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Pelvic pain

A private, judgment-free place to finally get answers

If you've been told "nothing is wrong" or "nothing can be done," you're not alone. Pelvic pain is complex and often requires a thorough, whole-body evaluation to uncover what's really contributing to your symptoms.

You might be experiencing

  • Pain with intercourse
  • Pain with tampon use or gynecological exams
  • Pelvic or vaginal pain that comes and goes
  • Pain related to your cycle
  • Pain associated with endometriosis or PCOS
  • Tailbone pain
  • Pain that's hard to describe or explain to others

If any of this resonates, you'll be met with patience, not pressure — request an appointment or call us.

Why this happens

Pelvic pain often involves muscles and tissue that have become tight, guarded, or sensitized — frequently as a protective response that lingers even after whatever originally caused it has resolved. This isn't something wrong with you, and it isn't something you have to just push through or explain away.

How we treat it

We always start with conversation, not an exam. Any internal assessment is fully explained in advance and happens only with your consent, on your timeline — sometimes not until a later visit, and that's completely fine. From there, treatment typically involves gentle manual therapy to release tension, along with education and a gradual, paced approach to progress. If you'd like to know exactly what a first visit looks like before you come in, read what to expect — including how consent works at every step.

When I first started at She PT, I was struggling with residual symptoms after surgery for endometriosis. My therapist's empathetic nature, thorough history taking, and tailored treatment sessions took me from weekly appointments to as-needed visits. Very thankful for helping me get my quality of life back.

— Burgess L., She PT patient

Common questions

What does an examination look like?
Pelvic pain is complex, so we take the time to understand the whole picture — not just where it hurts. Your examination starts with a thorough conversation about your symptoms, your history, and how your pain affects your daily life, exercise, relationships, bladder and bowel function, and other activities. From there, we look at how your whole body may be contributing to your symptoms. Depending on your symptoms and comfort level, your physical therapist may assess your posture, breathing, spine, hips, abdomen, pelvis, and movement. We may also perform an internal pelvic floor examination to assess muscle tension, tenderness, and coordination, and the way your pelvic floor responds to movement and pressure. An internal exam is always discussed with you first and is never required.
Will I have to be examined on my first visit?
No. Your first visit starts with conversation. Any physical or internal assessment is explained clearly in advance and only happens with your consent, whenever you're ready.
I've never told anyone about this — what do I say?
You don't need to know the right words, and you definitely don't need to feel embarrassed. We talk about bladder leaks, pelvic pain, painful sex, bowel changes, prolapse, postpartum concerns, and other sensitive symptoms every day. If you're not sure how to explain what's happening, that's okay. You can simply start with, "I'm experiencing something that's uncomfortable to talk about, but I don't know if it's normal." From there, we'll guide the conversation with questions and give you plenty of space to share at your own pace.
What if an internal exam isn't something I'm ready for?
Every aspect of our exam and treatment process is always presented as an option. You decide what you are ready for, and what you'd like to prioritize in your treatment sessions.
How long does treatment usually take?
The timeline is different for every person. Because pelvic pain can have many contributing factors — and is often something you've been experiencing for a while — treatment is individualized based on your symptoms, goals, and how your body responds. Some women notice meaningful changes within the first few visits, while others need more time to address longstanding or complex pain. We may work on reducing pain and muscle tension first, then gradually build strength, mobility, nervous system regulation, and confidence with the activities that matter to you. At your initial evaluation, we'll talk through what we're finding, what we recommend, and what a realistic treatment plan may look like for you.
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Further reading

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