Inside the GSM Collective: Why Pelvic Floor Therapy is Essential for Women's Health
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Episode Description
If you've been following along, you may have noticed things look a bit different around my practice. In this episode, I'm sitting down with my amazing team—Karen Bradley (NP) and Grace Prete (pelvic floor PT)—to talk about why we transitioned to concierge medicine, changed our name to the GSM Collective, and what this all means for the care we provide.
We discuss how insurance restrictions meant that even when we spent 30 minutes with patients more than most providers could offer it still wasn't enough time for patients with complex conditions like PGAD, vaginismus, and chronic pelvic pain who needed proper evaluation and treatment. Under our new concierge model with Ms. Medicine, we can now offer 90-minute first visits for pelvic floor patients, co-treat in the same appointment, and collaborate seamlessly to address the full spectrum of each patient's needs.
Grace walks through what actually happens in pelvic floor PT, dispelling the anxiety many patients feel about internal exams. She explains her three-year journey from orthopedics to discovering her passion for treating chronic pain with emotional and physical components. The conversation covers why "just do kegels" is often wrong advice, how tension creates weakness, and why a tight pelvic floor causes urinary incontinence despite conventional wisdom.
We also emphasize that pelvic floor dysfunction isn't just about postpartum issues it affects children with constipation, teenagers on hormonal birth control, athletes overworking their cores, and menopausal women with GSM.
Highlights:
- Why we left insurance-based model.
- How concierge medicine allows 90-minute first visits and same-day co-treatment between providers.
- Why pelvic floor PT should be preventative, not just reactive to pain and dysfunction.
- How nitrous oxide helps those who are anxious progress through dilators in single sessions.
- How TMJ, back pain, and anxiety all connect to pelvic floor tension and clenching.
- Why pregnancy itself damages the pelvic floor regardless of delivery method.
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GSM Collective
The GSM Collective - Chicago Boutique concierge gynecology practice Led by Dr. Sameena Rahman, specialist in sexual medicine & menopause Unrushed appointments in a beautiful, private setting Personalized care for women's health, hormones, and pelvic floor issues Multiple membership options available Ready for personalized women's healthcare? Visit our Chicago office today.