Elizabeth (Dee) Heaton Hartmann, PT, DPT
Curriculum Vitae
Dee Hartmann Physical Therapy November 1991- present
Effingham, IL
Owner/Director, formerly Healthy Expectations
Physical therapy outpatient facility specializing in chronic pelvic dysfunction and women’s health (closed, 2017)
VulvaLove, Inc September 2017-present
Boulder, CO
Co-Founder/Vice President of VulvaLove with a mission of providing comprehensive sex education that reframes the conversation around sexual pain and pleasure thus empowering women to make the best choices about their bodies, their sexuality and their relationships.
Center for Genital Health and Education September 2017-present
Boulder, CO
Co-Founder/President of the Center for Genital Health and Education, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving and contributing to a body of research that is sex positive, pleasure-focused, and specific sexuality and genital health. September 2017-present
The Pleasure Movement
Boulder, CO
Co-Developer, www. pleasuremovement.com October 2020-present
Certified Trauma and Tension Release Practitioner October 2021-present
Peer Review Papers:
Harm-Ernandes I, Boyle V, Hartmann D, Fitzgerald CM, Lowder JL, Kotarinos R, Whitcomb E. Assessment of the Pelvic Floor and Associated Musculoskeletal System: Guide for Medical Practitioners. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg. 2021 Dec 1;27(12):711-718. doi: 10.1097/SPV.0000000000001121. PMID: 34807882.
Orr N, Wahl K, Joannou A, Hartmann D, Valle L, Yong P; International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health’s (ISSWSH) Special Interest Group on Sexual Pain. Deep Dyspareunia: Review of Pathophysiology and Proposed Future Research Priorities. Sex Med Rev. 2020 Jan;8(1):3-17. doi: 10.1016/j.sxmr.2018.12.007. Epub 2019 Mar 28. PMID: 30928249.
Schlaeger JM, Pauls HA, Powell-Roach KL, Thornton PD, Hartmann D, Suarez ML, Kobak WH, Hughes TL, Steffen AD, Patil CL. Vulvodynia, “a really great torturer”: a mixed methods pilot study examining pain experiences and drug/non-drug pain relief strategies. J Sex Med. 2019 Aug;16(8):1255-1263. doi: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2019.05.004. Epub 2019 Jun 14.
Schlaeger, J. M., Patil, C. L., Steffen, A. D., Pauls, H. A., Roach, K. L., Thornton, P. D., Hartmann, D., Kobak, W. H., Yao, Y., Suarez, M. L., Hughes, T. L., Wilkie, D. J. Sensory Pain Characteristics of Vulvodynia and their Association with Nociceptive and Neuropathic Pain: An Online Survey Pilot Study. PAIN Reports. 2019 February
Hartmann D, Sarton J. Chronic pelvic pain and its influence on vulvovaginal health. J Best Pract Clin Research Ob/Gyn. Expected publication, Fall, 2014.
Hartmann D. Chronic vulvar pain from a physical therapy perspective. Dermatol Ther. 2010;23(5):505-13.
Strauhal MJ, Frahm J, Morrison P, Featherstone W, Hartmann D, Florendo J, Parker S. Vulvar Pain: A Comprehensive Review. J Women’s Health Phys Ther. 2007;31(3):7-26.
Hartmann D, Strauhal MJ, Nelson CA. Treatment of women in the united states with localized, provoked vulvodynia: practice survey of women’s health physical therapists. J Repro Med. 2007; 52(1). Reprinted in Journal of Women’s Health Physical Therapy. 2007;31(3):34-38.
Haefner HK, Collins ME, Davis GD, Edwards L, Foster DC, Hartmann EDH, Kaufman RH, Lynch PJ, Margesson LJ, Moyal-Barracco M, Piper CK, Reed BD, Stewart EG, Wilkinson EJ. The vulvodynia Guideline. J Lower Gen Tract Dis. Vol 9(1), 2005.
Hartmann EH, Nelson CA. The perceived effectiveness of physical therapy treatment on women complaining of chronic vulvar pain and diagnosed with either vulvar vestibulitis syndrome or dysesthetic vulvodynia. Journal of the Section on Women’s Health, APTA. 25(4), Dec 2001.
Glazer HI, Jantos M, Hartmann EH, Sweencionis C. Electromyographic comparisons of the pelvic floor in vulvodynia and asymptomatic women. J Repro Med. 1998;43(11).
