Introducing Origin: Physical Therapy for Women & Mothers

What began as a beloved local practice in Los Angeles is now expanding nationwide, online and in-person

Over the last two years, I’ve been working with my co-founders Nona Farahnik Yadegar and David Yadegar to solve a silent problem that affects millions of women, including me.

Throughout my 20s, I experienced painful sex and sought care from nearly a dozen doctors. I was told again and again that my pain would hopefully go away over time.

Like many women who are told “That’s just the way it is,” I suffered for years. And I'm not alone.

The stats are staggering:

• 1 in 6 women have chronic painful sex
• 1 in 3 adult women experience incontinence
• 1 in 2 women going through menopause suffer from vaginal atrophy

Many of these conditions often start around pregnancy, when women deliver a baby either through their vagina or through a major invasive surgery (i.e., C-section) — with no national standard for rehab and recovery.

We believe every woman should have access to the care they need to feel good in their bodies. So today, I’m excited to announce the launch of Origin, physical therapy designed for women and mothers, online and in-person.

Our team of clinicians use their expert knowledge of women’s entire bodies to solve commonly overlooked health issues, from painful sex to postpartum recovery. We believe that treating women requires a safe space and a whole body approach (that means your vagina and pelvic floor, too). Our work is centered around individual goals and needs, and includes expert guidance, targeted exercise, strengthening, and hands-on work.

We had originally planned to launch later this year, but we are eager to support new and existing patients alike during this unprecedented time. Our virtual care is available in California today and we are working hard to expand nationwide!

Women are not getting the care they deserve

Gender bias in medicine is pervasive and entrenched. Women are more likely to be misdiagnosed, ignored, or denied by doctors, causing well-documented harm. Doctors and nurses prescribe less pain medication to women than men after surgery, despite reporting more frequent and severe pain levels. There are five times the number of studies about male erectile dysfunction compared to dyspareunia, or painful sex in women. And as late as the 1990s, researchers were using male subjects to study ovarian cancer (an absurdity so ridiculous that it requires a John Oliver shtick). As a result, thousands of women have told us how their preventable and treatable medical conditions were dismissed or normalized before they walked through our doors.

But a life-changing solution — physical therapy for women — is proven and based in scientific evidence. And it’s valuable at every stage of life: sexual health, pregnancy, postpartum, menopause. It’s non-invasive, meaning that it's safer and cheaper than any surgical option. It’s the first line of defense for most pelvic floor disorders and can help women prepare for childbirth, reduce labor trauma, and recover more quickly postpartum. Physical therapy also helps avoid unnecessary surgeries for issues like incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. In France, it's the standard of care for every woman who gives birth, and our vision is to create an even higher standard in the United States.

Where we started, and where we’re going.

We’re building Origin on an incredible foundation: Bebé Physical Therapy. Founded in 2007, Bebé is the leading provider of physical therapy for women in Los Angeles, and one of the only specialized practices that takes insurance.

After delivering her son, my co-founder Nona experienced issues no one had prepared her for, including incontinence and painful sex. She discovered Bebé PT and was blown away by the incredible team and impact: over 10,000 women served and a track record of life changing results. Nona, David, and I partnered with the Bebé team and have spent the last 18 months working toward the bigger vision of Origin while continuing to serve the Los Angeles community.

We join a community of doctors, birth workers and healers who are working to change the status quo and give women's entire bodies proper care and attention. We hope to destigmatize the shame that quietly exists around some of the biggest milestones in a woman’s life and instead, celebrate our strength and resilience.

We hope you’ll join us on this journey.