Pelvic Health Care is Inclusive to Everyone

The Board of Directors of the APTA Academy of Pelvic Health sent this message to its members last month that made me proud to be a part of this academy within the APTA. The population we serve for pelvic health is diverse in a variety of ways. Due to the very nature of what we do, pelvic health is very personal and can make people feel vulnerable. I've had many patients who tell me things that they have never told anyone else before about themselves. Sometimes things that not even their other healthcare providers know.

Why would I not want to be welcoming to all of my patients?

I want my patients to have access to pelvic healthcare and not feel like, in order to have that access, must also hide an intricate part of themselves. There is no one size fits all sort of treatment, so everything that makes up a person reveals another facet of their treatment journey.

Everyone has a pelvic floor. Everyone. In fact, there are plenty of similarities between everyone's pelvic floor musculature. However, it's not only just the pelvic floor that affects one's condition.

There is a concept from the Veterans Affairs (VA) called Whole Health that I find very useful for my patients. Whole Heath is there for veterans to support their health and well-being, centering around what matters to the veteran. While you may not be a veteran, Whole Health is an excellent addition towards pelvic health because it lets a patient know more about themselves and what works for them specifically. Whole Health is "fueled by the power of knowing yourself and what will really work for you in your life." You don't know what you don't know, after all, and every aspect that makes up you can affect your health outcomes, both positive and negative.

Negative experiences with a provider are a common theme among LGBTQ people, ranging from providers not believing their patients to making (incorrect) assumptions about the patients, to even refusing treatment. LGBTQ people may experience health problems that require more screening and frequent visits to the doctor, which can add cumulative stress to said patient.

Stressors due to hostile environments may lead to health disparities. This is not a good environment for a patient to get better, not if they have to choose between hiding parts of their authentic selves and receiving treatment.

When I became a physical therapist, especially within the pelvic health and lymphedema specialty, I knew that I wanted to be welcoming to everyone, especially those who have been underserved in the community. I don't want people to suffer in silence.

So, who do we serve? We serve you.

Alavar Pelvic Health Physical Therapy is offering virtual pelvic health appointments within Nevada. If you live outside of Nevada, we offer virtual coaching sessions.

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References:

https://www.va.gov/wholehealth/

Medbridge course: Welcoming LGBTQ Patients and Clients. Liz Margolies, LCSW