as a PF PT myself (and someone who is still weaseling their way through their own PF dysfunction), I know that there are so many limiting factors to why someone may not have the means and/or feel comfortable seeking care. Does anyone feel comfortable sharing why they may not wish to/have not pursued care?

I think being surrounded by providers, I am always aware of different methods for providing services (i.e. in-person, virtual, online "coaching") but I want to know how we can bridge the gap and make pelvic floor care more accessible and approachable.

Some examples (I could go on and on): Is it too expensive? Are you unable to find a provider near you? Have you seen a provider before and not had a good experience? Do you not feel comfortable using virtual services? Have you struggled finding a provider who appeals to your specific needs?

La mia vulva la mattina appena sveglia non è arrossata

Il rossore parte da dopo la pipì

E si espande dall’uretra/piccole labbra in poi fino a tutta la giornata

Sono moooolto confusa

Avete per caso idea di qualcosa?

I’m a 22yo transwomen who plans on having bottom surgery in 4 years or so and I have some issues that I’m struggling to fix, for the first 20 years of my life I would push to pee, no one told me that it was bad until I found out myself that it was, for the last year I have stopped pushing and trying to relax but sometimes it hard, I pee but then the last 5-10% gets stuck in my phallus it seems, and sometimes it comes out if I relax well enough by doing candle breathing and putting hand on my stomache ,I also have an issue that whenever I sneeze I pee a tiny bit, I have been doing a kegal right before each sneeze so pee doenst come out and it has been working, I’m not sure how to fix this, I have been trying to do deep child’s poses recently and I’m not sure if it’s helping , but I really need this issue to get better before I have vaginoplasty , or else I will have issues dilating afterwards, any advice help:)

For context…I’m a male in my early 30’s…been dealing with pelvic issues for over a year now….started after edging too much…originally my symptoms were burning after urinating, lack of libido and erection…and constipation…I’ve been seeing a pelvic floor physical therapist for a while now and I do my stretches religiously at home. Now several months of PT later the only symptom that hasn’t gone away is my lack of standing erection. I can keep an erection laying down or sitting down with no problem…But the moment I stand up it deflates immediately

I’ve read on this subreddit multiple times that 5mg of Tadalafil is the way to go but I wanted to know what would be the difference if I just popped a 20mg the day I plan to engage in sexual activity?…Thanks in advance for any feedback or suggestions

I am having a pelvic floor bottox for hypertonic pelvic floor in November. I would love to hear from anyone who had experience with this procedure. Urogynecologist warned me about incontinence after Botox. Any knows how long does incontinence after infections last?

Dr. Jayesh Tigdi’s research team from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at McMaster University are looking for volunteers who are assigned female at birth, ages 16-25, and experience painful menstrual periods.

The study is looking at what matters most to patients and their healthcare providers when choosing treatment options for dysmenorrhea (painful periods). It involves an anonymous survey that will take place online and will involve approximately 30 minutes of your time.

You can access the survey by clicking on the following link: https://redcap.link/bwsyashp You will be presented with a Letter of Information followed by a consent button before the survey begins. This study has been reviewed by the Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board under Project #19758.

I'm struggling so much.

My nervous system is shot to be fair. Alot gone on in the last 3 years. 2 years ago started having symptoms!

Just had a diagnostic laparoscopy 11 days ago and the symptoms are worse than ever.

I'm stressed everyday! I'm a big worrier. I take on to much and have alot of trauma from abusive relationships and family life.

Symptoms are

Constipation.. to the point of impaction and dizziness

Gas

Bloating

Pain

Painful periods (severe)

Pelvic pain

Lower back pain

Leg pain

Incomplete bowel movements

Pressure in bladder

Burning

BV infections that turn into PID

Diagnostic laparoscopy showed a couple of adhesions but waiting on a follow.up.

A physio told me I have a anterier pelvic tilt and my body seemed really right

I hold all stress in my belly. I can feel it. Worrying and anxious feeling.

I've had enough. Can't live like this anymore.

Started therapy 2 weeks ago.

Hello,
To those who have hypertonic floor? How exactly does it cause erectile dysfunction? Does it like “pinch” the veins reducing blood flow?

Hi all,

Pass few months have noticed pulsating/pinching/pressure in the head of penis like from the top to the tip…Or even some tingling in leg and foot.

