Hi, I’m

Dr. Lauren Crigler.

I specialize in pelvic floor therapy, and have spent over a decade helping women have pleasurable sex without pain.

 

I’m here to help you increase your desire and pleasure, stop having pain and start really enjoying your sex life.

My favorite part of what I do is helping women reconnect with their partner. This isn’t just a job for me; it’s a passion!

My path in this career has been both personal and professional, and fuels my intense drive for helping you.

I majored in nutrition and geeked out in psychology courses at the University of Florida. I became a Doctor of Physical Therapy at the University of South Carolina. Finally, after flying all over the U.S. for more continuing education, extensive testing, and presenting my research… I became certified in the subspecialty of pelvic floor physical therapy.

The short story: I really know my stuff!

Meanwhile, in my personal life…

I married another pelvic health professional: my adorable, crazy-smart, and kind husband, Dr. Britton Crigler, OB/GYN. We had two amazing sons who fill our lives with joy, excitement, and chaos. I wouldn’t change it for the world.

But not everything went as planned. My first childbirth experience in 2010 left me badly injured in the pelvic floor. I had some minor pelvic floor dysfunction before vaginal delivery. But after my newborn came into the world auditioning for The Fast and The Furious, I had some major problems.

I had a third degree laceration that required several rows of stitches. I struggled with incontinence, chronic pain, and feared every bowel movement. Eventually I healed on the outside, but didn’t account for the damage to the tissue below the surface.

That didn’t become obvious until after that 6 week visit when I got cleared to “resume intercourse,” you know, get back in the saddle again, get jiggy with it, make whoopee…

The day had finally come, and my husband and I were excited. However, when we attempted sex, I instantly knew something wasn’t right. What used to be pleasurable… was unbearable. I couldn’t handle it. We had to stop immediately and I was really bummed.

Fortunately, my husband completely understood. Even more fortunately, I knew everything that I needed to do to heal and get back to pain-free, feel-good sex. 

I chose the easiest way for me to get back to where I wanted to be. I taught my husband all the pelvic floor therapy techniques that I use (including the mindset shifts) and we worked on them together.

Truth Be Told:

There were some really sad, dark moments for me. I was exclusively pumping for a baby who couldn’t latch and my husband was working 100 hours a week in residency. My maternity leave was running out and I was more than a little stressed!

We took some deep breaths and began the therapy that I teach my clients. Over the next few weeks, we made slow but steady progress. My desire for sex, which had been previously really low, started to improve too. We finally reached our goal of fun, pain-free feel-good sex! It took communication, patience, and self-awareness – both emotionally and physically.

If there’s a silver lining to having such severe pain and dysfunction myself, it’s this:

I feel so much more connected to my clients.

It was humbling to feel all the physical and emotional responses that come with pelvic pain and loss of normal abilities. Still, I can’t imagine going through that without my pelvic floor therapy knowledge and skills. And now, I want every woman to know that these skills exist. There is help!

Some people say you shouldn’t take your work home…

but in our case, I completely disagree. Having two people who treat many of the same problems from different professional angles allows for conversations that are informed and insightful. It opens the doors to more collaborative treatment options.

We Focus On

  • What changes in the vulva, vagina, and pelvis lead to pain or low desire. arousal and orgasm, and how can women overcome them?
  • What sexual positions can women use to reduce specific types of pain or increase arousal and orgasm?
  • How can women treat themselves to reduce pain?
  • How can women increase desire, arousal and orgasm?
  • How can women involve their partners at every step in the process?
  • Which products are most helpful? We talk about it all: dilators, wands, toys, lubricants – they all have a place in reducing pain and increasing arousal and orgasm.

We are both better at helping you have pain-free, feel-good sex because of all of our “work” conversations on the couch.

What breaks my heart…

Is that many women come to me after having painful sex or sex that isn’t pleasurable with their partner for years, or having never consummated their marriage because it hurts too much. My clients report that their biggest roadblocks to treatment are:

  • They didn’t know help existed
  • They didn’t have help close to home
  • They don’t have time or childcare options to go the therapy sessions
  • They are embarrassed to walk in the door

What fires me up…

is that the biggest reason why women don’t seek treatment for painful sex and sex without pleasure sooner is

They thought that it was normal!

I want every woman to know that it should not hurt to have sex. And it should feel GOOD!

I want to break down those barriers and provide education that you and your partner can use in the privacy of your own home on your own time.

What propels me forward…

is knowing that I can help you!

