I’m Kathy Kates, a board-certified family nurse practitioner and founder of Pelvic Health Support. I help people struggling with pain with sex, pelvic pain, vaginal dryness, low libido, and perimenopause or menopause symptoms—especially those who have felt dismissed or unheard in traditional care. My approach is science-driven, trauma-informed, and focused on uncovering the true root causes of sexual and pelvic pain so patients can finally feel comfortable and connected in their bodies again.

I trained at the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute for Health Professions and spent more than a decade running a sexual and reproductive health program at a large medical institution. After my own breast cancer treatment, I expanded my work to focus on sexual medicine, including high-tone pelvic floor dysfunction, hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), and the profound effects of perimenopause, menopause, and surgical menopause on sexual health. I also completed additional training at the Herbert Benson Mind Body Institute to integrate mindfulness-based care into my practice.

Today, I specialize in:
• Painful sex (dyspareunia)
• Pelvic floor dysfunction and high-tone pelvic floor conditions
• Low libido and HSDD
• Perimenopause and menopause care
• Vaginal dryness and GSM
• Breast cancer survivorship sexual health
• Evidence-based menopausal hormone therapy (when appropriate)
• Local vaginal hormone therapy, including options for breast cancer survivors

My clinical work blends trauma-informed pelvic floor expertise, hormone-informed care for the menopause transition, and evidence-based therapies for sexual pain and desire changes. I also co-founded the Institute for Pelvic Health to train clinicians in in-scope pelvic floor assessment and practical exam skills that improve care for patients with sexual and pelvic pain.

My mission is simple: clear explanations, real solutions, and science-based care—so you can finally understand your symptoms, feel validated, and get the treatment you deserve

I co-founded the Institute for Pelvic Health to provide pelvic floor education to healthcare providers.