Bladder Pain Syndrome (BPS)/Interstitial Cystitis (IC)

Feeling beholden to your bladder? Stuck on the toilet for hours at a time? Pain before or during urination? An almost constant ache above the pubic bone? Never able to get completely emptied? Feeling like you have a UTI but tests are always negative? You may be experiencing bladder pain syndrome (BPS), sometimes called […]

Hard-Flaccid Syndrome: Getting to the root of the problem

Hard-flaccid syndrome is a frustrating and real condition, yet it is not always recognized by medical professionals. A recent review of the current literature on hard-flaccid syndrome was released in 2020 in the journal Basic and Clinical Andrology and gives us some insight into the common symptoms, causes, and treatments available. More research is needed, […]

Penis Pain & Pelvic PT

The penis is a pretty amazing part of the body. It has some important jobs: an out-post for urine (check), a delivery system for semen and potential future children (check-check), and a pleasure center for partner and solo intimacy (check, check, check!). Keeping the penis in healthy working condition is a high priority for lots […]

Endometriosis Basics & Pelvic PT

Endometriosis Basics What it is: Endometriosis occurs when endometrium-like tissue is found outside of the uterus. This may include areas of the pelvis- near/ around/ attached to the bowel and bladder, ligaments, and elsewhere in the peritoneum. Endometriosis may even be found in more outlying areas of the upper abdominal cavity. Why it matters: Endometriosis […]

Testicular Pain and PT: Great balls of fire?

Many of our patients report pain in one or both testicles, the scrotum and perineum as their primary symptom or part of their pain. Intensity may vary from annoying and uncomfortable to constant and/ or severe pain that limits work, social and sexual activity. Chronic testicular pain (CTP) affects at least 100,000 men/ year (1), […]

Hip pain & the pelvic floor connection

What is that deep, hard to reach pain in my pelvis? It might be coming from your hip. Hip pain and pelvic floor connection: Did you know that your pelvic floor muscles are directly attached you your hip muscles? That’s right, the hip bone is connected to the pelvic bone and the pelvic floor muscles […]

Desire: Finding your mojo when sex hurts

It is not uncommon to experience a lack of desire for intimacy when you are struggling with pelvic pain. In fact, over 40 million women in the United States experience sexual dysfunction during their lifetime.1 We often hear from our patients that when they are experiencing painful intimacy, their desire remains decreased even after […]

Hitting the wall: Overcoming vaginismus

Tips for getting to the next level Vaginismus is commonly treated with gentle and progressive stretches of the pelvic floor muscles using a dilator set. The goal is to reduce the protective response by the brain associated with vaginal penetration for painful gyn exam, use of tampons and/or intimacy. Regardless of which dilator set you […]

Coccydynia: Getting to the bottom of tailbone pain

So you have a pain in the butt…Now what? A North Carolina snow event doesn’t happen very often! If you’re like us, winter weather is too good to resist and you’ve been out sledding, playing in the snow (or running- you know who you are!) and making the most of the season. The downside of […]

Prostatitis: The low down on the down under

Prostatitis is a painful condition leading men to seek treatment for pelvic pain affecting daily activities, exercise and sexual function. There are different classes of prostatitis, and while some respond to medical treatment, including antibiotics, non-bacterial chronic prostatitis does not. Our patients often report taking multiple rounds of antibiotics despite negative cultures for infection and […]