Sexual Wellness Resources For Pelvic Physical Therapists

Pelvic healthcare is a subfield of medicine that deals with the pelvis, which encapsulates the bladder and reproductive organs. Pelvic health is particularly important because the pelvic floor supports urination, bowel movements, and pregnancy/labor for those who can become pregnant and give birth. These muscles can be strained by things like childbirth or chronic coughing and when they are weakened, it can lead to difficulty with bladder control, put a strain on other muscles, and more complications. There are a variety of healthcare professionals who deal with pelvic floor health such as physical therapists, doulas, midwives, gynecologists, urologists, and more. A shortcoming of the healthcare field, however, is that less than 40% of providers conduct sexual histories with patients, and many do not receive formal sexual history training in school. 

Pelvic health is intertwined with sexual health and failing to take that context into consideration when treating pelvic floor issues can be problematic. Take for instance a scenario in which a professional is seeing a patient complaining of pain in their lower abdomen and unusual discharge. If the healthcare professional neglects to ask the patient’s sexual history which includes having had an STD, it would be difficult to identify Pelvic Inflammatory Disease as a potential cause of the discomfort. This is just one example of many illustrating why having full context is vital for informing pelvic healthcare. For those looking to supplement their knowledge, pelvic healthcare professionals or otherwise, we have compiled resources to guide you. 

One option is to Contact ESW for a Sexual Wellness In Pelvic Health Professional Training. During this training providers can expect to enhance their knowledge of assessing sexual functioning concerns and relational dynamics, and learn how to employ a trauma informed, sex-positive approach with patients. Case consultation is included.

Additional Resources Include:  

• “Why a Sexual History?” by Kansas Department of Health and Environment

• “Sexual Health and Your Patients: A Provider’s Guide” by the National Coalition for Sexual Health   

• “Why Do We Take a Sexual History” by the AMA Journal of Ethics 

• “A strong pelvic floor is associated with higher rates of sexual activity in women with pelvic floor disorders” by Gregg Kanter et al. 

• “Talk about Sex: Sexual History-Taking Preferences Among Urogynecology Patients and General Gynecology Controls” by Pamela Susan Fairchild et al.

Holiday Gift Ideas For Each of the 5 Love Languages

With the holidays right around the corner, you might be thinking about what to get for your loved ones. Gift-giving can be daunting but a great starting point is to think about the recipient’s primary love language(s ).

The idea of the five love languages is based on The 5 Love Languages book by Dr. Gary Chapman, a marriage counselor*. The website explains that when you identify the love languages preferences of yourself and the people you love, you can connect on a deeper level and understand how to fulfill needs more easily and effectively. The five outlined are acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time, words of affirmation, and physical touch. 

Gift Ideas   

Acts of Service 

For people who receive love primarily through acts of service, it’s most meaningful when their loved ones help them out by doing things like making them breakfast, taking over a chore for them, or running an errand for them. 

• Cooking them a meal

  • Bringing them breakfast in bed

• Making a “coupon book” with various chores and errands that the recipient can cash in when they want the giver to take over that task

• Give them a gift card for a home cleaning service

Receiving Gifts

For people who receive love primarily through receiving gifts, they feel loved when they receive meaningful tangible items. A common misconception is that people with this love language are greedy or materialistic; however, it’s not about what the item is but about giving them a tangible reminder that they are loved. For this love language, gift-giving is a little different because it will highly vary from person to person what will mean the most. 

• Consider a multi-part gift that requires opening several packages. This might be something like a spa set where each package has a different self-care item or a customized puzzle where you give them the pieces over a course of days and they have to figure out how to assemble it. If you’re not feeling inspired, there’s also a resource called The Days of Gifts that sends multi-day gift packages based on a questionnaire filled out by the giver. 

• Subscription-based gifts are another great “gift that keeps on giving” for your gift-receiving love language loved one.

• Something sentimental like a customized accessory with a photo attached to a fun memory

Quality Time

For people who receive love primarily through quality time, they feel the most loved when they get to spend uninterrupted time with their loved one. 

• Plan an adventure whether that’s a day trip to a nearby city or hiking or whatever other kind of excursion suits the recipient’s interests

• Make a date jar (regardless of whether it’s a romantic or platonic relationship!). Get a container (if you’re feeling crafty, you can decorate it too!) and fill it with slips of paper with ideas for ways you can spend time together

• Take a cooking class together 

Words of Affirmation

For people who receive love primarily through words of affirmation, they feel the most loved when their loved ones share written or spoken kind and complimentary words. 

