Participants who register for this event have the option to attend live-online and/or watch the recording later. The recording will be available to all registrants for a 1-month period and access is provided on the next business day following the event. This allows participants who may not be able to attend live-online to still benefit from the content. To facilitate attendance tracking, please indicate on your registration form if you won't be attending live.
The 12th Pelvic Health Solutions online symposium will enrich your theoretical and practical knowledge of pelvic health. Learn the science, critical reasoning and inter-disciplinary approaches needed to fully understand the direction that pelvic health is taking in your community, provincially, nationally, and internationally.
Compression Garments for Pelvic Floor Dysfunction - What Do We Currently Know? - Gráinne Donnelly
This talk will introduce the role of compression garments as an adjunct to supporting pelvic floor function and specifically postpartum return to running. Get new research insights from a body of doctoral research investigating this topic.
- Understand what compression garments are and their current uses
- Understand the role of compression garments targeting the pelvic floor
- Understand new research insights into the mechanical, perceptual and symptom-based impact of compression garments in postpartum women
- Understand their role within multimodal care.
Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Understanding Pelvic Pain and Erectile Dysfunction - Bill Taylor
Pelvic pain and erectile dysfunction (ED) are frequently co-occurring conditions that can significantly impact a patient’s quality of life. However, the pathophysiological links between them are often underrecognized and poorly understood. This session will explore the neurovascular, musculoskeletal, and psychological mechanisms that interconnect chronic pelvic pain syndromes (CPPS) and erectile dysfunction. Through an evidence-based approach, we will highlight diagnostic strategies, multidisciplinary treatment options, and case-based discussions to optimize patient outcomes.
Objectives - By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Recognize the clinical relationship between chronic pelvic pain and erectile dysfunction.
- Identify key anatomical and physiological pathways involved in the overlap of pelvic pain syndromes and sexual dysfunction.
- Differentiate between psychogenic and organic causes of ED in the context of chronic pelvic pain.
- Apply a multidisciplinary diagnostic framework to evaluate patients presenting with both conditions.
- Outline evidence-based treatment strategies including pharmacological, physiotherapeutic, and behavioural interventions.
A Physical Therapist’s Guide to Anal Sex - Jake Bartholomy
Many of our patients are trying anal sex or are curious about it yet they’re afraid to discuss it with their health care providers. Pelvic health therapists should be knowledgeable and comfortable discussing it to help their patients have safe and pleasurable experiences.
Objectives:
- Understand and review the relative anatomy
- Health and safety considerations
- Preventing and dealing with unwanted discomfort
Physiotherapy for Pelvic floor dysfunction in Aging Women: From the Research to the Clinic - Chantale Dumoulin
To translate our research on individual or group interventions for urinary incontinence, other pelvic floor muscle (PFM) dysfunctions and genitourinary syndrome of menopause for an effective, affordable and scalable use in clinical practice with aging women.
Objectives:
- To present the impact (short and long term) of pelvic floor physiotherapy on urinary incontinence, other pelvic floor muscle dysfunction and genitourinary syndrome of menopause, on PFM morphometry/function and cost.
- To describe the key features of our pelvic floor physiotherapy intervention approaches (education, adherence strategies, 12-week progressive intervention, progressive and maintenance exercise program) in order to promote efficient implementation in clinical practice.
Urological and Urogynecological Surgeries: Key Insights for Pelvic Health Physiotherapists - Dr. Alaina Garbens
This talk will explore the impact of urological and urogynecological surgeries on pelvic floor function, providing pelvic floor physiotherapists with essential insights into how these procedures can affect patient recovery. The presentation will cover a range of common surgeries, such as prostatectomy, cystectomy, and pelvic organ prolapse surgeries, and discuss how they influence the pelvic floor’s integrity, strength, and function. Understanding these effects is crucial for physiotherapists in developing effective rehabilitation strategies and managing complications such as incontinence, pelvic pain, and pelvic organ prolapse. By bridging the gap between surgery and rehabilitation, this talk will enhance collaboration between urologists and physiotherapists to ensure comprehensive, patient-centered care.
