Pelvic Floor Health in the United States
Stephanie Bertoli |
TEDxIndianaStateUniversityWomen
• December 2021
Studies have shown that as many as 1 in 3 women will experience some form of pelvic floor dysfunction within their lifetime. It touches every single aspect of someone's life -- while it's not life threatening, it can be life diminishing. In many cases it can be both preventable and treatable, yet so many do not receive the help that they truly need. For years -- as an athlete, woman, and mother -- I believed that I was alone in my own struggle with pelvic floor dysfunction. However, when I began coaching and opening up about my own journey, I was amazed at the plethora of women with similar experiences. I began to question if perhaps our healthcare system and fitness industry were not set up to address the whole woman and all of her unique needs. I believe that there are simple and tangible steps we can take as a society to address some of the shortcomings that I have experienced first-hand.