Experiencing a feeling of heaviness, pressure, or a bulge in your vagina? You’re not alone — and it’s not something you just have to live with.

These symptoms are often signs of pelvic organ prolapse, a condition that can cause discomfort, especially with activity or prolonged standing.

At our clinic, we take a whole-body approach to pelvic floor physical therapy. We work with you to identify and address the underlying causes — whether it’s muscle tension, weakness, or imbalances in the pelvic floor and core that are putting extra pressure on your pelvis and abdomen.

For those who need additional support, we also offer pessary fittings — a safe, non-surgical option that can help relieve symptoms and support your body during movement or exercise.

Interstitial Cystitis (IC), also known as Painful Bladder Syndrome (PBS), is a chronic condition that causes bladder pain, pressure, and frequent urges to urinate — sometimes with no obvious infection.

Unlike a urinary tract infection (UTI), IC/PBS isn’t caused by bacteria. Instead, it’s believed to be related to inflammation, nerve dysfunction, or damage to the bladder lining, leading to discomfort and urinary symptoms.

Common Symptoms:

• Pain or pressure in the bladder, pelvis, or lower abdomen

• Frequent urinary urgency (feeling like you have to pee often, even if you just went)

• Discomfort or pain during or after urination

• Painful intercourse

• Flare-ups that may be triggered by certain foods, stress, or hormonal changes

What Causes It?

The exact cause of IC/PBS is still unclear, but potential factors include:

• Pelvic floor muscle dysfunction (tightness or spasms)- may be present in 92% of cases.

• Nerve irritation or dysfunction in the pelvic area

• Chronic inflammation

• Hormonal changes, especially in women

• Bladder lining damage or Hunner's lesions, a hallmark of the most severe form of interstitial cystitis, occur in approximately 5-10% of patients.

How Pelvic Floor Therapy Can Help:

Pelvic floor physical therapy is an effective part of the treatment plan for IC/PBS. Therapy can help by:

• Relaxing tight pelvic floor muscles that may be contributing to bladder pain and urgency

• Improving pelvic floor coordination to support bladder health

• Teaching techniques to reduce flare-ups triggered by certain foods or stress

• Nerve relaxation techniques to calm irritation in the pelvic area

• Managing bladder habits and improving overall bladder function

You Deserve Relief

Living with IC/PBS can feel frustrating and isolating, but you don’t have to face it alone. Pelvic floor physical therapy can be a game-changer in managing symptoms and improving your quality of life.

Pain with Intercourse or Pelvic Exams? You're Not Alone.

Discomfort during sex or speculum exams can happen for many reasons — and it's important to know that pain is never “just in your head” or something you have to accept.

Common causes may include:

• Hormonal changes, especially during perimenopause or menopause, which can lead to a condition called Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM). This can cause vaginal dryness, thinning of tissues, and irritation.

• Pelvic floor muscle tension or spasms, which can make penetration painful.

• Nerve-related pain, where irritation or sensitivity in pelvic nerves contributes to discomfort.

At our clinic, we help you get to the root of your symptoms — and work with you on a treatment plan that supports comfort, healing, and confidence.

What Is Vaginismus?

Vaginismus is a condition where the muscles around the vagina tighten or spasm involuntarily, often causing pain or a burning sensation with any attempt at insertion — including during intercourse, pelvic exams, or even tampon use.

These muscle spasms can also impact bowel and bladder function, sometimes making it uncomfortable or difficult to go to the bathroom.

You're not alone — and you're not broken. Vaginismus is treatable, and pelvic floor physical therapy can help by gently addressing muscle tension, fear-avoidance patterns, and restoring comfort with movement and touch at your pace.

What Is Vulvodynia?

Vulvodynia is chronic pain or discomfort in the vulva — the external part of the female genitals — that isn’t caused by an obvious infection or condition.

The pain can involve the vulva, vestibule (the area around the vaginal opening), or clitoris, and may feel like burning, stinging, rawness, or irritation. For some, it’s constant; for others, it happens only with touch or pressure, such as during intercourse, sitting, or wearing tight clothing.

There are many possible contributors, including nerve sensitivity, inflammation, hormonal changes, pelvic floor muscle tension, or a combination of factors.

Pelvic floor physical therapy can help by addressing muscle dysfunction, nerve irritation, and tissue sensitivity — all with a personalized, gentle approach.

Understanding Abdominal Pain-

Abdominal pain can have many causes — and getting to the root of it is key to finding real relief.

Some common contributors include:

• Gastrointestinal (GI) issues, such as bloating, gas, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

• Muscle tightness or spasms in the abdominal wall or pelvic floor

• Decreased blood flow or nerve irritation

• Chronic constipation or straining with bowel movements

• Underlying medical conditions that may require further evaluation

At our clinic, we assess how your muscles, nerves, posture, and GI function may all be playing a role. We then create a plan to help reduce pain, improve movement, and support your overall digestive and pelvic health.

Endometriosis & Adenomyosis: What You Should Know

Both endometriosis and adenomyosis are chronic conditions that can cause pelvic pain, heavy periods, and fatigue — but they affect the body in different ways.

🌿 Endometriosis

Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (endometrial-like tissue) grows outside the uterus — often on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, or pelvic walls.

Common symptoms include:

• Painful periods (often starting in the teen years)

• Pain with intercourse, bowel movements, or urination

• Chronic pelvic or lower back pain

• Infertility

Endometriosis pain isn’t “just bad cramps” — it’s real, and it’s treatable.

🌺 Adenomyosis

Adenomyosis happens when endometrial tissue grows into the muscular wall of the uterus, causing the uterus to become enlarged and often tender.

