5^th World Holistic Nursing Conference

Integral Pelvic Th erapy (IPT) is a holistic form of pelvic fl oor therapy for women, with the aim of restoring balance in the pelvic area. Th is is done by using soft external and internal massage techniques in which concepts such as consent, presence and the capacity of slowing down are essential, suitable for every woman who simply wants to know more about her body, sexuality or general wellbeing. But also to treat conditions like a numb feeling in the pelvic area, dyspareunia, sexual trauma, hyper-hypotone pelvic fl oor, stress/urge

incontinence, organ prolapse or chronic infl ammations around the area of the vulva and as preparation before, during and birth. Th e IPT- practitioner works only aft er an embodied felt consent in the feminine body, so the client has an autonomous position, where she can receive the touch, instead of undergoing the treatment. For most women, this way of touching makes all the diff erence in feeling violated or not and can be applied in any case in the health care. An IPT-practitioner works with an extremely sensitive touch where full presence is required to notice the slightest change in color, tone and breathing of the client.

Case study: One Client 34 years old she got stabile marriage and gives birth 1.5 years ago. She is having severe pain in het vulva area, since she was at age 15. She feels the vulvar skin cracking during intercourse and due to the pain, she not intimate with her partner anymore. Th is is causing relationship issues. She went to the gynecologist, dermatologist, sexologist, pelvic fl oor therapist and at a psychologist. She had ultrasounds and a MRI-scan. She was diagnosed with Vulvary Vestibulitis Syndrome but no therapy helped. At last her psychologist was aimed at acceptance of the pain. At this point she felt devasted and came to me for help.Treatment was applied to give a soft stretch  on the fasciae of the inner labia were tension and small restrictions were felt. Th is gave the client confi rmation about her pain. Slowly, with a lot patience, the restrictions melted away and the area of the vulva became less painful. Due to the memory of painful intercourse and medical examinations, stored emotions came loose. Aft er two treatments, the client could receive an external and internal touch without pain, for the fi rst time aft er 19 years. Th is is not a  single case. I have worked with manyclients like the above. Th e combination of presence, consent and touch with awareness, seems to have an incredible benefi cial eff ect on the emotional and physical layer in a women’s body. It is time for research, so this form of therapy can be accepted as a full form of complementary care in womans pelvic health.