44 www.CharlestonWomenPodcast.com | www.ReadCW.com | www.Instagram.com /CharlestonWomen Discussions around female sexual health, including issues like sexual dysfunction and sexual pleasure, have often been avoided due to societal norms. Women have been taught that discussing the lady business is not polite conversation, but it’s one of the biggest parts of our lives; it is our health and happiness. Women’s healthcare providers are looking to change that by destigmatizing women’s health and encouraging open and honest discussions about therapies that can improve women’s lives and relationships. Hormone health is integral to a person’s well-being. Hormone loss and imbalance are common and can be due to aging, lifestyle, genetics, medical conditions, medication and environmental factors. Changes in hormone levels can also be a function of pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause. Carolina Hormone & Health Center in Mount Pleasant uses bioidentical hormone replacement therapy to optimize their patients’ hormone levels. “As we age,” explained Physician’s Assistant Karen Gadol, “we may see a drop in our hormones, typical in menopause. Optimized hormones have anti-aging benefits but also strong benefits in terms of bone health, cardiovascular protection and prevention of neurodegenerative diseases, as well as the ability to boost energy, stamina and libido.” However, the need for hormone support can start long before menopause. Per Gadol, many women seek hormone replacement therapy to manage PMS and other symptoms as early as their 30s and 40s. “The benefits of hormone replacement therapy range from improving sleep quality, focus, memory and sexual energy to reducing irritability, brain fog, hot flashes, vaginal dryness and night sweats,” explained Noelle Jennings, DO. “Patients can enjoy results as quickly as one to three weeks after beginning treatment,” she added. Using a personalized combination of oral supplementation and bioidentical hormone pellets based on thorough test results, Carolina Hormone & Health optimizes thyroid function and sex hormones progesterone, estrogen and testosterone to help patients feel their best. “Patients often seek us out because they have not found answers for the symptoms they are experiencing. Their medical providers may not have told them about this option. By the time they find their way to us, they are ready to feel better,” Jennings concluded. Pelvic Floor Therapist Mary Ann Sims, PT, DPT, WCS, sees female patients under similar circumstances. Many complain of urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, pelvic area pain and bowel issues. Those issues include fecal incontinence, diarrhea, constipation, as well as uncomfortable or painful sexual activity. These symptoms impact their daily lives and may make it difficult for them to exercise, travel, socialize and enjoy intercourse. “Our main focus in pelvic floor therapy is the muscles of the pelvic floor, which are important in bowel, bladder and sexual function. They are part of the core and play an important role in pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period,” explained Sims. Pelvic floor dysfunction is not, however, limited to mothers. Sims and her team at Private Therapy Services’ Pelvic Floor Centers in West Ashley, Mount Pleasant and Summerville also see teenagers and young women hoping to address endometriosis, painful periods, painful urination, bladder disorders, back and hip discomfort and urinary leakage during sports. The best therapies nobody talks about BY ISABEL ALVAREZ ARATA Charleston Women in Wellness Mary Ann Sims holding a model of a woman’s pelvis.
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