Some women’s health problems are common. That doesn’t mean you have to endure them.
Winslow woman breaks 20‑year cycle of incontinence with new, non‑surgical treatment
Joleen R., a 52‑year‑old mother of four from Winslow, Maine, has said she no longer needs a pad after just a few weeks of a new, non‑invasive therapy. The change follows a long history of urinary leakage, a hysterectomy and a period of menopause that left her feeling “yelling at my family…having painful sex” and unable to enjoy her intimate life.
For the past two decades Joleen wore a panty liner every day. Her symptoms began after she gave birth four times. “The injuries from childbirth left me with a bladder sling,” she said. The sling was meant to support the bladder during coughing, sneezing or laughing, but a later hysterectomy rendered it ineffective. When menopause arrived, her symptoms worsened, yet her longtime family health practice told her it was “normal” and did not offer concrete solutions.
A chance meeting on the sidelines of her sons’ high‑school football game introduced Joleen to Jennifer Gaudin, a nurse practitioner who owns Rejig Mobile Clinic in Winslow. Gaudin, who focuses on hormone health and weight management, encouraged Joleen to seek her help.
“Sure, it’s ‘normal,’ but I’m like, yelling at my family, not wanting to be touched, having painful sex when I do – all these things that happened suddenly, and were really not me,” Joleen recounted. Gaudin began with lab work and addressed nutritional deficiencies before turning to hormone therapy. She maintained a collaborative relationship with Joleen’s primary care doctors, who continue to manage her diabetes and other routine health concerns.
Despite hormone therapy, Joleen still struggled with incontinence, discomfort and decreased sensation during sex. “Sexual health is a big part of overall quality of life, especially in perimenopause and menopause,” Gaudin said. “When kids leave home and couples have time to reconnect, it’s especially important.”
Because Joleen was hesitant to undergo further surgery, Gaudin introduced her to EmpowerRF, a device that combines three technologies—FormaV, a radio‑frequency wand that heats tissue; VTone, an electrical muscle stimulator that performs Kegels for the patient; and Morpheus8, a microneedling tool that delivers radio‑frequency energy to the skin. Gaudin explained that each patient’s goals are different, so the machine can be used in various combinations “with or without hormones, with or without surgeries.”
Joleen tried all three modes. She said the treatments were easier than expected. “I compared the soreness after electrical stimulation to ‘going on a horseback ride,’” she laughed. The improvements were almost immediate, she said. “I think my husband noticed the difference after one treatment,” she added. After just two weeks of therapy, Joleen stopped wearing a pad altogether.
Gaudin hopes the technology will help more women who feel controlled by their bladder habits. “I just want women to stop being controlled by where the bathroom is or buying and wearing pads every day,” she said.
Joleen’s story reflects a growing trend toward non‑invasive solutions for pelvic floor disorders. EmpowerRF may help address a range of issues, including stress or urge incontinence, vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, pelvic floor weakness, vulvar or vaginal pain, overactive bladder, nighttime awakenings, decreased vaginal sensation, vaginal laxity, postpartum concerns, and vulvar skin conditions.
“This is normal, but it isn’t normal to endure it,” Joleen said. Now that her children are teenagers and young adults, she says she is focusing on her own comfort and the quality of her relationship with her husband.
Rejig Mobile Clinic, located in Winslow, offers a suite of services beyond EmpowerRF, including hormone health and weight management. Patients can learn more on the clinic’s website or by contacting the office directly.
