r/PelvicFloor • u/Sankira • 5h ago
General Antidepressants
5
Upvotes
What has been your experience with them? Have they helped with your symptoms, made them worse or have had no effect at all?
r/PelvicFloor • u/Linari5 • Jul 05 '25
RESOURCE/GUIDE The Pelvic Floor: Pelvic Pain & Dysfunction 101: NEW? Start here!
122
Upvotes
Work in progress. To be continuously updated.
Subreddit Rules:
- Be respectful (no bullying or harassment)
- No "all or nothing" cures, causes, or suggesting that only one thing will help
- DON'T suggest kegels as treatment for a hypertonic pelvic floor (it's bad advice)
- NO FETISHIZING or sexualizing someones health condition. DON'T BE CREEPY.
- No NSFW Photos
- No SPAM (includes link farming, affiliate marketing, personal promotion)
- No "Low Effort" posts - we can't help if there's no detail
>> QUICK START <<
✔ READ SUCCESS STORIES: Simply swipe left or right on the main page in the Reddit mobile app until you hit the green "success story" post flair | DESKTOP: Use the "Flair Filter" right sidebar to filter posts
Ladies who don't want to see posts about male parts: use the filters:
✔ FILTER POSTS BY SEX: Simply swipe left or right on the main page in the Reddit mobile app until you hit the pink or blue post flairs. AMAB/AFAB also available | DESKTOP: Use the "Flair Filter" right sidebar to filter posts
✔ USE THE SEARCH FUNCTION: Enter keywords into the search bar at the top to filter posts/comments on specific subjects or symptoms
✔ CHECK OUR USER SUBMITTED PELVIC PT DIRECTORY
- www.pelvicrehab.com (Herman Wallace training)
- https://squeezyapp.com/directory/ (UK PTs)
✔ BOTHER & SISTER COMMUNITIES
- r/prostatitis (male pelvic pain & dysfunction/CPPS)
- r/Interstitialcystitis (IC/BPS, men and women)
- r/vulvodynia (women and AFAB experiencing Vaginismus & Vestibulodynia too)
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION: PELVIC FLOOR
The pelvic floor muscles are a bowl of muscles in the pelvis that cradle our sexual organs, bladder, and rectum, and help stabilize the core while assisting with essential bodily functions, like pooping, peeing and having sex.¹
They can weaken (become hyp-O-tonic) over time due to injury (or child birth), and even the normal aging process, leading to conditions like incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse.¹
And, the pelvic floor can tense up (guard) when we:
- Feel pain/discomfort
- Get a UTI/STD
- Injure ourselves (gym, cycling, slip on ice)
- Have poor bowel/urinary habits (straining on the toilet often - constipation) or holding in pee/poo for extended periods (like avoiding using a public toilet)
- Have poor sexual habits (edging several hours a day, typically this is more of guy's issue)
- Get stressed or anxious (fight or flight response), due to their connection with the vagus nerve (and our central nervous system). READ MORE HERE
- Have a connective tissue disorder
Over time, prolonged guarding/tensing can cause them to become hyp-E-rtonic (tight and weak). Sometimes trigger points in the muscle tissue develop that refer pain several inches away. The tensing can also sometimes irritate nerves, including the pudendal nerve. Helping the pelvic floor relax, and treating these myofascial trigger points with pelvic floor physical therapy can lead to significant relief for many, along with interventions like breathwork - notably diaphragmatic belly breathing - and gentle reverse kegels.
Sometimes, feedback loops also develop that can become self-perpetuating as a result of CNS (Central Nervous System) modulation. ᴮ ⁷
Basic feedback loop:
Pain/injury/infection > pelvic tensing > more pain > stress/anxiety > more pelvic tensing > (and on and on)
Examples of common feedback loops that include the pelvic floor:
An example of this pelvic floor feedback loop (guarding response) as seen in a woman with a prolonged (awful) UTI:
A trigger point is an area of hyper-irritability in a muscle, usually caused by a muscle that is being overloaded and worked excessively. How does this affect an IC patient? Unfortunately, we do not always know what comes first; the chicken or the egg. Let’s assume in this case we do. A patient who has never had any symptoms before develops an awful bladder infection, culture positive. She is treated with antibiotics, as she should be. Symptoms are, as we all know, frequency, urgency and pain on urination. Maybe the first round of antibiotics does not help, so she goes on a second round. They work. But she has now walked around for 2, maybe 3 weeks with horrible symptoms. Her pelvic floor would be working very hard to turn off the constant sense of urge. This could create overload in the pelvic floor. A trigger point develops, that can now cause a referral of symptoms back to her bladder, making her think she still has a bladder infection. Her cultures are negative.
- Rhonda Kotarinos, Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist
Above we find a scenario where the UTI was cleared, but the pelvic floor is now in a tensing feedback loop, and complex processes of neural wind up and central sensitization - ie CNS modulation - are likely occurring
Diagrams of the male and female pelvic floor:
SYMPTOMS OF PELVIC FLOOR DYSFUNCTION
The majority of the users here have a hypertonic pelvic floor which typically presents with symptoms of pelvic pain or discomfort ² (inc nerve sensations like tingling, itching, stinging, burning, cooling, etc):
- Penile pain
- Vaginal pain
- Testicular/epididymal/scrotal pain
- Vulvar pain
- Clitoral pain
- Rectal pain
- Bladder pain
- Pain with sex/orgasm
- Pain with bowel movements or urination
- Pain in the hips, groin, perineum, and suprapubic region
This tension also commonly leads to dysfunction ² (urinary, bowel, and sexual dysfunction):
- Dyssynergic defecation (Anismus)
- Incomplete bowel movements
- Urinary frequency and hesitancy
- Erectile dysfunction/premature ejaculation
This pinned post will mainly focus on hypertonia - tight and weak muscles, and the corresponding symptoms and treatment, as they represent the most neglected side of pelvic floor dysfunction. Especially in men, who historically have less pelvic care over their lifetimes as compared to women.
