Pelvic floor health can decline for women of all ages, whether they’ve had a pregnancy or not. Though severe issues are more common after giving birth, some degree of trouble happens as a woman grows older. Dr. Brianne Grogan is here to talk about the link between pelvic floor health and mental health and what we can do to prevent the decline. Brianne had her own pelvic floor scare when she went for a run 3 weeks post-partum and felt something shift to where it wasn’t supposed to be. She was determined to regain her pelvic health and now teaches other women and men how to protect themselves. Because for so many people, mental health is linked to pelvic health, and women who experience pelvic issues often experience feelings of loneliness, as well. A women’s health physical therapist is a specialist who works exclusively with women to improve their pelvic floor health. If you’ve been experiencing issues, you should ask your doctor for a referral. Brianne explains what some of the symptoms of pelvic floor problems are and what you should look out for. She also shares some great advice about easy lifestyle changes you can make right away to start improving your pelvic health. From regularly walking and Kegel exercises to her favorite butterfly position, every little change can have a positive impact. But you also need to be careful that you’re not overexercising that area as this can actually have a negative impact on your pelvic health. Brianne talks about some of the less appealing topics of women’s health, but learning to use the toilet properly is so important for all of us. Make sure you’re never pushing your urine out and consider investing in a squatty potty. She also shares some tips on how we can prevent pelvic prolapse, which is a pretty scary experience for women. Do you regularly practice Kegel exercises? Are you aware of how much you’re pushing while using the toilet? Have you heard of a women’s health physical therapist?   In This Episode: How your pelvic floor health is linked to your mental health What a women’s health physical therapist does What some of the symptoms of pelvic floor problems are What lifestyle changes you can make to start improving your pelvic floor health right now How you can use the toilet properly How to prevent pelvic prolapse   Quotes: “There’s a lot of build-in shame around this personal area of our body, aside from the fact of prolapse and incontinence.” (12:25) “Now that she’s found a group of women who get her, who understand her, the loneliness is gone.” (36:19) “There is no age limit on good pelvic health!” (38:26)   Links Join “Lift” Pelvic Organ Support Series Buy Lady Bits Find Dr. Brianne Grogan Online Find Dr. Brianne Grogan on Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube   Check out the full episode page Find Dr. Anna Online Follow Dr. Anna on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter