Reproductive and Urinary Physiology Commons^™

Integrating Maternal Pelvic Floor And Mental Health In Occupational Therapy, Diana S. Theodore, Lesley Sally Khan-Farooqi, Amanda Ciecior, Teresa Martinez, Brooke Caldwell

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

This poster highlights an integrated occupational therapy approach to maternal pelvic floor and mental health. Postpartum recovery is often addressed in fragmented ways, separating physical symptoms from emotional and functional impact. This work emphasizes the connection between pelvic floor function, nervous system regulation, and daily activities. Drawing from clinical experiences across acute, outpatient, and community settings, this project presents practical, client-centered strategies to support recovery. Key areas include breathing, bowel and bladder health, and functional movement. By focusing on occupational performance, such as toileting, mobility, sleep, and caregiving. This approach demonstrates the role of occupational therapy in supporting whole-person postpartum …

Topical Lidocaine For Pain Control With Intrauterine Device Insertion: Does It Work?, Piper Gaudet, Jahnavi Ramakrishnan, Fariha Azam

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2020-current

Objective: To evaluate whether topical lidocaine improves the subjective perception of pain during the insertion of an intrauterine device (IUD) in women of childbearing age, compared to a placebo. Design: Mini-systematic literature review. Methods: An initial search of PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus was conducted using the terms "pain control," "IUD," and "lidocaine," yielding 49 articles, of which 31 were screened and 26 excluded based on pre-designated inclusion criteria. After assessing five articles for eligibility, three met the criteria and were evaluated using Duke University's Clinical Appraisal Worksheet and the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine table to determine their level of …

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy In Pregnant And Postpartum Women, Madison G. Kaup

Senior Theses

This project had three main goals: 1) Explore how pregnancy and childbirth affect the female pelvic floor anatomy and physiology, 2) Examine current practices through a literature review and interviews conducted with pelvic floor physical therapists currently practicing in various clinical settings across the United States, and 3) Develop suggestions to mitigate the challenges currently faced in the field by patients and therapists.

The female pelvic floor undergoes extensive changes throughout pregnancy as its structures are targeted by laxity-inducing hormones and mechanical stress from the growing fetus. During childbirth, the system is stretched beyond its physiological limit, causing damage to …

Accessible Dietary Interventions For The Prevention And Management Of Common Menstrual Disorders: A Systematic Review, Ella R. Motzko

Theses and Graduate Projects

Objective: This systematic review aims to provide healthcare providers with evidence-based dietary recommendations that can be easily implemented by patients across diverse populations to address a critical gap in the management of common menstrual disorders like premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and primary dysmenorrhea (PD).

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted using UpToDate, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) Green Journal, Google Scholar, and PubMed electronic databases to identify randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the effects of specific essential nutrients or diet-related behavioral or educational interventions on PMS or PD symptoms.

Results: Following the PRISMA guidelines, the identification process began with …

Understanding One Dietary Supplement For Pcos, Eva Schofield

Capstone Showcase

Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common condition in women of reproductive age, yet nearly 70% of individuals with PCOS remain undiagnosed. For many women who do receive a diagnosis, it takes experiencing symptoms for two years or longer and receiving care from an average of 3 different providers before a diagnosis can be established. In an environment where prevalence is high, diagnosis rate is low and delayed, and dissatisfaction is prevalent regarding the health care women receive, many patients may turn to self-diagnosis and online resources to find their own therapeutic options. This CME article aims to …

Research Brief: "Women Veterans’ Reproductive Health Preferences And Experiences: A Focus Group Analysis", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief is about the experiences and preferences for reproductive health care services among female veterans. In policy and practice, the VA should expand communication efforts to ensure that female veterans know the reproductive health services that are available to them, include more advanced fertility care, and widen the range of healthcare choices available to veteran women; the VA should look into covering healthcare for newborns and expanding access to infertility services. Suggestions for future research include using a random, nationally representative sample of female veterans, and looking at gender discrimination's potential impact on their quality of care.