But, we also commonly see women with weak (Hyp-O-tonic) pelvic floors after child birth who experience urinary leakage. This often happens when coughing, sneezing, or lifting something heavy. Luckily, pelvic floor physical therapists are historically well equipped for weak pelvic floor symptoms, as seen commonly in women.
But, this historical emphasis sometimes bleeds into inappropriate care for men and women who have hypErtonic pelvic floors, and do not benefit from kegel exercises
CLOSELY RELATED CONDITIONS & DIAGNOSIS
These typically involve the pelvic floor as one (of many) mechanisms of action, and thus, pelvic floor physical therapy is an evidence-based intervention for any of these, along with behavioral interventions/mind-body medicine, medications, and more.
- CPPS - Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome - example feedback loop above
- IC/BPS - Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome - example feedback loop above
- Vulvodynia
- Prostatitis (non-bacterial)
- Epididymitis (non-bacterial)
- Pudendal Neuralgia
- Levator Ani Syndrome
- Coccydynia
COMMON COMORBID CONDITIONS
For people who experience symptoms outside the pelvic region, these are signs of centralization (somatization/nociplastic mechanisms) - and indicate a central nervous system contribution to symptoms, and must be treated with more than just pelvic floor physical therapy: READ MORE
(Ranked in order, most common)
- IBS
- Chronic Migraines
- Fibromyalgia
- CFS/ME (chronic fatigue syndrome)
These patients also had higher rates of depression and anxiety (even BEFORE THE SYMPTOMS) as well as greater symptom severity - https://www.auanet.org/guidelines-and-quality/guidelines/male-chronic-pelvic-pain
CENTRALIZED/NOCIPLASTIC MECHANISMS:
Many people with a pelvic floor diagnosis - and at least 49% who experience chronic pelvic pain/dysfunction - also experience centralized/nociplastic pain ¹³ localized to the pelvic region. Centralized/nociplastic pelvic pain can mimic the symptoms of pelvic floor hypertonia. To assess if you have centralization as a cause of your pelvic symptoms, read through this post.
NOTE: This is especially relevant for people who have a pelvic floor exam, and are told that their pelvic floor is basically "normal" or lacks the usual signs of dysfunction, trigger points, or hypertonia (high tone), yet they still experiencing pain and/or dysfunction. This also equally applies to cases that have done extensive amounts of pelvic floor PT 6-12mo) with no improvement.
Centralized/Nociplastic pain mechanisms are recognized by both the European and American Urological Association guidelines for pelvic pain in men and women, as well as the MAPP (Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain) Research Network.
TREATMENT: High tone (HypErtonic) Pelvic Floor (tight & weak)
Pelvic floor physical therapy focused on relaxing muscles:
- Diaphragmatic belly breathing
- Reverse kegels
- Pelvic Stretching
- Trigger point release (myofascial release)
- Dry needling (Not the same as acupuncture)
- Dilators (vaginal and rectal)
- Biofeedback
- Heat (including baths, sauna, hot yoga, heated blankets, jacuzzi, etc)
Behavioral change: * Lay off frequent or chronic masturbation habits (including edging) * Take a break from intense compound exercises, like CrossFit or HIIT * Sit less and stand more. This may also include using a standing desk * If you're an avid cyclist, take a break from cycling
Medications to discuss with a doctor:
- low dose amitriptyline (off label for neuropathic pain)
- rectal or vaginal suppositories including: diazepam, gabapentin, amitriptyline, baclofen, lidocaine, etc
- low dose tadalafil (sexual dysfunction and urinary symptoms)
- Alpha blockers for urinary hesitancy symptoms (typically prescribed to men)
Mind-body medicine/Behavioral Therapy/Centralized Pain Mechanisms These interventions are highly recommended for people who are experiencing elevated distress or anxiety, or, noticed that their symptoms began without an injury, but with a stressful event, big life change, or, that symptoms increase with stress or difficult emotions (or symptoms change when distracted, focused , or on vacation) - full list of criteria to rule in centralized/nociplastic mechanisms.
- Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT)
- Emotional Awareness & Expression Therapy (EAET)
- CBT/DBT
- Mindfulness & meditation
- TRE or EMDR (for Trauma)
TREATMENT: Low tone (Hyp-O-tonic/weak)
Pelvic floor physical therapy focused on strengthening muscles:
- Kegels
- Biofeedback
This is a draft. The post will be updated.
This is not medical advice. This content is for educational and informational purposes only. NONE OF THIS SUBSTITUTES MEDICAL ADVICE FROM A PROVIDER.
