In the News: New Vagina Spa or Gyno-Spa

After all of the buzz about the newly announced Vagina Spa or Gyno-Spa here in New York, I feel compelled to weigh in on the conversation. As I share my thoughts, I am going to try to stay away from all the puns being used on the internet to describe this latest news item. (It isn’t easy, by the way.) I must say the Huffington Post’s blog posts were the most creative.

Your best bet is to read the New York Times article from July 3rd which will explain that Dr. Lauri Romanzi, a board certified gynecologist, is going to be adding to her practice something she calls Phit – which is an acronym for pelvic health integrated techniques.

Here are my thoughts:
1. First let me say that if you are in the spa business (or perhaps have nothing better to do right now), it is an interesting development you might want to know about.

2. Note that Dr. Romanzi did not call it a Vagina Spa or a Gyno Spa. Those terms were coined by others and used by many (including me in the title of my blog) because they do work in terms of getting attention. Another note, Dr. Romanzi was quoted as saying, “It’s the dental floss of feminine fitness” so she is also clearly thinking “sound-bites.”

3. This isn’t the first time I have run across this idea or a related concept. There are, for example Gyno-chairs, at the Juvenex Spa here in Manhattan and they offer Gynotherapy which is a vaginal steam bath. And yes, I tried it several years ago because I thought it was novel and trying out novel spa treatments is something I do all over the world. Wooden chair with large hole…pot of steaming herbs…you get the idea. Anyway, it is a common practice in some cultures – especially after childbirth.

4. Whenever medical and spa come together, I think that is generally a good thing. And reading Dr. Romanzi’s bio makes me feel a lot better about what has clearly been a PR home-run for her.

BIO INFO FROM DR. ROMANZI’S WEBSITE:

Board-certified gynecologist, fellowship-trained urogynecologist and reconstructive pelvic surgeon. She founded Urogynics in 1998…is the first surgeon in Manhattan to perform the minimally invasive Tension Free Vaginal Tape procedure for urinary incontinence, and the pioneer of a scar-free, uterus-preserving (no hysterectomy) technique of uterine prolapse repair.

On her list of services: Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery: Uterine prolapsed, vaginal laxity, dropped bladder, rectocele, postpartum rehabilitation, bowel and bladder incontinence, childbirth injury and fistula of the pelvic organs. Sex & Wellbeing Therapy: Bioidentical hormone therapy, kegel exercise routines, treatments that increase libido, energy, mood and bone density, evaluation of medication side effects, supplements for brain health, bones, energy and sexuality, and referral resource for psychological, weight loss and endocrinology consultants.