Abstracts:
Pukall CF, Bergeron S, Krapf J, Hartmann D, Dewitte M, Villanueva G, Garrity C, Matsoukas K, Goldstein AT, Kellogg-Spadt S, Murina F, Giraldi A, Carvalho J. Update from the Female Genitopelvic Pain Subcommittee of the International Consultation of Sexual Medicine on a systematic review of the efficacy and safety of treatments for vulvodynia. Abstract presentation, Annual Meeting of the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health, St. Louis, MO, March 2023.
Pfaus J, Hartmann D, Wood E, Wang J, Klinger L. Women's Orgasms Determined by Autodetection of Pelvic Floor Muscle Contractions Using the Lioness “Smart” Vibrator. J Sex Med. Vol 19 (8), Sup 3. August 2022.
Hartmann D, Pfaus J, Wood E, Wang J, Klinger E. Physiologic response of the pelvic floor muscles during female orgasm: a pilot study. Expected publication in the Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease as proceedings from ISSVD meeting, Dublin 2022.
Pfaus J, Hartmann D, Wood E, Wang J, Klinger L. Women's orgasms determined by autodetection of pelvic floor muscle contractions using the lioness “smart” vibrator. J Sex Med. Vol 19(8)(Sup3), pg S2-3. Aug 2022.
Hartmann, D. Manual Techniques Aimed at Easing Chronic Vulvar Pain Prior to Internal Assessment J Lower Gen Tract Dis. Volume21, Number 4S, October 2017.
Hartmann D, Nelson CA. Ten years after physical therapy for vulvodynia: are there lasting benefits? J ReproMed. 2008;53(11).
Hartmann EH, Nelson CA. The perceived effectiveness of physical therapy on women complaining of chronic vulvar pain and diagnosed with either vulvar vestibulitis syndrome or dysesthetic vulvodynia. J Repro Med. 1998;43(1).
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Book
Hartmann, D and Wood, E. (2021). The Pleasure Prescription: A Surprising Approach to Women’s Sexual Pain. Luminare Press.
Book Chapters and Contributions:
Stein A, Hartmann D Parrotte K,: Physical therapy treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction. Female Sexual Pain Disorders: Evaluation and Management, Second Edition. Edited by Andrew Goldstein et al. Wiley-Blackwell, 2020.
Hartmann D: An Alternative Physical Therapy Approach to the Overactive Pelvic Floor. The Overactive Pelvic Floor, pp 275-283. Edited by Anna Padoa, MD, Talli Rosenbaum, MSc. Springer, 2016.
Stein A, Hartmann D: Physical therapy treatment of female sexual dysfunction. Female Sexual Dysfunction, Edited by Andrew Goldstein, Caroline Pukall, and Irwin Goldstein. Wiley-Blackwell, 2009.
Berman L, Wood EL, Hartmann D. Women’s sexual health. Guidebook of Sexual Medicine, Edited by Waguih William IsHak, MD, FADA. Lightening Source. Tennessee. 2007.
Wetzler G, Shelly B, Baker PK, Hartmann, D. Chronic pelvic pain. Therapeutic Management of Incontinence and Chronic Pelvic Pain. Laycock J, Haslam J, editors. Verlag, London Limited, 2002.
Vulvodynia: A Chronic Pain Condition. One of 54 invited and hosted healthcare providers and only physical therapist to the NIH-NICHD 2 day workshop designed to review and direct vulvodynia research. July, 2011. Hartmann, D. Sexuality, Quality of Life, and the Aging Female. Gerinotes, Section on Geriatrics, APTA. January, 2005.
Hartmann D. Vulvodynia: when making love hurts…. and physical therapy helps. Advance for Physical Therapists. March, 1999.
Hartmann D: Supportive dysfunction: neurological urinary incontinence. The Gynecological Manual. Section on Women’s Health, APTA. Section 4, Chapter 4. 1997.
Hartmann D, Nalls MP: Supportive dysfunction: urinary incontinence. The Gynecological Manual. Section on Women’s Health, APTA. Section 3, Chapter 4. 1997.
Hartmann EH. Physical therapy management of chronic vulvar pain. Newsletter article, National Vulvodynia Association. Vol 2(2), March, 1996.
