Course series

SELF-PACED Pelvic Therapy for Gender Affirming Vaginoplasty

PT/PTA CEUs

  • 8 hours
  • Click below for CEU specifics for each state.

Access

  • Unlimited access to online course contents

Audience

  • Any physical rehabilitation professional, regardless of their specialty area, who has interest in better serving the people who are gender diverse.
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What to expect:

This 8-hour course is appropriate for the  pelvic health rehabilitation professional who has interest in better serving the people who are gender diverse. There is specific content aimed at teaching pelvic  health therapists how to expand their skills for working with people following gender affirming genital surgery, primarily vaginoplasty.

Topics include:
  •  Supporting healing after gender affirming surgery 
  • Overview of operative procedures genital surgery including vaginoplasty and vulvoplasty
  • Pre-operative evaluation, treatment, and education issues
  • Post- operative evaluation, treatment, education and follow up for genital surgeries

What will you learn?

OBJECTIVES:
At the completion of this course, participants will be able to:
1. Describe healing phase and state of vulva 
2. Understand influence of lubrication on wound healing of vaginal tissue 
3. Select parameters for transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation for pain relief in vaginoplasty recovery 
4. Use graded motor imagery tools to reduce pain and improve sexual function following vaginoplasty 
5. Recognize examination element to distinguish muscle component versus stenotic component of painful dilation 
6. List tools surgeons might use to improve dilation. 
7. Describe the surgical procedures for orchiectomy, vaginoplasty, vulvoplasty, 8. Describe common musculoskeletal and pelvic floor issues to address prior to and after gender affirming genital surgery. Orchiectomy, Vulvoplasty, Vaginoplasty. 
9. Demonstrate knowledge of the varied vaginoplasty dilation protocols across the USA 
Be able to teach classes or work one-on-one!
Meet the instructors:

Sandra Gallagher PT, DPT, WCS

Sandi is a pelvic health physical therapist in Portland OR. Her practice includes providing evaluation and treatment of pelvic health conditions in adults and children of all gender identities. Dr. Gallagher received her primary physical therapy training in 1986 with a BS in Physical therapy from the University of Lowell in Massachusetts. She has pursued varied continuing education from manual therapy, Feldenkrais, biophysical agents, pelvic health, pregnancy. She completed her Doctorate of Physical Therapy in June 2020. She has served on varied committees and boards at the state and national level, most recently has the chair of the CAPP-OB Committee for the Academy of Pelvic Health of the APTA. She has presented on the role of PT in gender affirming vaginoplasty at UCSF Transgender Health Summit, APTA Combined Sections Meeting, and at the 2018 international meeting of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). She is the recipient of the 2020 Elizabeth Noble Award from the Academy of Pelvic Health.
Patrick Jones - Course author

Caitlin M. Smigelski PT, DPT

Caitlin is a pelvic floor physical therapist in Portland, OR. She focuses in the treatment of bowel and bladder dysfunction and complex pelvic pain. Caitlin specializes in transgender health and treatment of patients who are pregnant or postpartum. Caitlin values active treatment approaches and teaching individuals ways to manage and improve their symptoms. Caitlin is active with the Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy and serves on the CAPP-OB committee. She is also a member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). Caitlin and Sandi traveled to Argentina to present at the 2018 WPATH Symposium on Physical Therapy in People Undergoing Vaginoplasty. In Caitlin’s spare time, she enjoys climbing, mountaineering, and gardening.