So Why Choose Me?

I could tell you more interesting facts about me, like:

  • I spent several years as a critical reviewer of case studies for the American Physical Therapy Association’s Section on Women’s Health.
  • I have 11 years of clinical experience in pelvic floor physical therapy for a variety of pelvic health problems, especially dyspareunia, a.k.a. pain with sex.
  • I’ve lectured in English in U.S. hospitals many times and in Spanglish in Quito, Ecuador for a room full of physical therapists and physicians

Or I could just answer one simple question: Can I help you stop having sex that hurts and teach you how to have sex that feels good???

And the answer is an enthusiastic “Yes!”

With my help…

over a thousand women are having feel-good sex without pain, and I can help you too!

Here’s how:

  • I coach women on the empowering mindset that allows for relaxed, fun, and pain-free sex
  • I give couples the communication techniques to talk about pain, desire and orgasm and a couple-centered approach to treatment
  • I teach women stretches and techniques for reducing muscle tension
  • I teach women and their partners hands-on techniques that help resolve the pain, while also improving the pleasure and intimacy
  • I answer all your questions along the way!

Ready to get started today and have so many great tomorrows?!

I’d love to help you. Let’s do this!

The best way to learn more is to sign up for my free weekly emails.

As a welcome gift, I’ll send you my 7 Essentials for Pain-Free, Feel-Good Sex.

Once a week, I’ll send you tips, tricks, and techniques describing how to have pain-free sex, build more intimacy with your partner, and improve your pelvic floor! It’ll feel like advice from a best friend who just happens to be an expert in sex pain therapy.

Every month, I’ll present on a topic that my clients are asking about most, like talking to a partner about pain with sex, best positions to prevent pain, and vulvar care to improve how you feel.

You’ll also be the first to hear about new courses and secret, email list-only offers.

Sign up below

7 Essentials for

Pain-Free, Feel-Good Sex

Pain with sex? Decreased desire, Arousal, and orgasm?

Let's get started on the solution right now!

Wish you weren’t dreading sex or the pain that comes afterward?

Download my 7 Essentials for Pain-Free, Feel-Good Sex guide to help things go more smoothly. This is the advice that I give to my clients when they first contact me. These changes are the essential foundation for having pleasurable stress-free sex!

Testimonials

“When my son was born, I had a grade 4 laceration. The recovery process was so slow and my pain was actually getting worse. I was so upset because I’m a runner and a fitness instructor, and I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to get back to doing the things that I loved. When I met Dr. Lauren Crigler, she was so encouraging and shared her personal experience with having babies and running with me. Something clicked and I told myself, “if she can do it, I can do it!” Three months later, I am running, walking, and teaching yoga! Now, she is always in my head when I’m teaching and I encourage my students to use some of the principles that she taught me. I can’t say thank you enough!!!”

- JEN H

“I was having extreme pelvic pain and hadn’t had sex with my husband for over 9 months. A sports injury had led to pain and muscle guarding. Dr. Crigler was able to thoroughly explain what was causing my symptoms, and worked with me to develop a plan to get better. I have never felt so loved and included in my healthcare...Let’s just say… my husband was very pleased!”

- CORINNE H.

“I never had problems with sex until 3 years ago when I was assaulted. I went to counseling for two and a half years and could put what happened into perspective but I just couldn’t get back to sex without pain. My husband kept looking for help for me and found Dr. Crigler. We were able to video chat with her every Tuesday night for 8 weeks. She was very thoughtful throughout the whole process, I felt like she always had my back. We did everything she recommended, and on the eighth visit, we told her about our success!”

- GAIL E.

“I had vaginal pain after pelvic radiation that went on for months. My oncologist and gynecologist assured me that the tissues looked fine but told me I should try physical therapy. Dr. Crigler explained to my husband and me how to massage and gently stretch the area and use lubrication and other “tools.” We laughed many times about how interesting our sex life became after 30 years of marriage!”

- BARBRA B.

“After my 3rd baby, I thought my vagina was broken! I just couldn’t imagine getting back to sex. Even though I was told by my OB that my vagina was healed, I learned I had deeper scar tissue and tight muscles in my vagina. Who knew that was a thing?! Well, Dr. Lauren did, and she taught me how to fix it. - Thank you so much!!!”

- JENNIE S.

"I just wanted to say thank you so much for working with me on the best way to deliver naturally. Because of your tips and exercises I was able to deliver completely unmedicated Saturday."

- SARAH R