Last Updated on April 4, 2024

What is the pelvic floor?

The “pelvic floor” refers to the muscles and ligaments that attach on the pelvis and support the abdomen. These muscles control bladder and bowel function.

What is pelvic floor dysfunction?

The symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction vary for different people.  They often include pain in the perineal region, pain with sexual intercourse, tail bone or groin pain.  Pelvic floor dysfunction can also be linked to issues such as incontinence, constipation and infertility.

What causes pelvic floor pain?

Pain and dysfunction in the pelvic floor is a common occurrence.  The National Center for Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate the one quarter of all women experience some type of pelvic floor dysfunction.

Pelvic floor dysfunction can result from a perfectly normal pregnancy and childbirth.  It can also be related to pelvic infections, low back pain, surgery, weakened pelvic muscles or over tight pelvic muscles.

How does acupuncture help pelvic floor pain?

The great strength of acupuncture in treating pelvic floor pain is our ability to directly access the muscles of the pelvic floor.  The same way acupuncture needles help calm over-used, shortened and tight muscles in the shoulder it relieves pelvic muscle pain.  Similarly, weak and inactive muscles can be activated with gentle acupuncture stimulation.

These techniques create direct communication between the pelvic floor muscles and the central nervous system, allowing for the readjustment of muscles and reducing pain signals.

Do I need a referral?

Although many patients who come to us for pelvic floor pain are referred from medical doctors or physical therapists you can see us directly without a doctor’s referral.

If we determine that your dysfunction is beyond are scope of our practice we have many doctors and specialists we can refer you too.