Instructional Experience:
Educating women’s health physical therapists
2-day course – Introduction to Visceral and Urogenital Mobilization
Hosted by Alime Buyuk, Antalya, Turkey Nov 2023
Instructor, speaker
2-hour workshop – Will I Ever be Able to Have Pleasurable Sex?
WAS (World Association of Sexual Health) Biennial Meeting, Antalya, Turkey Nov 2023
Educating women’s health physical therapists
Three 2½ day retreats, women’s health physical therapists – Exploring the Complexities of
Chronic Vulvar Pain and Trauma’s Impact on Female Sexual Health, Effingham, IL Apr, Jan 2022-23
Lecture, lab demonstration for women’s health physios – Exploring Chronic Vulvar Pain: What is it Really?
Hosted by Maria Elliot, founder of MMOT, London, England Feb 2023
Co-Instructor, 3-day educational course, Antalya, Turkey
Vulvodynia and Other Vulvar Diseases Nov 2022
Lecture and lab course, Rush Hospital Physical Therapists, Chicago, IL
Chronic Vulvar Pain Oct 2022
Instructor, speaker, 44th Conference of Nordic Association for Clinical Sexology, Tartu, Estonia
Pre-meeting, 1-day workshop - The Pleasure Prescription: A Surprising Approach to Healing Sexual Pain
Meeting keynote – Sexual Pain
Abstract session - Physiologic Response of the Pelvic Floor Muscles During Female
Orgasm: A Pilot Study October 2022
Instructor, speaker, presenter World Congress ISSVD
Vulvovaginal Disease Update, Physical Therapeutic Options for Vulvodynia
Congress, How to Select Women for Physical Therapy
Abstract session - Physiologic Response of the Pelvic Floor Muscles During Female Orgasm: A Pilot Study
International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Pain XXVI World Congress, Dublin, Ireland July 2022
Instructor, Virtual discussion
Sex 102: Anatomy
The Sex Lab at the University of Porto for PhD and MSc students July 2022
Instructor, Conference speaker
4-hour, pre-conference workshop - The Complexities of Chronic Vulvar Pain and Trauma’s Impact on Sexual Function
Talk – Managing Women with Vulvodynia: Physical Therapy
Panal – Part of 3 expert team for informational breakfast meeting on treatment of vulvar pain
XV Congress of Portuguese Gynecologists, Estroril, Portugal June 2022
Instructor, Exercises Used to Ease Chronic Vulvar Pain
ISSWSH Fall Fundamentals Course: Women’s Sexual Health; Virtual Meeting Sept 2020
Instructor, How Medical Management and Physical Therapy Work Together to
Treat Women with Vulvodynia: A Workshop for Physicians and Nurses
ISSVD, Biennial Vulvar Disease Course, Chicago, IL, every other year 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022
Instructor, Can Pleasure Lessen Chronic Vulvar Pain?
Academy of Pelvic Health, Fall Summit; Virtual Meeting Sept 2020
Participant, Round Table Discussion: Sexual Health
Women’s Health Innovation Summit; Virtual Meeting Sept 2020
Instructor, The Pain’s Gone but Where’s the Pleasure?
Academy of Pelvic Health, APTA Combined Sections Meeting, Denver, CO Feb 2020
Instructor, What’s Up with Female Sexual Desire?
