How Integrating Pelvic Floor Therapy & Gynecological Care Supports Holistic Women’s Health

When it comes to our overall health and wellness, care is often divided into specialties—your gynecologist supports reproductive and hormonal health, while a pelvic floor therapist addresses neuromuscular and other soft tissue and structural concerns. But what happens when these two fields work together?

At the intersection of pelvic wellness and medical care is a powerful opportunity for healing that’s not just physical, but emotional and energetic too. More and more women are seeking holistic approaches to their health—and that includes having a team of providers who understand the body as an interconnected system rather than isolated parts.

Why an Integrative Approach Matters

It’s not uncommon for patients to bounce between providers without ever feeling like their full story is being heard. You might bring up pelvic pain or urinary incontinence to your gynecologist and be told it’s “normal after childbirth” or that it’ll pass with time. Or you may go into pelvic floor therapy with unresolved hormonal issues or unexplained discomfort that needs deeper medical evaluation. This is why collaboration matters.

Pairing the Clinical with the Somatic

A gynecologist brings deep insight into reproductive health, hormonal shifts, and internal examinations. A pelvic floor therapist complements this with hands-on support to address muscular tension and imbalances, scar tissue, and even emotional holding patterns that can live in the pelvic space.

Together, this partnership can create a comprehensive care model that addresses both the why and the how of your symptoms—why they’re happening, and how to restore balance and function.

Building a Collaborative Circle of Care

In this blog, we’re bridging these two worlds through a conversation with Georganna Wiley, a local gynecologist, and Tiana Wood, a pelvic floor and bodywork specialist. Together, we’ll explore how your health journey can be supported from both sides and what it looks like when providers collaborate with your whole-person wellness in mind.

Meet the Experts

GEORGANNA WILEY CNM MSN APRN WHNP BSN CPM, FMA-CP, has 20+ years experience as a women’s health clinician offering holistic, trauma sensitive care integrating alternative health with conventional and functional medicine. GeorgAnna uses her background as a homebirth, birthing center, and hospital midwife and WHNP, as well as a background in behavioral psychobiology and trauma work to  help women heal their trauma and love their bodies while providing gentle, comprehensive gynecology care. She facilitates healthy vagina relationships and finds great joy in empowering women. 

rebirthSavannah@gmail.com

phone: .912.662.6191

www.rebirth.health

TIANA WOOD OTR/L, LMT, is the owner and lead therapist at Empowered Foundations Pelvic Floor Therapy, where she provides pelvic floor therapy and bodywork that take each client's whole person into account and focuses on their individual needs and goals. She weaves education, hands-on bodywork, and movement into each treatment session. She is committed to empowering all of her clients with an understanding of their own bodies and the tools to heal themselves and regain strength and function, throughout all phases of life. Tiana is passionate about normalizing conversations about pelvic and sexual health and about educating and empowering people of all genders in the community about how their pelvic health fits into their overall well-being. 

Why does partnership and partnerships like this matter in overall healthcare and wellness?

Tiana: Our healthcare system is fractured into separate specialties that often take a look only at the body system that is their priority. Practitioners often don’t communicate about what is going on with their mutual clients and this doesn’t allow for any of the specialists to have a holistic picture of someone’s health. When healthcare providers have an understanding of each other’s approach, communicate about their mutual clients, and are able to refer clients to each other for a deeper look into symptoms that are not within their scope, it can only benefit the clients. More often than not, symptoms are caused by multiple factors and treating all of those contributing factors is the best way to alleviate discomfort and dysfunction. None of us can know it all and I greatly appreciate being able to send my clients to other skilled and knowledgeable practitioners.

Georganna: Comprehensive care is optimized by providers working together to help the healing process, bringing their unique skill sets together to expand healing potential for our clients, while working with the body’s innate ability to heal if given the right tools.

The Importance of Pelvic Floor Therapy | Tiana Wood

What are some of the most common signs or symptoms you see that indicate someone could benefit from pelvic floor therapy—even if they’ve never heard of it before?

Leaking urine, increased urgency or frequency with urination, straining to have a BM, ANY kind of pain with sex, pain anywhere in the pelvis or abdomen or lower back or hips, a feeling of heaviness or pressure or something falling out, intense cramping with your period.

How does your approach to therapy support patients emotionally or energetically—not just physically?

I take a biopsychosocial approach, which looks not just at the body, but also where the person is emotionally, what kind of stresses and supports they have, and the roles they have in connection with others in their life. All of this is intertwined. These factors are inseparable. If we are having physical symptoms, it can affect our emotional and energetic well-being. If we are experiencing depression or anxiety or don’t have sufficient support from others in our lives, it can show up in our bodies as tension or pain. I am not a mental health specialist, but occupational therapists do have training in mental health approaches. If I cannot help a client with the nervous system regulation or stress reduction techniques I have in my toolbox, I will gladly refer out to a mental health specialist in the area.

When do you know it’s time to refer someone back to a gynecologist or another provider?

When someone needs their annual gynecological or breast health screenings, is having symptoms of infection or hormonal or emotional dysregulation, is interested in seeing how another complementary discipline could improve their symptoms as an adjunct to pelvic floor therapy, like an acupuncturist or chiropractor or mental health specialist, if they need medical support with fertility, or if they are pregnant and are ready to consult with a midwife or doula about various types of support available during childbirth.

Gynecology Support for Women | Georganna Wiley

What are some pelvic health concerns that patients commonly bring up that could benefit from pelvic floor therapy in addition to medical treatment?

Pain with sex, difficult penetration, vaginismus, interstitial cystitis, bladder dysfunction, chronic constipation

What are the benefits you see when patients have access to complementary care like pelvic floor therapy alongside their regular gynecological care?

Prevention of unnecessary, expensive, painful medical procedures, prevention of surgery, less invasive and more respectful approach of hands on learning somatic therapies to heal. 

What advice would you give to patients who are unsure whether their symptoms are “serious enough” to seek pelvic or gynecologic support?

If in doubt, check it out! If you are having pain, discomfort, or concerns, there is definitely something underlying going on we need to assess to help you feel better and be more fully able to enjoy your body. Surgery is not always the only (or best) solution, let's work with your body to heal. 

You Don’t Have to Navigate This Alone

Your pelvic and reproductive health are deeply connected—not just to each other, but to your overall wellness, vitality, and sense of empowerment in your body. Whether you’ve been dealing with lingering symptoms, new discomforts, or you’re simply seeking preventative care, integrating support from both a pelvic floor therapist and a trusted gynecologist can make all the difference.

When your providers collaborate, you’re no longer just a patient with a symptom—you become a whole person receiving care that honors your physical body, your emotional well-being, and your personal story.

If you’re curious about what a holistic care plan could look like for you:

Start by scheduling a consultation—whether it’s with your OB/GYN or a pelvic floor therapist, opening the conversation is the first empowering step.

Ask your providers if they collaborate with others - building a trusted care circle is key! Reach out if you are needing help building that care circle in Savannah - I’d be happy to support you! 

Listen to your body’s signals. You don’t need to wait until something feels “serious” to seek support. Preventative care and support will help your overall wellness and life beyond just seeking support when you are feeling unwell.  

We’re here to help you reconnect with your body, your strength, and your sense of ease—every step of the way.

To learn more about how pelvic floor therapy can support you, contact me today to schedule an evaluation.