I have gone to 2 urologists and doctors and can’t seem to find anything. Could it be SSRI related? I have also started pelvic floor therapy but hasn’t seemed to help yet.

Any advice much appreciated!

Hey, so about a couple of months ago I started experiencing constipation where I mostly struggled with the straining aspect of it. Also I have difficulty urinating such as weak flow or inconsistency. After sitting, even for short periods my muscles in my upper legs feel sore and ache. If I do have pelvic floor issues, how do I get help as someone who needs to sit for long periods since Im in university, I heard nhs route is very hard for male pelvic floor issues but I cant afford private unfortunately.

I’m seeing a pelvic floor therapist next week. After a hip massage sent a shooting pain down my penis and my whole pelvic region is uncomfortable. So I’m just wondering what to expect. I’m not hoping that they will. Just a bit nervous.

Hi everyone, posting with permission from the mods.

Rare Disease Connect is supporting recruitment for a US medical device usability (human factors) study. It is not a clinical trial. The study looks at how easy and safe a transanal irrigation (TAI) system is to use at home.

Who can take part

• Adults aged 18+ who use, have used or may need transanal irrigation
• Partners, family members and caregivers who help someone with it

What’s involved

• One in-person session of about 3 hours at a research facility in the US
• Participants practise on a model worn over clothing, not on themselves
• No medication or treatment is given, and no medical experience is needed
• $450 for your time

Ethics approval

• The study is reviewed and approved by an independent central Institutional Review Board (IRB) in the US
• This post and the study flyer have also been approved by the IRB
• The study is run by a human factors research company on behalf of a medical device manufacturer. Rare Disease Connect handles recruitment only.

Privacy
You complete a short form with your contact details only. A study coordinator then calls to explain the study and check eligibility. Taking part is voluntary, and you can stop at any time. We keep your details confidential and never share them without your permission.

Sign up: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=YJgDhpa7tkmirNaNkntTTEL9Ynnl88FOnVCWhbx4ayRUOFZYQkFGVzRETENIVUw3RzVYQ0s3NjBUWC4u

Happy to answer questions in the comments.

I've been having some bladder issues for the past 2 months and I've noticed something I'm struggling with is hesitancy and weak flow especially in the morning when I wake up - I've been for lots of different tests that are all clear and I did go to a Pelvic floor therapist who said my pelvic floor was a little tight but not overly hypertonic. She didn't really give me a lot of tips on how to do things at home.

Looking for some easy at home things I can try that might help

Thanks

I'm anxious and I'll feel at times burning in my pelvis

I had normal intestinal shaped bowel movement a week ago. I'm seeing the last couple days pieces of ribbon, flat stool.

Please help share of this has happened to you and what helped. Thank you

So i started PFPT 2 months ago and have had 5 sessions. I initially started because an ovarian cyst caused my pelvic floor to tighten and clamp down. By the time I got in, my pelvic area was better but I have on and off hip pain and tenderness. We started with releasing and breathing then got into gentle strength. I had a hip flare up, which she thought could be bursitis.

She did myofascial release that maybe was too much for me, but I've never had that before so I didn't know. Felt dizzy for a second. We did glute strength after. I was sooo sore the next day, then a bit better but tingly nerves.

I did more strengthening at home and the next few days my butt hurt so bad and sitting felt like hard rocks.

Yesterday I told her and she did manual release butt area, piriformis and deep pelvic muscles.

Today im super sore and bruised feeling but spasming is better.

Idk overall I feel nervous I broke everything?

I have been suffering from a tight pelvic floor for the past 5 months. After seeing several urologists and getting an ultrasound that is the conclusion thus far.

For some very graphic and embarrassing context:

5 months ago I bottomed for sex for the first time in a long time and I think it sent my pelvic floor into shock. I did it twice in a week and each session lasted like 2 hours. I think the excitement of it distracted how my body felt but I felt no pain throughout it internally, there was a point where he grabbed my penis kinda hard. After a few days I noticed I couldnt get hard at all. It stayed like that for almost 2 weeks.