Sources:
OFFICIAL GUIDELINES:
A. Male Chronic Pelvic Pain - 2025 (AUA) https://www.auanet.org/guidelines-and-quality/guidelines/male-chronic-pelvic-pain
B. Male and Female Chronic Pelvic Pain - (EUA) https://uroweb.org/guidelines/chronic-pelvic-pain/chapter/epidemiology-aetiology-and-pathophysiology
C. Diagnosis and Treatment of Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (2022)" AUA - https://www.auanet.org/guidelines-and-quality/guidelines/diagnosis-and-treatment-interstitial-of-cystitis/bladder-pain-syndrome-(2022))
MORE:
Diaphragmatic belly breathing - https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/learning-diaphragmatic-breathing
Trigger points and referred pain - https://www.physio-pedia.com/Trigger_Points
Equal Improvement in Men and Women in the Treatment of Urologic Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome Using a Multi-modal Protocol with an Internal Myofascial Trigger Point Wand - PubMed https://share.google/T3DM4OYZYUyfJ9klx
Physical Therapy Treatment of Pelvic Pain - PubMed https://share.google/92EQVDnQ1ruceEb23
Central modulation of pain - PMC https://share.google/p7efTwfGXe7hNsBRC
A Headache in the Pelvis" written by Stanford Urologist Dr. Anderson and Psychologist Dr Wise - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/558308/a-headache-in-the-pelvis-by-david-wise-phd-and-rodney-anderson-md/
What if my tests are negative but I still have symptoms? NHS/Unity Sexual Health/University hospitals Bristol and Weston - https://www.unitysexualhealth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/What-if-my-tests-for-urethritis-are-negative-2021.pdf
Vulvodynia" a literature review - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32355269/
The Effects of a Life Stress Emotional Awareness and Expression Interview for Women with Chronic Urogenital Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30252113/
Effect of Pain Reprocessing Therapy vs Placebo and Usual Care for Patients With Chronic Back Pain - https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2784694
Clinical Phenotyping for Pain Mechanisms in Urologic Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndromes: A MAPP Research Network Study - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35472518/
r/PelvicFloor • u/Linari5 • Dec 03 '24
RESOURCE/GUIDE RESEARCH: Pain Mechanisms Beyond The Pelvic Floor
40
Upvotes
UCPPS is a umbrella term for chronic pelvic pain and dysfunction in men and women, and it includes pelvic floor dysfunction underneath it, as well as symptoms like bladder dysfunction, pain, IC/BPS, and more. This study discusses the pain mechanisms found. They are not only typical injuries (ie "nociceptive") - They also include pain/symptoms generated by nerves (neuropathic) and by the central nervous system (nociplastic). You'll also notice that the combination of neuropathic + nociplastic mechanisms create the most pain! Which is likely to be counterintuitive to what most people would assume.
"Clinical Phenotyping for Pain Mechanisms in Urologic Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndromes: A MAPP Research Network Study" https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35472518/
At baseline, 43% of UCPPS patients were classified as nociceptive-only, 8% as neuropathic only, 27% as nociceptive+nociplastic, and 22% as neuropathic+nociplastic. Across outcomes, nociceptive-only patients had the least severe symptoms and neuropathic+nociplastic patients the most severe. Neuropathic pain was associated with genital pain and/or sensitivity on pelvic exam, while nociplastic pain was associated with comorbid pain conditions, psychosocial difficulties, and increased pressure pain sensitivity outside the pelvis.
Targeting neuropathic (nerve irritation) and nociplastic/centralized (nervous system/brain) components of pain & symptoms in recovery is highly recommended when dealing with CPPS/PFD (especially hypertonia).
All of those involved in the management of chronic pelvic pain should have knowledge of peripheral and central pain mechanisms. - European Urological Association CPPS Pocket Guide
And the newest 2025 AUA guidelines for male pelvic pain echo this:
We now know that the pain can also derive from a neurologic origin from either peripheral nerve roots (neuropathic pain) or even a lack of central pain inhibition (nociplastic), with the classic disease example being fibromyalgia
This means successful treatment for pelvic pain and dysfunction goes beyond just pelvic floor physical therapy (alone), and into new modalities for pain that target these neuroplastic (nociplastic/centralized) mechanisms like Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT), EAET, and more. Learn more about our new understanding of chronic pain here: https://www.reddit.com/r/ChronicPain/s/3E6k1Gr2BZ
This is especially true for anyone who has symptoms that get worse with stress or difficult emotions. And, those of us who are predisposed to chronic pain in the first place, typically from childhood adversity and trauma, certain personality traits (perfectionism, people pleasing, conscientiousness, neuroticism) and anxiety and mood disorders. There is especially overwhelming evidence regarding ACE (adverse childhood experiences) that increase our chances of developing a physical or mental health disorder later in life. So much so, that even traditional medical doctors are now being trained to screen their patients for childhood trauma/adversity:
Adverse childhood experience is associated with an increased risk of reporting chronic pain in adulthood: a stystematic review and meta-analysis
Previous meta-analyses highlighted the negative impact of adverse childhood experiences on physical, psychological, and behavioural health across the lifespan.We found exposure to any direct adverse childhood experience, i.e. childhood sexual, physical, emotional abuse, or neglect alone or combined, increased the risk of reporting chronic pain and pain-related disability in adulthood.The risk of reporting chronic painful disorders increased with increasing numbers of adverse childhood experiences.
