Female Pelvic Pain Physical Therapy in San Francisco, CA

33% of women are affected by pelvic floor dysfunction, according to recent studies. Due to its commonality, many women believe that pelvic floor dysfunction is normal. That’s not the case and you can find relief for your pelvic floor pain. Pelvic floor physical therapy may be the solution.

Symptoms

Pelvic pain generally refers to burning, itching, aching, or other types of pain in the vulva, vagina, perineal, and/or anal area
Women with pelvic pain often suffer from pain with intercourse, may experience hypersensitivity when wearing pants and/or underwear, and may have pain with sitting
Exercise may provoke or exacerbate symptoms
In addition to pelvic pain, women can also experience urinary urgency, frequency, pain with urinating, and/or urinary leakage
Women may suffer from abdominal bloating, gastrointestinal distress, and constipation
Symptoms can be provoked, meaning with penetrative intercourse or tampon insertion, or unprovoked and spontaneous
Symptoms can be intermittent or constant

Associated Diagnoses

Diagnoses such as Endometriosis, Vulvodynia, Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome, Pudendal Neuralgia, Lichen Sclerosus, Lichen Planus, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome are associated with pelvic pain and pelvic floor dysfunction.

Causes of Pelvic Pain

Repetitive vaginal and/or bladder infections and/or gynecologic, urologic, dermatologic or gastrointestinal conditions
The majority of women with pelvic pain have pelvic floor dysfunction
Prescription medications such as oral contraceptives, acne medications, and hormonal suppressive therapies for diseases such as Endometriosis and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
Surgical trauma (childbirth, pelvic organ prolapse repair, hysterectomy)
Orthopedic injuries or traumas
Biomechanical or structural dysfunction (hip dysfunction, sacro-iliac joint dysfunction, piriformis syndrome, scoliosis, leg length discrepancy)
Vaginal childbirth
Menopause
Genital cutting or genital mutilation

Diagnostic Challenges

Research shows that it can take up to five years for women with pelvic pain to get a proper diagnosis and up to 11 years for a woman with Endometriosis. This is because the symptoms of pelvic pain can mimic conditions such as urinary tract, yeast, bladder, and sexually transmitted infections. When the pelvic floor is the culprit, the diagnostic tests for these infections are negative, leading to confusion for both the medical provider and the patient. Many medical providers are not aware that pelvic floor dysfunction can cause pelvic pain and it certainly does not occur to women to go to physical therapy when these symptoms arise. The majority of our patients tell us they did not know they even had a pelvic floor until things started to go wrong!

How We Can Help You

Women who are actively dealing with pelvic pain could find the ideal solution by visiting Pelvic Health Rehabilitation Centers for an evaluation. Our physical therapists specialize in pelvic pain and will review your medical history, previous diagnoses, past treatments, and their effectiveness to create the best solution for helping you overcome pelvic floor pain. Importantly, we understand what you have been going through and that most women are frustrated by the time they get to see us. During the physical examination, the physical therapist examines muscles, tissues, joints, nerves, and movement patterns. Once your physical therapist completes the exam they review your findings with you. The physical therapist creates an assessment that explains how you developed pain and crafts short and long-term goals for your treatment plan. Typically, the frequency of physical therapy treatment is one to two times per week for roughly 12 weeks. To complement your in-person pelvic floor physical therapy sessions, you will receive an at-home regimen to follow. Your physical therapist will also help coordinate the recovery with any other members of your treatment team to help you get back to life. Our team is devoted to helping women live healthier, pain-free lives.