The Evil Triplets of Female Pelvic Pain (and their friends…)

Participants who register for this course have the option to attend the course live-online and/or watch the recorded session later. The recording will be available to all registrants for a 6-week period after each session, and access is provided on the next business day. This allows participants who may not be able to attend live-online to still benefit from the course content. To facilitate attendance tracking, please indicate on your registration form if you won’t be attending live.

Course Description:

Topics Covered Include:

• Dysmenorrhea – moving towards menstrual health and understanding the effects of female reproductive hormones. Knowing what’s normal and when to seek help.
• Endometriosis – current practice on symptom management vs curative measures. Prehab and Rehab strategies. Do lifestyle measures, such as mindfulness, movement and nutrition, have a role? (The evidence says yes!)
• Interstitial Cystitis and Bladder Pain Syndrome – understanding the differences and overlap. What is the best evidence based practice for treatment and self-management strategies?
• Pelvic Neuralgias – the Pudendal is not the only nerve in the pelvis! Understanding pelvic neuroanatomy and pathophysiology, assessment of neural integrity and neurodynamics and clinically reasoning treatment strategies.
• Vulvar Pain Syndromes – understanding aetiology, assessment (is it time to retire the q tip test?) and integrated treatment strategies, from skincare, hormonal health and pelvic myofascial dysfunction. Moving from sexual pain to pleasure
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome – why does this issue affect twice as many women as men? What’s the evidence for effective management? Can we rule out other colorectal pain drivers like the coccyx?

Within our scope of practice, how can we use an evidence-based approach to help us effectively use lifestyle medicine, coaching and self-efficacy in persistent pelvic pain – incorporating movement, gut health, mindfulness and sleep hygiene. Is there still a role for manual therapy in a psychologically informed practice? What’s the best type of exercise prescription? How can we optimize the Gut-Brain Axis to decrease pain and suffering and increase self-efficacy? Why we need to make sleep hygiene a cornerstone of persistent pain management & not an after thought at the end of our treatment sessions. All of this and more, with plenty of time for discussion between the lectures.

5+ hours of pre-recorded material available 7 days before the course start date and for 14 days afterwards

Prerequisite: 

• Level 1 (or equivalent to be approved by PHS – please email info@pelvichealthsolutions.ca for approval).
• Level 2 is recommended but not mandatory.
• Information and skills taught must be used within scope of practice.

Audience: This course is open to physiotherapists, naturopathic doctors, registered nurses, midwives, and medical doctors.

Date/Time: April 12, 19, 26 & May 3, 2026, from 3:00pm – 6:00pm ET (Toronto). Please convert to your local time zone.