Further precedence in the EUA (European Urological Association) guidelines for male and female pain:
The EUA pathophysiology and etiological guidelines elucidate further on central nervous system and biopsychosocial factors in male and female pelvic pain/dysfunction:
Studies about integrating the psychological factors of CPPPSs are few but the quality is high. Psychological factors are consistently found to be relevant in the maintenance of persistent pelvic and urogenital pain [36]. Beliefs about pain contribute to the experience of pain [37] and symptom-related anxiety and central pain amplification may be measurably linked, and worrying about pain and perceived stress predict worsening of urological chronic pain over a year [36,38] - https://uroweb.org/guidelines/chronic-pelvic-pain/chapter/epidemiology-aetiology-and-pathophysiology
Pelvic pain and distress is related [43] in both men and women [44]; as are painful bladder and distress [38]. In a large population based study of men, CPPPS was associated with prior anxiety disorder [45] - https://uroweb.org/guidelines/chronic-pelvic-pain/chapter/epidemiology-aetiology-and-pathophysiology
So, how do you figure out if this could be happening in your case?
12 FIT criteria to RULE IN centralized, (ie neuroplastic/nociplastic) pain and symptoms,
FIT = functional, inconsistent, triggered. Based on research from Dr. Howard Schubiner and other chronic pain doctors and neuroscientists over the last 10+ years
Pain/symptoms originated during a stressful, challenging, or high pressure time in life. This includes even "happy" life events, like getting married, having a baby, starting a new career, or moving
Pain/symptoms originated without an injury. Note, a perceived injury and a structural injury are different things. And even when symptoms begin with a structural injury, has it been years and the body would normally recover by now?
Pain/symptoms are inconsistent. Do they fluctuate by the hour, by the day, or by the week? Sometimes less, sometimes more, sometimes even not noticeable (this happens sometimes, but it's not necessary for this criteria). Or, do they move around the body? ie genital pain that changes sides or pain that moves from the top to the bottom.
Multiple other symptoms (often in other parts of the body) ie IBS, chronic migraines/headaches, CPPS, TMJD, fibromyalgia, CFS (fatigue), vertigo/dizziness, chronic neck or back pain, etc. 2025 AUA guidelines mention these as signs of centralized sx.
Pain/Symptoms spread (over time) or move around. Think about symptoms on day one. Have they moved or evolved over time?
Pain/symptoms are made worse or triggered by stress, or, go down when engaged in an activity you enjoy or in a flow state (think fun distractions or productivity, noticing symptoms less)
Symptom triggers that have nothing to do with the body - but instead things outside of it (weather, barometric pressure, seasons, sounds, smells, places, times of day, weekdays/weekends, days of the week, etc) - this also includes thoughts or other people triggering/flaring symptoms
Symmetrical symptoms (pain developing on the same part of the body but in OPPOSITE sides) - ie both hips, both hips, both wrists, both knees, etc
Pain/symptoms with delayed Onset (THIS CAN'T HAPPEN WITH STRUCTURAL PAIN) -- ie, ejaculation pain that comes a minute later, an hour later, or even the next day. Any pain that is delayed is very suspicious. We wouldn't put weight on a sprained ankle and expect it to hurt 15 seconds later, it hurts immediately.
Childhood stress, challenges, adversity, or trauma -- varying levels of what this means for each person, not just trauma. Examples of stressors: childhood bullying, pressure to perform from parents/coaches, body image issues (dysmorphia), eating disorders, parents fighting a lot or getting angry (inc divorce), having an emotionally unpredictable parent, or having a parent with a health condition or addiction. This also includes neglect and abuse (physical and emotional) and financial instability in childhood. Also includes cultural norms, like the pressure to be highly successful to be of value to parents (must be a doctor or a lawyer, etc)
Common personality traits linked to stress: perfectionism, conscientiousness, people pleasing, anxiousness/ neuroticism - do you have personality traits that include being highly driven, hard on yourself, ultra responsible, perfectionistic, needing control, and/or placing others’ needs above your own?
Lack of physical diagnosis (ie doctors are unable to find any clear structural cause of symptoms) - this includes DIAGNOSIS OF EXCLUSION, like being diagnosed with CPPS or PFD. Structural finding examples: broken bones, tumors, infections, etc. It does not include muscle dysfunction.
[NEW] 13. Any family history of chronic pain or other chronic conditions. Includes: IBS, chronic migraines/headaches, CPPS, TMJD, fibromyalgia, CFS (fatigue), vertigo/dizziness, chronic neck or back pain, etc
Read more about #10 and #11 here, complete with studies/citations: https://www.reddit.com/r/Prostatitis/s/vM7qnBJZpW
HOW TO TREAT centralized (neuroplastic) pain and symptoms?
PRT - Pain Reprocessing Therapy:
Effect of Pain Reprocessing Therapy vs Placebo and Usual Care for Patients With Chronic Back Pain - https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2784694
EAET - Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy
Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy vs Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain in Older Veterans https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11177167/
Psychological Therapy for Centralized Pain - An Integrative Assessment and Treatment Model: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30461545/
r/PelvicFloor • u/NoobiousGoobious • 1h ago
Discouraged I cant get my obturator internus or hip flexors to calm down. Been dealing with pudendal neuralgia for 8 months.
