures are required and must be completed in-full before proceeding to the next Teachable section. At the conclusion of the course, registrants can access their post-test and course evaluation form to provide our curriculum team feedback on their experience, as well as download their certificate of completion - all via Teachable.

Audience
Pelvic Health Physical Therapists or other health professionals at any level of their career. It is not a prerequisite to have a regular Menstrual Cycle or a Menstrual Cycle at all in order to attend and participate in this course.