• Make an affirmation jar! Similar to the concept of the date jar, this involves getting a container and filling it with slips of paper with compliments and kind words about the recipient

• Markup a favorite book with notes, inside jokes, and surprises like fun stickers

• Commission a photo word portrait. You send the artist any words, whether that’s a favorite poem or a letter you write yourself, and a photo and they combine the two to make a beautiful sentimental gift

Physical Touch 

For people who receive love primarily through physical touch, they feel the most loved when they get to be physically affectionate with their loved ones. 

• Buy some nice massage oils and give them a massage (this would likely be suitable only for romantic partners or close friends). If you’re not confident in your massage skills, book them a professional massage instead 

• Get them a weighted blanket, which many people find soothing and cozy 

• A “5 senses” gift where you pick out special items coordinating with each sense like their favorite snack for taste or their favorite cologne for smell
  

At the end of the day, the most important thing is that you put thought into your gifts because as long as you do that, it’s hard to go wrong. Even by reading this article, you clearly care about making your loved ones feel loved and are already putting thought into your gifts. Be thoughtful but don’t overthink or overly stress yourself out about it. Happy gift-giving!

*Disclaimer: ESW does not endorse the views of Gary Chapman. These examples are designed to correspond with the universal concept of the love languages and the general adoption of these concepts. For updated alternatives to the 5 love languages search "Speaking from the Heart: 18 Languages for Modern Love" by Anne Hodder-Shipp and Jaiya's “Erotic Blueprint.”

3 Tips for Disclosing Your HIV/AIDS Status to a Partner

December 1st 1988 was the first ever World AIDS Day. Today marks the 33 year anniversary of this observance, and yet the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS remains present as ever. This stigma fuels a shame-based culture in which it becomes difficult for people with HIV/AIDS to disclose their status without fear of retribution. That being said, it is ethically important to inform sexual and/or romantic partners of pertinent medical information that has the potential to affect them. This applies to HIV/AIDS among other sexually transmitted infections and any contagious conditions. Without everyone being on the same page about everyone’s health status, it’s difficult to ensure proper safety precautions are being taken and that everyone’s boundaries are being respected. In addition to moral implications of disclosure, 35 states have laws that criminalize neglecting to disclose HIV/AIDS status with sexual partners and/or anyone sharing needles. It is undoubtedly important to disclose, but the prospect of doing so can be intimidating for fear of rejection, violence, and judgment from the listening party. Here are some ways to make that conversation as easy as possible when disclosing your status to your partner(s).

Source: https://news.delaware.gov/2018/11/30/delaware-events-mark-world-aids-day-dec-1-2018/

1. Be specific and straightforward

• Make sure to disclose the status of the infection including what it is, the definition of the condition, and what, if anything, you need from the other person in terms of support

• If it would be helpful, you can disclose with the help of your doctor or therapist 

2. Plan ahead for all possible reactions

• Make sure you have support systems and coping mechanisms in place to navigate the possibility of an adverse reaction

• Speak to a therapist and/or have the disclosure discussion with a counselor or therapist

• Respect the needs of the recipient for their processing of the news

• While you should respect the needs of the other person, make sure you know what you need in terms of emotional regulation and allow yourself the grace to feel negative emotions if they come up 

3. Come prepared with educational and safety resources about the relevant health status

• When discussing a condition with a risk of transmission, one of the first concerns that comes to mind is the health and safety of everyone involved. A good way to navigate the fear is to make sure everyone involved in the conversation has the resources and support they need.

  • Resources for someone living with HIV/AIDS

    • Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program

      “The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program works with cities, states, and local community-based organizations. The Program provides primary medical care and essential support services to more than half a million people each year. Through the Program, people living with HIV who have no insurance or are underinsured can get the HIV medical care and other support services they need.” 

    • CDC “Sharing Your Test Result” 

    • Send an anonymous STD test notification to sexual partners 
      This is a good option to inform casual or past partners, but in a serious relationship, it’s probably better to discuss it in person to navigate the implications for the relationship

  • Resources for someone who has a loved one living with HIV/AIDS  

    • CDC HIV prevention tips  

    • Living with an HIV Positive Partner (Flo Health)

    • AIDS | Definition, Diagnosis, Treatment, & Facts

Living with any chronic illness like HIV/AIDS is difficult in many ways, disclosure being just one of them. Hopefully these resources prove helpful in easing the process. Regarding HIV/AIDS specifically, though there’s no cure, a diagnosis is not the end of the world. It can be managed with medication such as antiretroviral therapies and safer sex practices. Disclosing your status to the people in your life not only keeps them informed of any potential implications for their health, but they can also be a shoulder to lean on.