What We Do - Programs & Services

Women’s Health Foundation is dedicated to heightening awareness and education in women’s pelvic health, facilitating pelvic health research, and providing solutions to women’s pelvic wellness. Since 2004, we have developed innovative, award-winning, community-based programs and events sponsored by YMCAs, hospital wellness centers, and community-based sites.

Total Control®: A Wellness Program for Women
Total Control® is a community-based, groundbreaking exercise and educational program for all women, especially those at risk of pelvic health problems. Total Control® combines a specialized fitness program with an invaluable education component involving bladder and pelvic anatomy, nutrition, and lifestyle keys to prevent, manage, or alleviate symptoms of prolapse or bladder control. The curriculum was developed by a world class group of exercise physiologists, general and pelvic physical therapists, nurse practitioners, and physicians, including gynecologists, urologists, and urogynecologists. Women’s Health Foundation trains instructors and licensed facilities to teach Total Control® classes, which are hosted throughout the country. To learn more, please visit www.totalcontrolprogram.com.

Total Control Platinum™ is an evidence-based, adapted, seated version of Total Control® for seniors and women with limited mobility. In 2011, the manuscript for the research study focusing on Total Control Platinum™ , “A comparative effectiveness study of overactive bladder (OAB) treatment using a pelvic floor fitness program for senior women” was selected as the winner of the 2011 Aetna Susan B. Anthony Award for Excellence in Research on Older Women and Public Health by the American Public Health Association (APHA). Currently, the program is being piloted at Presbyterian Homes; Westminster Place and Rush University Medical Center. To learn more or to see how you can bring the program to your facility, contact Anna Albrecht.

Adolescent Pelvic Health Initiative
Inspired by messages from middle-aged through senior women in our signature programs, Total Control® and Total Control Platinum™, Women’s Health Foundation learned that prevention is key to helping women with Pelvic Floor Disorders. That’s why we’re targeting adolescent girls with our newest Adolescent Health Initiative, to educate young girls about their bodies and pelvic floor health.
Through this initiative, WHF brings basic pelvic health education - anatomy, hygiene, the basics on pelvic function and disorders, as well as behavioral guidelines to teens. Arming young girls with pelvic health education, we aim to equip teen girls with the knowledge to take care of their pelvic floor muscles before possibly developing incontinence or other pelvic floor disorders. Recently, WHF completed a research study in 3 urban Chicago-area high schools. The study’s goals were to discern baseline knowledge and perceptions on pelvic health and to improve adolescent females’ knowledge, awareness and behavior with respect to basic bladder and pelvic health through an adaptive educational curriculum. Preliminary results are favorable. To learn more or see how you can get involved with the Adolescent Pelvic Health Initiative, contact Molly Kirk Parlier.

Pelvic Health Community Initiative
Pelvic Health Community Initiative (PHCI) encompasses the array of efforts to meet the needs of women, especially low income, low literacy women and women for whom English is a second language. This initiative targets women and girls who tend to be most disengaged from the health care system and thus receive the least amount of pelvic health education and information.

A distinct component of PHCI is the community health educator program which trains community lay workers, or promotoras, to disseminate pelvic health education within their community. This program is offered in both English and Spanish. Additionally, WHF has created culturally-competent health educational materials that address pelvic anatomy, lifestage challenges to pelvic health, common disorders and treatment options (both behavioral and medical), behavioral approaches such as pelvic floor muscle exercise, food choices and bathroom behaviors. To learn more about PHCI, contact Anna Albrecht. Se hablas Español? Comunicate con Naomi Martell.

Sex, Chocolate, and Your Pelvic Floor
Sex, Chocolate, and Your Pelvic Floor is a special educational fundraising event for women to celebrate sexual health and pelvic wellness. The evening is organized as an intimate, interactive, informative set of presentations on topics such as female sexual anatomy, the elements of female arousal and how to maintain a healthy pelvis through menopause and childbirth. A mix of gourmet chocolate, champagne, door prizes, and hilarious but educational presentations – Sex, Chocolate, and Your Pelvic Floor provides a comfortable atmosphere that seduces women back into their bodies. To learn more, please visit www.sexchocolateandyourpelvicfloor.org.

Women in Health Connection
Women in Health Connection is a free educational event at which a broad panel of women’s health experts such as physicians, physical therapists, fitness professionals, and nutritionists respond to questions taken from an audience comprised of women from the neighboring community. Women in Health Connection is one of many ways that the Women’s Health Foundation builds bridges between patients and health care providers giving women the opportunity to ask questions – vital questions they may not have had the chance to ask in their regularly scheduled medical appointments.

Click here to find upcoming WHF sponsored events and programs in your area