Symptoms may include:

• Heavy, prolonged menstrual bleeding

• Cramping or pressure in the lower abdomen

• Pain during sex or bowel movements

• A feeling of pelvic heaviness or bloating

• Clumpy tissue in menstrual blood

Clots or Clumpy Tissue in Menstrual Blood — Is It Normal?

If you’re noticing thick, clumpy tissue or blood clots during your period, especially along with heavy bleeding and intense cramping, it could be a sign of a condition like adenomyosis.

What’s Happening?

With adenomyosis, the tissue that normally lines the uterus grows into the muscle wall of the uterus. This can cause:

This occurs because the uterine muscle has to work harder to shed the built-up tissue, which can lead to increased bleeding and pain, and sometimes the presence of clot-like tissue in your menstrual blood.

How We Can Help

While there is no cure for either condition, pelvic floor physical therapy can play a key role in managing symptoms. We focus on reducing pelvic muscle tension, calming nerve sensitivity, and improving overall pelvic and abdominal mobility. We have a network of physicians who treat these conditions who can help and we often refer to- its important to have a team approach for both of these conditions.

You're not imagining your pain — and you're not alone. Relief is possible, and support is available.

Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain) — More Common Than You Think

Pain around the tailbone, or coccyx, is a condition called coccydynia, and it’s often caused by falls, childbirth injuries, or trauma from accidents.

The tailbone may be small, but it plays a big role — every pelvic floor muscle attaches to it directly or indirectly, so when those muscles become tight or imbalanced, it can create significant discomfort.

Why It Hurts:

• The position of the coccyx can become overly flexed (tucked under), especially after a fall or injury, making sitting or transitions from sitting to standing very painful.

• The bone can also move too much (hypermobile) or not enough (hypomobile), both of which can lead to chronic pain and dysfunction.

How We Can Help:

Pelvic floor physical therapy focuses on identifying the root cause — whether it’s muscle tension, joint misalignment, or nerve involvement — and creating a personalized plan to restore comfort and function.

If you’ve been dealing with pain when sitting, during bowel movements, or after childbirth, you're not alone — and you don’t have to just live with it.

Hemorrhoids — Let’s Talk About It (Because You’re Not Alone)

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the rectum or around the anus, and while they’re extremely common, they can also be uncomfortable, painful, and even disruptive to daily life.

There are two main types:

• Internal hemorrhoids: Inside the rectum; may cause bleeding but usually not pain.

• External hemorrhoids: Around the anus; often painful, itchy, or swollen.

Common Symptoms Include:

• Itching, burning, or discomfort in the anal area

• Bright red blood during bowel movements

• A tender or swollen lump near the anus

• Feeling like you haven’t fully emptied your bowels

Why They Happen:

Hemorrhoids are often caused by straining with bowel movements, constipation, prolonged sitting (especially on the toilet), pregnancy, or childbirth. Pressure in the pelvic and abdominal area contributes to swollen veins.

How Pelvic Floor Therapy Can Help:

Pelvic floor physical therapy can address underlying straining patterns, muscle tension, or pressure regulation that contribute to hemorrhoids or fissures. We also help improve bowel habits and positioning to reduce flare-ups and discomfort.

Rectal Spasms (Proctalgia Fugax)

Proctalgia Fugax is the medical term for sudden, sharp rectal pain caused by involuntary muscle spasms in the pelvic floor — particularly the muscles surrounding the rectum.

These episodes can come on without warning, often at night or while sitting, and usually last seconds to a few minutes. While the pain can be intense, it typically goes away on its own — but for many people, it’s scary, confusing, and disruptive.

Common Symptoms:

• Sudden, cramp-like pain in the rectum

• Pressure or tightness deep in the pelvic area

• Episodes that come and go without a clear trigger

What Causes It?

The exact cause isn’t always clear, but pelvic floor muscle tension, stress, nerve sensitivity, or even past trauma (including childbirth or surgery) can play a role.

How Pelvic Floor Therapy Can Help:

We work to reduce muscle spasms, improve muscle coordination, and calm the nervous system. Breathing techniques, gentle internal and external manual therapy, and muscle training can all help prevent or reduce episodes.

You don’t have to suffer in silence — if rectal spasms are affecting your quality of life, there are real ways to manage and improve them.

Recovering After Abdominal Surgeries: Abdominoplasty, Hernia Repair, Hysterectomy, or Prolapse Repairs

Undergoing abdominal surgery — whether it’s an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), hernia repair, hysterectomy, or prolapse repair — can be life-changing, and recovery can come with its own set of challenges.

While each procedure is different, the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles are often directly affected, which can impact your mobility, strength, and overall function.

Common Post-Surgery Symptoms:

• Pain or discomfort in the abdominal area, pelvis, or lower back

• Scar tissue or adhesions that might limit mobility or cause tightness

• Weakness in the core or pelvic floor muscles

• Difficulty with bowel or bladder control due to changes in muscle tone or tissue

• Decreased range of motion, especially if abdominal muscles were repaired or altered

How Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Can Help:

Pelvic floor therapy plays a crucial role in helping you recover and restore strength and function after these types of surgeries. Therapy can address:

• Scar tissue release to improve mobility

• Core and pelvic floor strengthening to support the abdominal and pelvic region

• Breathing techniques to improve posture and decrease pain

• Strategies for bowel and bladder management after surgery

• Pain reduction and restoring normal movement patterns

Get Back to Your Best Self

Recovery after abdominal surgeries takes time, but with the right treatment and care, you can regain strength, improve function, and feel confident in your body again. Our personalized therapy plans are designed to help you recover safely and effectively, no matter what surgery you’ve had.