Pelvic Pain

Pelvic pain can affect every part of daily life — including exercise, intimacy, sitting, walking, sleep, bladder function, bowel movements, and emotional well-being.

At our pelvic floor physiotherapy clinic serving Calgary and Okotoks, we provide evidence-informed pelvic pain physiotherapy designed to help reduce symptoms, improve function, and restore confidence in movement and daily activities.

Whether your symptoms are new, longstanding, intermittent, or difficult to explain, pelvic floor physiotherapy may help identify contributing factors and support recovery.

What Is Pelvic Pain?

Pelvic pain refers to pain, discomfort, pressure, tightness, burning, heaviness, or tension experienced in the pelvic region.

Pelvic pain may involve:

• Pelvic floor muscles

• Bladder

• Vulva/vagina

• Rectum

• Tailbone

• Hips

• Low back

• Abdomen

• Nervous system

• Connective tissues and fascia

Pelvic pain can occur in all genders and may be associated with musculoskeletal, hormonal, neurological, bladder, bowel, or pelvic floor dysfunction.

Common Pelvic Pain Symptoms We Treat

Pain with Intercourse (Dyspareunia)

Pain during intimacy is common but not normal.

Symptoms may include:

• Pain with initial penetration

• Deep pelvic pain

• Burning pain

• Vaginal tightness

• Pain after intercourse

• Muscle guarding or tension

Pelvic floor physiotherapy may help improve pelvic floor relaxation, mobility, tissue sensitivity, and coordination.

Vaginismus

Vaginismus involves involuntary tightening or guarding of the pelvic floor muscles that may make penetration painful or difficult.

Treatment may include:

• Pelvic floor downtraining

• Breathing retraining

• Nervous system regulation

• Pelvic floor relaxation strategies

• Vaginal dilator education

• Gradual desensitization techniques

Vulvodynia & Vestibulodynia

Symptoms may include:

• Burning

• Rawness

• Irritation

• Pain with touch

• Pain with sitting

• Pain during intercourse

• Sensitivity at the vaginal opening

Pelvic floor physiotherapy can help address muscular tension, pressure management, tissue sensitivity, and contributing movement patterns.

Chronic Pelvic Pain

Chronic pelvic pain may involve:

• Pelvic aching

• Pressure

• Tightness

• Lower abdominal pain

• Tailbone pain

• Hip pain

• Low back pain

Pain may fluctuate with:

• Stress

• Activity

• Sitting

• Walking

• Bladder or bowel function

• Menstrual cycle changes

Pelvic floor physiotherapy focuses on improving movement, reducing muscle overactivity, improving pressure management, and calming the nervous system.

Pelvic Floor Muscle Tension & Overactivity

Some pelvic pain symptoms are related to pelvic floor muscles that are unable to fully relax.

Symptoms may include:

• Pelvic tightness

• Difficulty emptying bladder

• Constipation

• Urinary urgency/frequency

• Pain with intercourse

• Tailbone pain

• Feeling of tension in the pelvis

Treatment often focuses on:

• Relaxation/downtraining

• Breathing mechanics

• Mobility work

• Nervous system regulation

• Pressure management

Endometriosis & Pelvic Pain

Pelvic floor physiotherapy may help individuals with endometriosis manage:

• Pelvic muscle guarding

• Abdominal tension

• Pain with intercourse

• Hip/back pain

• Movement limitations

• Pressure management dysfunction

While physiotherapy does not treat endometriosis itself, it may help reduce musculoskeletal contributors to pain and improve function.

Bladder Pain & Urinary Symptoms

Pelvic pain may also be associated with:

• Urinary urgency

• Frequency

• Painful bladder symptoms

• Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome

• Difficulty emptying bladder

Treatment may include bladder retraining strategies, pelvic floor relaxation, breathing retraining, and pressure management education.

Bowel Symptoms & Pelvic Pain

Pelvic floor dysfunction can contribute to:

• Constipation

• Painful bowel movements

• Straining

• Incomplete emptying

• Rectal pressure

Pelvic floor physiotherapy may help improve bowel mechanics and pelvic floor coordination.

What Causes Pelvic Pain?

Pelvic pain is often multifactorial.

Contributing factors may include:

• Pelvic floor muscle tension

• Pregnancy or childbirth

• Cesarean delivery

• Scar tissue

• Chronic stress

• Nervous system sensitization

• Hormonal changes

• Surgery

• Injury or trauma

• Pressure management dysfunction

• Hypermobility

• Persistent coughing

• Chronic constipation

• Hip or low back dysfunction

Many people experience pelvic pain without a single clear structural cause.

What Happens During a Pelvic Pain Physiotherapy Assessment?

Your assessment is individualized and may include:

• Detailed health and symptom history

• Bladder and bowel review

• Breathing assessment

• Posture and movement assessment

• Hip, low back, and abdominal assessment

• Pelvic floor assessment (optional and consent-based)

Internal pelvic floor examination is always optional and only performed with informed consent.

Is Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy Painful?

Treatment should not feel aggressive or overwhelming.

Pelvic floor physiotherapy for pelvic pain is typically gentle and may include:

• Education

• Breathing retraining

• Relaxation techniques

• Mobility exercises

• Gentle manual therapy

• Nervous system regulation strategies

• Gradual movement retraining

Your comfort and consent remain central throughout treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can pelvic floor physiotherapy help pain with intercourse?

Yes. Pelvic floor physiotherapy commonly helps address muscular tension, guarding, tissue sensitivity, and coordination issues contributing to painful intercourse.

Do I need an internal pelvic exam?

No. Internal assessment is optional and based entirely on your comfort and consent.

Can stress contribute to pelvic pain?

Yes. Stress, anxiety, and nervous system tension can influence breathing, muscle tension, pain sensitivity, and pelvic floor overactivity.

How long does pelvic pain physiotherapy take?

Recovery timelines vary depending on symptom duration, contributing factors, nervous system involvement, and consistency with treatment and home exercises.

Can pelvic floor physiotherapy help chronic pelvic pain?

Yes. Many individuals with longstanding pelvic pain benefit from improving pelvic floor function, movement patterns, pressure management, and nervous system regulation.

Treatment May Include

Your treatment plan may include:

• Pelvic floor relaxation/downtraining

• Diaphragmatic breathing

• Core coordination training

• Pressure management strategies

• Bladder retraining

• Bowel management education

• Scar mobility work

• Hip and pelvic mobility exercises

• Nervous system regulation strategies

• Gradual strengthening and functional retraining

• Vaginal dilator education (when appropriate)

Pelvic Pain Physiotherapy in Calgary & Okotoks

We provide pelvic floor physiotherapy for pelvic pain in:

• Calgary

• Okotoks

• South Calgary

• Southwest Calgary

• Southeast Calgary

• Foothills region

We support individuals experiencing pelvic pain with compassionate, individualized, evidence-informed care.

Book a Pelvic Pain Physiotherapy Assessment

If you are experiencing pelvic pain, painful intercourse, pelvic tension, bladder symptoms, or pelvic floor dysfunction, pelvic floor physiotherapy may help.

Book your pelvic floor physiotherapy assessment in Calgary or Okotoks today to begin addressing pelvic pain and restoring confidence in movement, function, and daily life.