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Upvotes
Ive been dealing with pelvic floor dysfunction since Christmas of 2025. Since then, my symptoms have shifted quite a lot:
At first I had a constant urge to pee and couldn't sit down for more than 5 minutes without intense pain. This then went away and switched to penile tip pain and erectile dysfunction that still hasnt resolved itself. Different symptoms came and went like charly horses in my balls and legs, intense burning sensations, diarrhea, burning when peeing, and numbness. A lumbar annular tear made everything much worse to the point I couldn't feel the urge to pee at all
Currently, I get periodic numbness in my perineum and right testicle, reduced urge to poop and pee, infrequent morning erections, and erectile dysfunction. I have been using a pelvic wand religiously, using a TENS units, taking warm baths, and of course stretching. I've also had dry needling done, but it stopped being effective very quickly.
My pt did an internal evaluation on me today and while my obturator internus isnt spasming anymore, it is still rock solid. My other muscles like my coccygeus and levator ani group seemed to have calmed down, but my obturator internus wont budge. I'm worried that if I don't release it relatively soon, then my nerve damage might become permanent.
Does anyone have any strong interventional methods for releasing these stubborn muscles?
r/PelvicFloor • u/miss_kay4 • 3m ago
Female Anyone use the Intimate rose wand and can share some tips? [Vaginal insertion]
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I have this irrational fear I’m doing it wrong so I’ve had it for months without touching it.
r/PelvicFloor • u/LowImprovement4220 • 10m ago
General Sharing my progress
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So at day 19th I was going very well till I played badminton at day 20th which kinda tensed my pelvis muscles I guess so day 21, 22, 23, were once more pretty bad days for me but at day 24th I saw signs of recovery again as morning time becomes urge free for me amd today at day 25th it was honestly so far the best day since this problem came up, like morning urination was fine, amd I was able to urinate peacefully at evening too and at night (Although I didn't fully empty myself at night it was good enough) amd I got 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep which is huge I used to wake up every 2 to 3 hours to go the bathroom at night, hoping day 26 goes well too, I have notice so far that the weak stream is gone its more replace by strong stream which ends too early like my pelvis muscles suddenly them clamp down, but with some happy pose exercise hopefully this problem fully goes away
r/PelvicFloor • u/littlemath17 • 6h ago
General Pregaline
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Upvotes
Hello. I would like to know who among you has experienced the side effect of difficulty urinating and a weaker stream with pregaline.
r/PelvicFloor • u/Foreign-Path5693 • 27m ago
Male One sided penile retraction
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Upvotes
Has anyone here experienced impaired blood flow / contraction / retraction only on ONE side of the penis.
I started experiencing symptoms rather suddenly starting March 2025. Don’t recall any injury to my genitals but was under a ton of stress and have body dysmorphia.
It’s like someone took my left chamber and stopped blood from flowing into it. No pain or anything but erections feel tight and restricted.
It doesn’t change much at all which scares me the most. It’s been exactly the same since it started.
At the same time, I’ve had tight anal muscles which have resulted in incomplete bowel movements..
Has anyone else experienced these particular set of symptoms? If so, have you seen any improvement from following a routine?
I have no idea what has happened to my body. I masturbate when stressed but never ever so rough to cause permanent damage 💔😭. I can’t believe this has happened to me and I still have no idea what exactly is going on.
I pray someone similar who is lurking this sub sees my post and can offer some advice to a broken man.
r/PelvicFloor • u/Express-Upstairs9799 • 4h ago
Male i'm stupid, i shouldn't have done it
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Upvotes
I'm 24M, what i have done is masturbating while edge it constantly through out whole week sometimes, So Now i've got abdomino phneric dyssynergia (APD), I'm having difficulty to pass the stool and especially urination urge feeling less because of the stool still stays on rectum, any advice on this??? I know I'm an idiot...
r/PelvicFloor • u/gigithrowaway21 • 1h ago
Female Can a hamstring injury cause pelvic floor pain when stretching?
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I’m just really frustrated at the moment to the point where I could cry. I injured my left hamstring in a front left split MONTHS ago and it’s still giving me trouble. Whenever I try to stretch or strengthen it, it gets worse. It’s like no matter what I do, when I stretch I get so much worse.
Now when I stretch my left hamstring or sit down in certain positions the front of my pelvic floor (sorry if this is tmi but mainly around the left labia and clitoral area) start to feel sharp pain. It really discourages me from stretching the leg at all in any way.
Not to mention how tight my calves are. Literally the outside sides of the legs are so tight that stretching feels like painful tingles. It sucks so much and I feel like crying every single day about it.
The pain on my hamstring is deep underneath my butt and it doesn’t get better no matter what I do, whether it’s weight strengthening, slow stretching, heat therapy or ice. I’m getting worse and i feel like I’m spiralling. I just really want to cry, I don’t know what else to do. I can’t afford $100+ on physiotherapy twice a month. I need help please
r/PelvicFloor • u/Similar-Chemical6049 • 1h ago
Male Numbness in my penis!!
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I literally can't feel anything in my penis. The skin is completely numb. It's completely dead. I don't even feel like I have a penis anymore. I don't feel like a man anymore. It's like my penis has been ripped out of my body.
My will to live is gone. My libido is gone. My sexuality is gone. What's the point of living like this? I've had a hard flaccid problem for a long time, my morning erections are gone, they happen rarely once a week. My penis is constantly hanging dead and disconnected. There's no pleasure or stimulation during intercourse.