North American Chapter, ISSVD; Montreal, Canada Dec 2010
Instructor, Physical Therapy Management of Women with Vulvodynia
European College for the Study of Vulval Disease (ECSVD); Copenhagen Sept 2018
European College for the Study of Vulval Disease (ECSVD); Vienna; Virtual Meeting Sept 2020 Instructor, How to Recognize and Treat Physical Abnormalities In Patients with
Complex Chronic Pelvic Dysfunction
Pre-conference Course, SUNA National Meeting, Denver, CO Nov 2016
Instructor, PT 101: Helping Physicians Understand Physical Therapy
Pre-conference Course, AUGS national meeting, Portland, OR Oct 2015, 2016
Instructor, Vulvodynia: Assessment and Treatment (2-day course for PTs)
Continuing Education, Herman and Wallace Sept 2014, Apr 2015, Apr 2016 Instructor, Physical Therapy Management of Women with Vulvodynia
International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Pain (ISSVD)
Post-Graduate Course, ISSVD World Congresses; multiple international
locations with meetings every other year 1999-2019
Instructor, Manual Therapy Treatment of Vulvodynia (21/2 Day Course)
Asaf Harofe Medical Center, School of Physiotherapy, Tel Aviv, Israel Jan 2010
Instructor, Women’s Health for the Physical Therapist
Midwestern University School of Physical Therapy 2000-2006
Governors State University 2004
Instructor, The Vulvodynia Conundrum: Making Sense of the Puzzle (3 Day Course) 2006
Continuing Education, Section on Women’s Health, APTA
Instructor, Introduction to Visceral and Urogenital Manipulation (3 Day Course) 2000-2005
Continuing Education, Section on Women’s Health, APTA
Instructor, Special Topics in Pelvic Floor Dysfunction:
Male Incontinence and Chronic Pelvic Pain (3 Day Course) 2000
Continuing Education, Section on Women’s Health, APTA
Lab Assistant, Pelvic Dissection 1997
Northwestern Medical School of Physical Therapy
Instructor, The Pelvic Floor and its Dysfunction 1988
Northwestern Medical School of Physical Therapy
Co-counselor, Loyola Sexual Dysfunction Clinic, 7 week session 1996, 2002, 2005
FG McGaw Hospital at Loyola University
Lectures:
Invited Speaker – Sex 102: Functional Sexuality
Herman & Wallace Connect, Seattle, WA Oct 2023
Invited speaker – Workshop (Vulvar Pain and Sexual Function in Women: Overview and Approach Beyond
the Pelvic Floor Muscles) and Roundtable (Managing Sexual Pain with an Added Dose of Pleasure)
ICS (International Continence Society), Toronto, CA Oct 2023
Invited speaker, Two-hour workshop – Functional Sexuality
One of 3 panel presenters – What is Female Sexual Desire Really?
Council on Diagnosis & Internal Disorders Symposium, San Antonio, TX Apr 2023
Poster presentation – Are All Orgasms Created Equally Regardless of Age?
ISSWSH (International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health), San Diego, CA Mar 2023
One of two guest presenters, Assessing the Physical Limitations of Endometriosis
International virtual webinar, hosted by the International Society of Sexual Medicine Jul 2022
Physical Therapeutic Options (ISSVD, Torin, Italy) Sept 2019
Physical Therapy: For Some or for All Vulvodynia Patients? (ISSVD, Torin, Italy) Sept 2019
Video Presentation, Manual Techniques Aimed at Easing Chronic Vulvar Pain Prior to Internal Assessment (ISSVD, Mendoza, Argentina) Oct 2017 Individualized Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy: Visceral Impact on Tension
International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH, Atlanta, GA) Feb 2017
Musculoskeletal Update: Visceral Manipulation (IPPS, Chicago) Oct 2013 Physical Therapy: When and How to Refer for Vulvodynia (ISSVD, Chicago) Oct 2012 My Vagina Hurts…and I KNOW I’m Not Crazy (US) Oct 2011 Physical Therapy: When and How to Refer for Vulvodynia (ISSVD, Paris) Oct 2011 An Update on Vulvodynia: The Chronic Vulvar Pain Syndrome (APTA, US) Jun 2011 Introduction to Visceral Manipulation (US) Oct 2010 International Practice Survey of Women’s Health Physical Therapists on Treatment of Women with Localized Provoked Vulvodynia (US) Oct 2010 Case Study: Vestibulodynia-A Viscerosomatic Pain Syndrome, A Myofascial Pain, A Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, or All Three?(US) Mar 2009 Chronic Pelvic Pain and Vulvodynia: Melding the Evidence & Clinical Experience (US) Oct 2008 PT Assessment and Treatment of Women with Vulvodynia (Vancouver, CA) Aug 2007 10 Years after PT for Vulvodynia: Are There Lasting Benefits? (Alaska) Aug 2007 Physical Therapy Assessment and Treatment: A Practice Survey of
