Special Recommendations and Support: Scoring in the Red Zone
About one-third of the women who take the Tighten Your Tinkler quiz fall in the Red Zone, which represents advanced pelvic floor dysfunction.
In our experience, women whose symptoms have progressed to the Red Zone are often dealing with multiple issues (and have been for some time). Because these cases tend to be multifaceted and complex, we recommend building an in-person care team to support you holistically.
If you've been diagnosed with (or suspect you have) pelvic organ prolapse, you might benefit from watching our Prolapse 101 Masterclass. This one hour, information-packed class will help you understand what's happening in your body so you can make confident decisions.
Learn more about the Prolapse 101 Masterclass →Practitioners we've found helpful include:
- Acupuncturists: can provide support for hormone balance, nervous system care and regulation, back pain and pelvic pressure relief
- Chiropractors: for alignment; Webster-certified chiros are specially trained in gentle adjustments appropriate for pregnant and postpartum women, as well as uniquely trained to adjust the pubic joint, which is often involved when you are experiencing groin or inner thigh pain, urinary urgency, and/or an over-tight ("hypertonic") pelvic floor
- Upledger Craniosacral Therapists: use gentle touch to decompress tissues for relief of pain, pressure, and tightness (these techniques are done with clothing on, so no need to disrobe like with a massage)
- Osteopaths (D.O.): physicians with a more holistic background; some practice manual medicine (often abbreviated as OMT or OMM), which is very similar to craniosacral therapy
- Physical Therapists: for building strength; one option within this field is a pelvic floor specialist
- Urogynecologists: a specialty within Western medicine, these physicians offer formal prolapse diagnoses and traditional treatments such as surgery
Please note: we're NOT suggesting you immediately make 6+ appointments. This list is meant to be a menu of different support options available, to try when the time is right for you.
It's also important to note that some of the above may accept insurance. Because Tighten Your Tinkler supports women world-wide, it's impossible for us to know what might be covered– please check with your provider.
Self-advocacy is critical when dealing with advanced pelvic floor dysfunction.
We've compiled a treasure-trove of podcasts, downloads, and videos on our Resources page to help you to better understand your issues.
It's a lengthy page! Scroll to the button section to jump to your particular pain points:
The Tighten Your Tinkler Mission is to help women with pelvic floor issues heal holistically so they can show up, fully present, for their lives.
Our own personal experiences with pelvic floor dysfunction have made us empathetic to the struggles of others. Our hearts go out to every woman who has been dismissed by healthcare professionals, suffered in secret, and/or feels like they’re being robbed of time with loved ones.
We wish we could come alongside each and every woman on her healing journey. At the very least, we hope that simply by sharing our stories we might inspire the hope someone needs to take her next step.
Since bringing our professional expertise online in 2019, we’ve come to better understand who we can most help through our Signature Program – and who might be a better fit for individualized, in-person treatment.
If you have any of the following, you'll likely benefit more from individualized, in-person care:
- Stage 3 or 4 Prolapse
- Digestive issues that cause severe diarrhea or constipation (including Crohn's, IBS, or leaky gut)
- Multiple presenting issues, such as arthritis, permanent nerve damage, or other complex health conditions
IMPORTANT Considerations
Our protocol is movement based.
It requires participants to move on and off the floor. If your mobility doesn't allow for this, the program is not the right fit at this time.
The Signature Program is a digital resource.
Participants need WIFI access and should be comfortable navigating basic online platforms (logging in, clicking through modules, viewing video, etc.) If you’re uncomfortable using technology, an in-person option will likely be less stressful (leading to better results).
Pelvic floor problems tend to become more complex with time.
Since bringing the Signature Program online, we have found that women over 60 are more likely to need additional time and sustained effort to get the results they desire. Many of these women are better candidates for the customized, in-person care the above practitioners can provide.
We care deeply about each and every woman who comes across Tighten Your Tinkler. We offer as much information as we can, as transparently as possible, so that all women feel empowered to take the next steps that are right for them in their healing journey.
Learn more →