I don't know how much longer I can handle this. I don't know how I'm going to get better either, if this was my only problem I could still manage a little bit, but I have more serious problems. I hope everyone gets better.
r/PelvicFloor • u/chunknvmama • 1h ago
Female could it be PFD?
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i had a pretty traumatic birth back in september that ended with a high energy pelvic fracture. think car crash.
anyway, need an external fixture and a catheter. those have both been out since dec. 2025– but the burning and stinging when urinating, turning over, shifting positions is not. i have been to ER several times, gotten several urine cultures/analysis, STI screenings, ureaplasma/mycoplasma and nothing. it’ll be a UTI every once in a while but that doesn’t stop the burning when i pee. it’s also not everytime i pee either but it’s everyday for sure. when i have tons of fluids (clear fluids/water) there’s minimal to NO pain (not even when i wipe). i’m starting to think that it could be PFD. i have a cystoscopy coming up but if they don’t find anything and it’s chronic, i hope if i do some pelvic floor therapy, i could see some progress. has anyone ever had something similar?
oh, also i can NOT walk or stand yet.
r/PelvicFloor • u/Agitated-Sundae3191 • 6h ago
Male Hypertonic pf but gas incontinence?
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Upvotes
Few years ago i started experiencing various bad digestion symptoms like bloating, gas, changes in stool, then over a year i finally figured out i was SIBO hydrogen and methane positive. The worst development was being unable to hold in gas, it would just constantly leak out of me over the entire day if i ate or drank something that didn’t agree with me.
Tried various antibiotics over 2-3 years, nothing worked to improve my sibo breath test results. This most likely meant that i wasn’t addressing the root cause to my sibo. I’ve had constipation basically my whole life but it never caused me these issues up until 4 years ago. I’m 25 forgot to mention.
Over the past 2 years i started exploring if my sibo could be caused by a mechanical issue in my body, and this lead to me figuring out I had pelvic floor issues. After a few tests and consultations in that department, I was told by doctors that I have a spastic puborectalis and a failure to relax my sphincter when trying to have a bowel movement.
I’m now doing physiotherapy including biofeedback and all that jazz, but i’m worried deep down that this won’t fix my gas incontinence. Have done 7-8 sessions so far. The doctor said we’d evaluate the usefulness of these sessions after 4 more sessions to decide whether to continue or stop these sessions. The doctor also said that a botox injection might be on the table if I can’t retrain my pelvic floor to relax when trying to have a bm.
The big recurring question in my head is How can I have gas incontinence if my issue is a hypertonic pelvic floor? If i have a failure to relax but seem to do just fine when trying to contract, why is it that gas is just leaking out of me like i’m a faulty balloon??
r/PelvicFloor • u/Icy-Discipline-1337 • 7h ago
Discouraged Pls help
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Hi, I originally joined this group bc my fiance (23 M) was diagnosed with pelvic floor dysfunction and male pelvic pain back in Dec of 2025 but that is when mostly the urinary symptoms were present (I don’t remember exactly what those symptoms were) so I’m looking for words of reassurance or similar stories/symptoms.
It seemed that this came out of no where one day, he came home feeling like he had a uti, his front and back thighs were sore and he had constipation with skinny stool. He did all the tests, no uti no stds etc so that’s when we went to the urologist and they diagnosed him with PFD. Fast forward to today he’s stuck with the bowel issues which include:
skinnier smaller stool (sometimes more normal stool)
feelings of incomplete emptying.
he gets on and off lower left abdominal pain that travels to the bottom of his rib cage (some days it’s barely there).
sometimes trapped gas but movement helps release it.
brown streaks of mucus in stool almost daily.
at one point he had rectal pain and lower back pain that could travel down the back of his legs almost like sciatica.
Sometimes bright red blood in stool but he does have hereditary hemorrhoids and it’s only ever a little bit and on the surface.
Recently feels as if his stomach is unsettled but I think this is anxiety induced.
There was a period of time where he didn’t really have any symptoms, and if they were present it was minimal or barely noticeable, that lasted a little over a month.
This is draining him and affecting his mental health, he doesn’t feel like himself anymore and it kills me. He has anxiety, ocd and it’s making him think he has cancer.
Mind you, he never had any bowel issues before this and had stool that was normal for him but that has changed now to small or skinny stool since this started with some normal stool (thicker) but not like how they used to be. He does drive a lot for work and used to have to hold going to the bathroom so im wondering if that could be the main cause. The gi dr brushed off his symptoms basically and offered him a colonoscopy but he’s anxious to go through with that.
r/PelvicFloor • u/Less-Sail-283 • 15h ago
Male Im tired pls help
5
Upvotes
Im m17, im ashamed and embarrassed idk if its the right subreddit but I've read similar symptoms of people as mine so it all started when I was 14. I have troubling peeing, ejaculating and pooping. When it first happened, I couldn't get an erection anymore, even though before that it was very strong. Nowadays its harder, but not like before. Also my penis shape changed. Idk if should be ashamed, urologist didnt find anything and im tired living like this it got me depressed and I cant leave the bathroom since pee and poop is just stuck and I have to get it out by using my hands, if I dont its stuck and feels super uncomfortable. Ejaculating is bad too. When I do, it comes out weak and like some of it is stuck. I have to push it with my hand, but even then its doesn't come out fully and I have to do weird techniques to push it out (same with pee) and pooping is bad too, because it comes out weak and some of it is stuck, and everytime I wipe it just doesn't end. I dont wanna live like this, what if I get a girlfriend. I waste so much time in the bathroom I just wanna leave but I cant. I cant enjoy life anymore while I also have other problems in my life...