Objectives:
- Overview of urology and gynecology
- Female incontinence surgery
- Female prolapse surgery
- Bladder surgery - TURBT
- Male radical prostatectomy
- Male BPH surgeries
Bridging the Gap: Enhancing Care and Outcomes for Patients with Lichen Sclerosus - Jaclyn Lanthier
Vulvar Lichen sclerosus (VLS) is often misunderstood, leading to delayed diagnoses, inadequate treatment, and poor patient outcomes. This symposium, combines lived patient experiences with community survey data to highlight key challenges in LS care. I will debunk common myths, explore barriers to effective treatment, and provide practical strategies to improve patient-provider communication, comfort, and long-term management.
Objectives: By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
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Understand Patient Challenges – Recognize the common frustrations and barriers LS patients face in accessing knowledgeable care.
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Debunk Myths – Identify and correct misconceptions about LS that contribute to misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment.
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Improve Patient Communication – Learn effective strategies for discussing sensitive topics, ensuring patient comfort, and fostering trust
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Promote Multidisciplinary Care – Understand the importance of collaboration across specialties to provide comprehensive, patient-centered LS care.
This session will equip providers with the knowledge and tools to better support LS patients, leading to improved comfort, adherence to treatment, and quality of life.
Pelvic Health Interventions after Gynecological Cancer Treatments: Why, When and How - Stéphanie Bernard
This presentation will explore the rationale, timing, and practical approaches for pelvic health interventions following gynecological cancer treatments. We will discuss the impact of cancer therapies on pelvic floor function, review current evidence supporting rehabilitation strategies, and provide clinical guidance on how to assess, initiate, and tailor pelvic health interventions to improve quality of life and functional outcomes for survivors.
Objectives:
- Explain the relevance and applicability of pelvic health interventions in the context of gynecological cancer care.
- Clarify the appropriate timing for initiating pelvic health interventions across different phases of gynecological cancer care.
- Analyze how the unique impacts of gynecological cancer and its treatments influence the adaptation of standard pelvic health interventions.
Bios:
Gráinne Donnelly
Gráinne Donnelly is an Advanced Practice Physiotherapist in pelvic health based in N. Ireland and a doctoral researcher at Cardiff Metropolitan University. Her research focuses on pelvic floor dysfunction in sport, with particular emphasis on the role of compression garments in return to running postpartum. She also engages in research on diastasis rectus abdominis and neurodiversity within sport. Gráinne is the current Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Pelvic, Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy.
Bill Taylor
Bill Taylor has been a Physiotherapist for almost 40 years, with over 25 years experience in the treatment of pelvic dysfunction. He is widely recognized in the UK & internationally as being one of the leading pelvic health physios and one of the few who specialize in male pelvic floor dysfunction. He is a graduate of the Canadian Academy of Manipulative Therapy and has spent most of his career treating the Musculoskeletal System using manual therapy and exercise.
He has a special interest in Chronic Pelvic Floor Pain and Dysfunction and the use of manual and exercise therapy in addressing this condition. He has contributed a chapter to the textbook, Chronic Pelvic Pain and Dysfunction entitled The Effect of Sport and Exercise on Chronic Pelvic Pain. He also complied the chapter on Pelvic Girdle Assessment in the text Neuro-musculoskeletal Assessment.
He has taught widely in UK, Europe, Scandinavia & Israel on male and female pelvic health. He is one of the few UK based Physiotherapists to work full-time in male and female pelvic health and is the Clinical Director of his own clinic in Edinburgh, Scotland. Additionally he has worked with Scottish Ballet and Scottish Dance Theatre for over 20 years. He was integral in the development of a full time Physiotherapy service to the National Ballet after which he continued as Consultant Physiotherapist for a number of years .
He continues to work with dancers of all ages and abilities in his Edinburgh clinic. He is a visiting Lecturer at Edinburgh University where he contributes to the MSc in Dance Science and Education, teaching the Preventative Dance Injury Module. He has also been a visiting Lecturer at Edinburgh Napier University where he has taught on the BSc /MSc Midwifery course and the MSc Physiotherapy course.
He has been mentoring students in the clinic for over 25 years as well as supervising undergraduate thesis projects. Recently he has become a member of the visiting Faculties at Brunel and Keele Universities. He has a passion to share his knowledge of pelvic floor dysfunction and the Physiotherapy treatment of this area.