Women’s Health PTs in the US (Queenstown, New Zealand) When and How to Refer Vulvodynia Patients to Physical Therapy (NZ)
PT Assessment and Treatment of Women with Vulvodynia (NZ) Feb 2006 Physical Therapy Considerations for Chronic Pelvic Dysfunction Dec 2005 Sex, Vulvar Pain, and Physical Therapy Feb 2005 The Anatomy of Chronic Pelvic Pain Nov 2004 Physical Therapy Treatment of Chronic Pelvic Pain Nov 2004
Alternative Management of Vulvar Disease (Salvador, Brazil) Oct 2003
Women’s Health Issues: Incontinence and Chronic Pelvic Pain Jun 2003
PT Management of Urinary Incontinence Feb 2003, 2002 Managing Vulvar Pain (Nice, France) Mar 2002
Beyond the Pelvic Floor Feb 2000
Physical Therapy and Dysesthetic Vulvodynia: A Successful Approach Sept 1999
Physical Therapy Assessment of the Chronic Pelvic Pain Patient
Electromyographic Comparison of the Pelvic Floor in Women with Dysesthetic Vulvodynia and Asymptomatic Women (Italy) Sept 1997
First Annual Symposium on Chronic Pelvic Pain Apr 1997
Pelvic Floor Muscle Disorders: A Symposium Mar 1997
Biofeedback, Physical Therapy, and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: One Day Workshop External Hip Rotators: Anatomy and Treatment Mar 1997 The PT’s Role in Women’s Health Nov 1995
PT Management of Vulvodynia Nov 1995
What’s New in Vulvodynia Research Sept 1995
Urinary Incontinence—A PT Perspective Mar 1995
Care of the Postpartum Woman Jan 1995
PT Management of the Pregnant Client Nov 1994
Physical Therapy and Women’s Health May 1993
Women’s Health Throughout the Life Cycle Apr 1993
Professional Association Memberships:
Member, International Pelvic Pain Society (IPPS) 1997-present
Board of Director, IPPS 2012-14
Fellow, International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease (ISSVD) 1997-present
President, North American Chapter, ISSVD 2016-18
Councillor, North American Chapter, ISSVD 2009-12
Councillor, Executive Board, ISSVD 2001-06
Member, National Vulvodynia Association (NVA) 1994- 2010
Medical Advisory Board, NVA 1996-02
Member, American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) 1991-present
Member, Academy of Pelvic Health, APTA 1991-present
Chairman, Certificate of Achievement for Pelvic PT Task Force
Section on Women’s Health, APTA
Member, Professional Education and Credentialing Task Force 2005-06
Section on Women’s Health, APTA, Member, Vulvar Pain Task Force, 2004
Section on Women’s Health, APTA, Director of Programming, Section on Women’s Health, APTA 1996-99
Fellow (2020) and Member, International Society for the Study of Women’s
Sexual Health (ISSWSH) 2003-present
Associate Editor, Journal of Sexual Medicine 2013-16
Associate Editor, Sexual Medicine Review 2020-present
Member, Society for Urological Nurses and Associates (SUNA) 2000-16
Member, The Women’s Sexual Health Foundation (TWSHF) 2004-08
Additional Education:
Course work Masters of Health Science Degree
University of Indianapolis Apr 2003
St Ambrose University-Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree May 2009
Newspaper Articles:
Urinary Incontinence: Losing Control is a Widespread Problem
Copley News Service Jan 1995
New Mothers Have Healthy Expectations
Copley News Service May 1992
Television Appearance:
Silent Suffering: Vulvodynia.
Two-part Channel 7 News story with Cathy Brock. Presented the physical therapy approach to treating women with vulvodynia Feb 1997
Licensure:
Illinois 1979-present
New York 1977-79
Prior Positions:
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Staff physical therapist, Women’s Health Sept 2004-Aug 2005
Berman Center, Chicago, Illinois
Physical therapist, sexual dysfunction clinic Feb-Sept 2004
Hearts and Hands at Home
Naperville, Illinois
Partner/President, provided non-medical home caregivers Jul 2001-Jan 2003
Restorative Health Management
Crest Hill, Illinois
Consultant, nursing home Mar 1992-Apr 1993
Copley Home Health Care Agency
Aurora, Illinois
Staff physical therapist, home health Feb 1986- Oct 1986
Hospitals Home Health
Oak Lawn, Illinois
Staff physical therapist, home health Mar 1983-Nov 1983
Good Samaritan Hospital
Downers Grove, Illinois
Staff physical therapist, out patient Jul 1982-Sept 1982
Jayhart Physical Therapy
Naperville, Illinois
Owner/sole practitioner, out patient Jan 1980-Jan 1981 Mount Vernon Hospital
Mount Vernon, New York
Staff physical therapist, hospital in-patient, out patient Oct 1977-Jun 1979