r/PelvicFloor • u/One-Marionberry-6250 • 7h ago
Female PID
1
Upvotes
Dearest women,
Unfortunately I was diagnosed with my second PID (first one happened after an abortion 6 years ago), almost a month ago. They treated me at first with 450 IV Chlindamicine and then got home with Doxycicline for 14 days. I couldn't finish the treatment due to the severe nausea doxy caused me, so got a different treatment. Clindamicine every 6 hours + Azythromicin every 24 hours. My first night of this new treatment, I got somehow poisoned with this combination and ended up for the third time in the ER because I couldn't speak, I couldn't stop shaking and I couldn't sleep. My body felt completely intoxicated, that's the best way to describe how I felt.
After being in the ER for about 6 hours, I got IV paracetamol and just serum. Ended up with a different treatment. Only stick with Azhytromicin for 2 weeks. After doing a lot of research, I found that in 2003, they treated over 100 women with only Azhytromicin for a week, and the success rate was over 97%, whilst the average treatment of doxycicline + metronidazol 14 days, had a success rate of 93%. I got 2 different opinions from 2 gynecologists, and they confirmed that 2 gr of Azhytromicin is more than enough and to not take the 14 days as it would be nearly 4 gr of antibiotic in my body, which is highly above the recommendation.
I would like to share my experience as it's been severely traumatic. I had some short of depression, thinking of how bad the pain was, made me develop as well post traumatic stress. It took me about 2 weeks to get my gut back, I completely cut off sugar, I'm taking everynight my turmeric beverage, but now that I got my menstruation 2 days ago, the pelvic pain has come back and gotten worst again. I finished the treatment August 14th... Only had intimicy 3 times with my partner, both of us are monogamous.
I've read all short of descriptions, like some women related it took them months to feel normal again, other's were completely fine after the treatment... I don't cope well with antibiotics, so I hope I don't ever develop a third one. Any experiences? Any pain after finishing the treatment and getting the period?
Thank you girlies
r/PelvicFloor • u/Fit-Cartographer-367 • 8h ago
Female Vagina feel loose..
1
Upvotes
I’m 28, no kids, when I insert a finger I can barely feel the front and back walls of my vaginal canal and can’t feel the sides with 2 fingers inserted I still have to wiggle side to side to feel it … I don’t know what to do and it’s making me insecure as my ex partner has noticed that and said my vagina is wide and deep.. can kegels help ? Or do I need surgery? Please help :(
r/PelvicFloor • u/Impressive_Phone_361 • 12h ago
General Low acidity coffee recommendations?
2
Upvotes
After a few weeks of no coffee I have started added it back in very small amounts very diluted with oat milk.
Any recommendations for bladder/ pelvic gentle coffee recs?
So far it’s been okay these last 3 days, I drink a shit ton of water afterwards as well. Praying I can add at least one squirrel sized coffee back a day!
I’ve permanently cut out acidic fruits, tomatoes, and soda, but coffee is my one true love lol.
TIA!
r/PelvicFloor • u/Even-Contract-6197 • 20h ago
Male Has anyone cued their pelvic floor
7
Upvotes
Has anyone here cured their pelvic floor even with stress manifesting in the pelvic floor which causes it to clench has anyone cured it?
r/PelvicFloor • u/Redsparow21 • 16h ago
General Pulsio Pro For Hypertonic?
3
Upvotes
Has anyone used something like the Pulsio or any other type of TENS machine to treat their hypertonic pelvic floor?
I've done the usual googling and I'm aware this needs to be approached carefully. I had already ordered it for a lat injury that's been bothering me, but thought I'd look into how I could possibly utalise it for my pelvic floor issues too.
Just curious how others have got on...
r/PelvicFloor • u/Frieren_phantomhive • 16h ago
Discouraged Major constipation. Need help
2
Upvotes
I am so incredibly constipated. It really got bad after I became mostly bedridden and my diet right now is mostly oat milk. It got even worse when I was slacking with my PT that's mostly for Ehlers Danlos for my whole body and I cut down water because my home nurse told me I didn't really need water and to focus on calories from the milk. I've been drinking way more water the last two days again. Idk what to do though. Lately my wife said I feel the tightest she's ever felt me. A few weeks ago she couldn't even fit her pinky in my butt. My days are getting messed up but I think a few days ago I made the mistake of pushing on the toilet for an hour. I got a bit out in the beginning but I should have stopped after that. The next night I did the same thing and I wish I didn't. It got so bad my wife had to manly remove some of what was stuck with gloves covered in vaseline. Tmi detail warning ⚠️ She said it felt like butter in the fridge it was so dense and I felt all this pressure around my whole pelvic area. I contacted my home health line, my PT, and I had an appointment with urgent care over video.