Jake Bartholomy
Dr. Bartholomy has been a physical therapist since 2000 and treating pelvic health since 2008. He has taught for several continuing education programs and spoken at Pelvicon in 2023 and CSM 3 times. He is passionate about treating chronic pelvic pain and sexual dysfunction as well as encouraging the expansion of therapists treating cis male, trans and non binary patients. He started Seattle Pelvic Health in 2024 and lives with his husband and two sons in the beautiful pacific northwest.
Chantale Dumoulin
Prof. Chantale Dumoulin completed a Bachelor's in Physiotherapy at McGill University; Master's in Biomedical Science and Doctorate in Biomedical Science (2004) at Université de Montréal; and a Post-doctorate in Rehabilitation (2007) at McGill; including a specialized training in magnetic resonance imaging (2007) at Stanford University, USA.
Prof. Dumoulin is Canada’s leading specialist in female pelvic health. She is a Professor and Program Director of the post-graduate Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation Program in the Faculty of Medicine’s School of Rehabilitation at the Université de Montréal. She is a Researcher and Laboratory Director of the Women’s Health & Aging Laboratory at the Research Center of the Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal (CRIUGM), and an Associated researcher at the Research Center of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Montréal (CRCHUM). She is also a practicing physiotherapist, a leading member of the International Continence Society, and a Cochrane and World Health Organization (WHO) collaborator.
Her research aims to better understand female pelvic floor muscle dysfunction and improve prevention and treatment, as well as identify women most likely to benefit from conservative treatments, such as pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation. Her methodological expertise includes the development and psychometric evaluation of measurement tools, the evaluation and implementation of the effectiveness of preventive or curative treatments through randomized clinical trials and pragmatic studies, as well as writing systematic reviews.
Dr. Alaina Garbens
Dr. Alaina Garbens is a urologist at Mackenzie Health, serving the Richmond Hill and Vaughan regions of Ontario. She completed her medical degree and urology residency at the University of Toronto, where she also earned a PhD in surgical education through the Surgical Scientist Program. Dr. Garbens completed a two-year fellowship at UT Southwestern in Dallas, Texas, specializing in minimally invasive surgery and complex stone surgery.
Her clinical practice focuses on the medical and surgical management of urologic conditions, with an emphasis on minimally invasive techniques, non-invasive surgery, and endourology. Dr. Garbens is also the founder of Élevé, a leading provider of minimally invasive treatments for various female genitourinary conditions. Élevé utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to pelvic health, offering individualized, comprehensive care from a team of specialists, including sexual health, physiotherapy, physician and dietician.
Jaclyn Lanthier
Jaclyn is a vulvar lichen sclerosus patient advocate from Toronto, Canada. Jaclyn founded and directs The Lost Labia Chronicles, an evidence-based knowledge-sharing hub for vulvar lichen sclerosus information and support. Jaclyn is the Chief Research and Provider Relations Officer, content creator, and board secretary for Lichen Sclerosus Support Network. Jaclyn did her Ph.D. in philosophy of neuroscience at Western University in London, Ontario, where she evaluated the scientific methods and protocols used in cognitive neuroscience research to assess the reliability of the findings and ensure that the conclusions drawn from these studies are credible and trustworthy. Jaclyn is passionate about science communication, knowledge translation, health literacy, and improving the quality of life of people with VLS through education and support.
Stéphanie Bernard
:Stéphanie Bernard, Ph.D., PT, is a licensed physiotherapist with nearly 20 years of clinical experience in pelvic health, and and researcher at Université Laval. She specializes in cancer rehabilitation, with a focus on improving the quality of life and functional outcomes of individuals treated for gynecological and breast cancers. Dr. Bernard leads research initiatives aimed at developing evidence-based rehabilitation strategies to address pelvic and urogenital side effects of cancer treatments. She is deeply committed to integrating physiotherapy into cancer survivorship care and advancing interdisciplinary collaboration in oncology.
Date: Friday, November 28, 2025
Registration Form
Schedule
Date: Friday, November 28, 2025
Delivery Format
Live attendance is not mandatory for this online course. Enjoy a 1-month period to access and review the course recording, which is sent out on the next business day. We understand that life can be busy, which is why we offer you the freedom to access the course recording(s) during the time-limited viewing period.