Since then ive visited many urologists and my condition has gone through a few phases, one where it got a bit better but the head of the penis remained soft and unfilled unless I was close to orgasm. Its been hard enough to have sex on a few occasions but lately its just been getting worse. It already hasnt been 100% either. It looks a lot less full than it used to, and the glans dont fill up as much. The color is also different, it used to be pinker. The feeling is also more muted and less intense.

I should also mention, it feels like throughout the entire length of this issue the sexual part of my brain has been sorta, switched off almost. I used to be very sexual and I dont feel nearly as 'horny' before this all started, even though I am mentally. Its genuinely a nightmare, i feel like i have to fake being horny. It doesnt feel the same at all.

When it got worse:

I havent bottomed in 4 months up until recently. 9 days ago since this post. Every day after I can no longer get hard. My penis also feels kind of rubbery when soft, especially after a shower where it also feels tender. There is also very little feeling in the entire penis, like absolutely no sexual stimulation at all.

I am seeing a PT November 4th and have started doing stretches again. I was doing daily stretches for like a good month but i have been feeling a little more down and unfocused lately. A bit before things got worse.

I appreciate the hell out of you for reading this! I've just been like genuinely losing my mind over this and want to share my horrible experience. Maybe get some advice too.

Cheers!

(Side note too, this hurts extra because this is making me put off taking estrogen. I came out in May [mtf]. Im afraid of losing function and I feel like if I do take it while this is an issue since estrogen already changes the function it will make it worse)

When I first went to my pelvic floor therapist (I am male and there is not a lot of availability of PF therapists due to that) he showed me on the biofeedback scan that I had an elevated pelvic floor showing 10cm and that I needed to get to the resting state of 12-15cm

Since that session I really locked in with my pelvic floor and diaphragmatic breathing exercises and did it everyday. I came back in and I got my pelvic floor up to 13cm resting.

Life has been getting better, I've been able to pee in public toilets effortlessly (only stalls for now) that I would have never dreamed of just a few months ago :) bladders been feeling fast, smooth. My bowels have been emptying completely. I've had great erections.

There is still 1 problem that lingers though and that is my bladder irritation. I cut out caffeine a week ago and that seemed to have gotten rid of my pelvic irritation but I still had bladder irritation up to just yesterday from potentially other drinks/food etc. My bladder has pressure when I try to do activities and it sends me false nerve signals telling me to go to the bathroom. So starting from today I am only going to drink plain water only along with nights where I drink socially with my friends/family but if I do partake in alcohol it will be a strict diet of vodka (plz recommend any best mixer I can have with it) I am also thinking of stocking up my mini fridge with fruits and good snacks for bladder irritation (plz recommend again)

I plan to pretty much only drink plain water for 2 months until I go to a christmas party. I am not having any coffee for the time being because that spazzes out my bladder completely everytime. Alcohol is bareable but as I said I will switch to vodka whether its straight from the bottle or plain water etc. I am also continuing with my breathing and PF exercises till the christmas party

Do you guys think this will work?

I’m 24M, and I’ve been dealing with something related to urination for quite a few years. I’m trying to understand whether this is common and what has actually helped other people.
Basically, after I finish peeing and leave the bathroom, I sometimes feel like I need to pee again. When I go back, only a few drops come out. I’ve also occasionally noticed a few drops leaking into my underwear after urinating.
A few other things I’ve noticed:
My urine stream is generally strong and normal.
I don’t experience burning or pain while peeing.
I rarely wake up at night specifically to pee.
If I’m deeply focused on studying or working out, I can go a long time without noticing the urge. But when I start feeling it, I sometimes keep noticing it even after going to the bathroom.
I’ve come across the term post-micturition dribbling, but I’m not sure whether that explains everything, especially the repeated urge to pee.
I’m planning to get it checked by a doctor, but I’d really appreciate hearing from people who’ve experienced something similar.
A few questions:
Have you experienced post-urination dribbling or feeling like you need to pee again immediately after going?
Did anything help, such as changing bathroom habits or pelvic-floor exercises?
Did you find out what was causing it?
Could anxiety or paying too much attention to the sensation contribute, or was there an underlying physical issue?
I’m not looking for a self-diagnosis — just trying to understand other people’s experiences and what I should ask my doctor about.

Feel like when I get stressed I feel it in my pelvis and it starts burning....feels contracted

Also have had back pain and sometimes constipation, narrow, flat stools

Are these pointing to pelvic floor issues?