Urgent care told me to do an enema at home and then have my wife try to disempact me again, and if it did nothing to go to the ER. I was instructed to just use water and vaseline at the tip because of my MCAS. We did less than 5 militers because I'm so small and fragile. I held it in for 30 minutes and then my wife was able to get stuff out easier. Home health after that contracted me back and told me it didn't sound like it was an actual blockage and that they couldn't say for certain but that it sounded like it was ok to rest because my wife had been awake over a day and I have me/cfs and have been struggling so much. I was instructed to do the enema again but my wife and I haven't had it in us. Yesterday and today I just keep having to go over and over again with not much warning sometimes. The longest I can go between using the restroom in the last day and a half is 2 hours. The texture isn't super hard anymore and some of it is straight up liquid. I feel like I'm not so filled up anymore and my wife said it doesn't feel so impacted anymore but I just keep getting more and more.
At this point my pelvic floor muscles tire out very easily so sometimes I'm so close to finally pushing out on my own but then my muscles just need a break so my wife has to go in and help it along. Other times with larger more solid bits, she has to help break it up more because my butt is just so tight. I'm trying to avoid prolapse if I can because the urgent care Dr warned of that and I'm scared. Sometimes after going my vagina burns now but it's not constant. It just sucks because sometimes I still feel like there's more in me not too far away but if I can't get it out after lightly pushing for 1-2 minutes and if my wife can't feel it with the first knuckle of her finger or less, I give myself a break from the toilet either to go back to bed with a heating pad or take a bath. I've been massaging my pelvic area externally. I'm just so miserable. It gets really painful when I'm going and it's affecting my sleep and ability to eat. I can't afford to cut down on food and my family are panicking that I'm not eating enough rn. I even started drinking oat milk during my bath to try to catch up for lost time but I have to go slow with how aggravated everything is, and the other day I went starving for too long because my body has been hungry ever since right before the enema which I was also told is a good sign it's not an actual blockage. I just can't comprehend why we are getting so much out of me and that it's still not done. I even switched to only liquid diet the last 2-3 days. Btw I also have MALS or gastroparesis. I'm waiting to be assessed for MALS. Also, my MCAS is so severe idk if I can do the typical miralax, prune juice, etc that people do but I do know coffee gave me anaphlaxis when I was way more mild than now. I originally posted in endometriosis groups (I'm clinically diagnosed) and got those recommendations a lot. I also have emetophobia.
Last thing is I contacted my GP but I'm waiting to hear back. I'm hoping to get referred to pelvic floor PT. I did it in 2023 but back then they told me most of the stuff they knew would make things worse with Ehlers Danlos. I'm hoping things have improved since then. I'm willing to try it at least. Even when my diet wasn't a disaster and I was more mobile, before I started my full body PT for Ehlers Danlos, I wouldn't get impacted like this, but I would sometimes black out from pain and it got to the point I had to drop out of uni. When I took a 3 week break from PT when on vacation last year, it wasn't super duper bad but I was getting constipated over time and my pelvic floor was getting angry despite my diet being even better than how I ate at home at the time so my PT thinks it's not just diet. Heck, when I had no food restrictions really as a kid and was extremely active I still suffered with constipation but again not like this.
r/PelvicFloor • u/Saint19981507 • 1d ago
Discouraged Please help I’m in so much pain
7
Upvotes
Hi
I have had pelvic floor issues for years mainly around urgency. I feel like my bladder is being squeezed constantly.
Last year I went to physio and I got better.
But now I’m in a horrorific flare up, I literally feel like I can’t sit.
I’ve been back at physio a month and it’s just getting worse and worse and worse. Do I move physios?
I just can’t stand the feeling. It’s so tight and painful and I’m doing all the stuff the physio says to do.
But I’m in agony.
What would you do?
r/PelvicFloor • u/Unhappy_Writing_5082 • 1d ago
Female Anyone else have this exact issue and find a consistent way to relieve this when it happens?
5
Upvotes
So I have hypertonic pelvic floor, dyssnergia, incomplete evacuation and a small rectocele.
The main issue I have that makes me so frustrated is as soon as I wake up I have to have a bowel movement, sometimes it is complete sometimes it is not. I eat breakfast have coffee, and then typically I need to have a second bowel movement, also sometimes complete and sometimes not but it’s at least enough to usually not bother me. Then there are days like today that happen at random where I had the first bowel movement fine, then had the urge to go and can feel stool up higher in my rectum, but when I sit down in the toilet to go I absolutely cannot go. The whole rest of the day I feel it just sitting there and it’s uncomfortable and typically I just can’t go again until the next morning.
I tried hot water, I tried prune juice with butter in it, I tried stretching and diaphragm breathing, I tried a walk, and nothing is working! What else can I do!? I really try to avoid using enemas or suppositories if I can:/
Update: well I gave in and used a ducolax suppository (chose this over glycerin because last time I used a glycerin suppository it caused my major pelvic floor spasm and tighten.) I did have a few solid pieces of stool come out on initial but now I’maying on the bathroom floor because I’m cramping and nauseous and keep having small bought of diarrhea every few minutes omg is this normal😭😭😭. When I had success with suppositories in the past I had more of just 1 successful bowel movement not this🤦♀️🤦♀️
r/PelvicFloor • u/Odd-Memory-5377 • 1d ago
Male Dry needling for male pelvic floor??
4
Upvotes
I had my trapezius done and it caused more pain everywhere around it as my first test of dry needling.. am I going to have more pain with the pelvic region. In the rectal muscles and the internus muscle. Worried about making the pain worse. I have painful erections; testicles, rectum and tight hips feeling, going on about 9 months now. Been doing PT for 2 months.