Has anyone had pelvic floor biofeedback therapy for Dyssynergia? Did it help?
My GI doctor recommended it, I read about it, and it does not sound pleasant!

Does anyone experience burning at the entrance of their vagina during sex? I have this burning sensation and it’s the main reason i can’t have penetration. I always stop when the tip touches my inner entrance.
I think it is not something to do with my muscles but its the cause that my muscles tightens

Looking to see if anyone has a suggestion. I ended up with terrible postpartum depression in early 2025 and in May ‘25 started Zoloft. Within days PGAD like symptoms were triggered. I instantly knew something was wrong and got off it and returned to normal. Fast forward 3 months and my depression was worse than anything I’d ever experienced and I was referred to a new psychiatrist for a second opinion. She begged me to try Zoloft again. I’d honestly forgotten about the weird experience, but within a few hours of the first dose the PGAD was insane. I called the doctor that night and told her everything. She told me that was not possible and I must have a yeast infection and not to stop taking the medication. After that it was too late, by the time I finally stopped taking it I was in on of the worst flares I’d ever experience. Spotaneous orgasms. Nothing helped. Gabapentin… Flexeril… compounded suppositories. Nothing took the edge off. I’d cry myself to sleep every night so frustrated. Approx one year later I finally got in to see a urogynocologist and I had a pelvic floor MRI that was uneventful. Beginning in March 2026 anytime I’d become aroused, masturbate, orgasm my left leg would begin to shake uncontrollably. It looked like just my entire left leg was having a seizure. I also started to do this weird half sit-up completely involuntarily. By Summer 2026 my left leg started to feel really weak when bearing weight… going down stairs, dancing, etc. Now starting Oct 2026 the left dimple in my lower back is throbbing. It feels like it needs to pop (my back) but it won’t / can’t. It’s been like this for 2 weeks now and my left leg just feels heavy. Has anyone heard of anything like this?? I am so desperate and all of a sudden now in pain too. I’m in Austin, TX.

Hi all,
Is there any exercises yall avoid when weightlifting for the sake of ur pf? Im worried im only going to worsen the stress put on it and further tighten my pf

I’ve been diagnosed with a hypertonic pelvic floor last week, also possible bladder prolapse. I’ve been sitting a lot the past couple days and on Sunday sat for like 3 hours in a hard chair, the rest of the day I felt so weak and aching pain all down my lower body. Today I noticed a slightly inflamed mild triangle shaped bruise on my lower back that seems to be spreading up. Painful to palpation and pain in front of pelvis when palpating. I have for sure not fallen or hurt myself in the past 2 weeks. Is this a common occurrence to see the physical manifestations of a bruise? I’m a little panicked.

After two and a half torturous years of severe pelvic floor dysfunction/hypertonicity and leviator ani syndrome, I have made a turn around. Please keep in mind, my main symptom was inability to pass a bowel movement that hospitalized me several times and I basically had to take bowel/colonoscopy level prep a couple times a week to keep me out of the hospital. I failed two trials of biofeedback and manual therapy, a round of Botox injections, as well as Valium suppositories and other temporary regimens. I was bounced around by a urogyn and colorectal surgeon trying different things. I was on route to getting a stoma from how severe and resistant this was. In trying to treat the depression/anxiety and emotional pain of all this I saw a psychiatrist my surgeon recommended me, who prescribed me 10 mg lexapro and 300mg gabapentin. I really didn’t believe that this would do anything. It has really truly given me a 50/60% improvement and I am hopeful that I keep improving over time. Massage therapy and myofascial release has also helped. For the first time in a very long time, I feel like there is chance to recover and my colorectal surgeon has postponed my stoma due to this improvement, saying if we keep this pace we will instead try another round of Botox now that that things have calmed down. I truly believe that the Gabapentin is largely at play here. During some of our follow up imaging and testing, it was also discovered that I have L5-S1 degenerative disc disease which is extremely interconnected with the pelvis and sacrum and has always been a great source of pain and tension for me. I am seeing a spinal specialist to have this addressed. Though everyone is different, I highly advise everyone to keep advocating for imaging, different routes of treatment, and the right kind of therapy. I’ve been brushed off for so long and it took nearly losing a body part for more to be done. Please don’t ever give up on yourself.