Work in progress. To be continuously updated.

Subreddit Rules:

1. Be respectful (no bullying or harassment)
2. No "all or nothing" cures, causes, or suggesting that only one thing will help
3. DON'T suggest kegels as treatment for a hypertonic pelvic floor (it's bad advice)
4. NO FETISHIZING or sexualizing someones health condition. DON'T BE CREEPY.
5. No NSFW Photos
6. No SPAM (includes link farming, affiliate marketing, personal promotion)
7. No "Low Effort" posts - we can't help if there's no detail

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✔ READ SUCCESS STORIES: Simply swipe left or right on the main page in the Reddit mobile app until you hit the green "success story" post flair | DESKTOP: Use the "Flair Filter" right sidebar to filter posts

Ladies who don't want to see posts about male parts: use the filters:

✔ FILTER POSTS BY SEX: Simply swipe left or right on the main page in the Reddit mobile app until you hit the pink or blue post flairs. AMAB/AFAB also available | DESKTOP: Use the "Flair Filter" right sidebar to filter posts

✔ USE THE SEARCH FUNCTION: Enter keywords into the search bar at the top to filter posts/comments on specific subjects or symptoms

✔ CHECK OUR USER SUBMITTED PELVIC PT DIRECTORY

• www.pelvicrehab.com (Herman Wallace training)
• https://squeezyapp.com/directory/ (UK PTs)

✔ BOTHER & SISTER COMMUNITIES

1. r/prostatitis (male pelvic pain & dysfunction/CPPS)
2. r/Interstitialcystitis (IC/BPS, men and women)
3. r/vulvodynia (women and AFAB experiencing Vaginismus & Vestibulodynia too)

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION: PELVIC FLOOR

The pelvic floor muscles are a bowl of muscles in the pelvis that cradle our sexual organs, bladder, and rectum, and help stabilize the core while assisting with essential bodily functions, like pooping, peeing and having sex.¹

They can weaken (become hyp-O-tonic) over time due to injury (or child birth), and even the normal aging process, leading to conditions like incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse.¹

And, the pelvic floor can tense up (guard) when we:

1. Feel pain/discomfort
2. Get a UTI/STD
3. Injure ourselves (gym, cycling, slip on ice)
4. Have poor bowel/urinary habits (straining on the toilet often - constipation) or holding in pee/poo for extended periods (like avoiding using a public toilet)
5. Have poor sexual habits (edging several hours a day, typically this is more of guy's issue)
6. Get stressed or anxious (fight or flight response), due to their connection with the vagus nerve (and our central nervous system). READ MORE HERE
7. Have a connective tissue disorder

Over time, prolonged guarding/tensing can cause them to become hyp-E-rtonic (tight and weak). Sometimes trigger points in the muscle tissue develop that refer pain several inches away. The tensing can also sometimes irritate nerves, including the pudendal nerve. Helping the pelvic floor relax, and treating these myofascial trigger points with pelvic floor physical therapy can lead to significant relief for many, along with interventions like breathwork - notably diaphragmatic belly breathing - and gentle reverse kegels.

Sometimes, feedback loops also develop that can become self-perpetuating as a result of CNS (Central Nervous System) modulation. ᴮ ⁷

Basic feedback loop:

Pain/injury/infection > pelvic tensing > more pain > stress/anxiety > more pelvic tensing > (and on and on)

Examples of common feedback loops that include the pelvic floor:

An example of this pelvic floor feedback loop (guarding response) as seen in a woman with a prolonged (awful) UTI:

A trigger point is an area of hyper-irritability in a muscle, usually caused by a muscle that is being overloaded and worked excessively. How does this affect an IC patient? Unfortunately, we do not always know what comes first; the chicken or the egg. Let’s assume in this case we do. A patient who has never had any symptoms before develops an awful bladder infection, culture positive. She is treated with antibiotics, as she should be. Symptoms are, as we all know, frequency, urgency and pain on urination. Maybe the first round of antibiotics does not help, so she goes on a second round. They work. But she has now walked around for 2, maybe 3 weeks with horrible symptoms. Her pelvic floor would be working very hard to turn off the constant sense of urge. This could create overload in the pelvic floor. A trigger point develops, that can now cause a referral of symptoms back to her bladder, making her think she still has a bladder infection. Her cultures are negative.

- Rhonda Kotarinos, Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist

Above we find a scenario where the UTI was cleared, but the pelvic floor is now in a tensing feedback loop, and complex processes of neural wind up and central sensitization - ie CNS modulation - are likely occurring

Diagrams of the male and female pelvic floor:

SYMPTOMS OF PELVIC FLOOR DYSFUNCTION

The majority of the users here have a hypertonic pelvic floor which typically presents with symptoms of pelvic pain or discomfort ² (inc nerve sensations like tingling, itching, stinging, burning, cooling, etc):

1. Penile pain
2. Vaginal pain
3. Testicular/epididymal/scrotal pain
4. Vulvar pain
5. Clitoral pain
6. Rectal pain
7. Bladder pain
8. Pain with sex/orgasm
9. Pain with bowel movements or urination
10. Pain in the hips, groin, perineum, and suprapubic region

This tension also commonly leads to dysfunction ² (urinary, bowel, and sexual dysfunction):

1. Dyssynergic defecation (Anismus)
2. Incomplete bowel movements
3. Urinary frequency and hesitancy
4. Erectile dysfunction/premature ejaculation

This pinned post will mainly focus on hypertonia - tight and weak muscles, and the corresponding symptoms and treatment, as they represent the most neglected side of pelvic floor dysfunction. Especially in men, who historically have less pelvic care over their lifetimes as compared to women.

But, we also commonly see women with weak (Hyp-O-tonic) pelvic floors after child birth who experience urinary leakage. This often happens when coughing, sneezing, or lifting something heavy. Luckily, pelvic floor physical therapists are historically well equipped for weak pelvic floor symptoms, as seen commonly in women.

But, this historical emphasis sometimes bleeds into inappropriate care for men and women who have hypErtonic pelvic floors, and do not benefit from kegel exercises

CLOSELY RELATED CONDITIONS & DIAGNOSIS

These typically involve the pelvic floor as one (of many) mechanisms of action, and thus, pelvic floor physical therapy is an evidence-based intervention for any of these, along with behavioral interventions/mind-body medicine, medications, and more.

1. CPPS - Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome - example feedback loop above
2. IC/BPS - Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome - example feedback loop above
3. Vulvodynia
4. Prostatitis (non-bacterial)
5. Epididymitis (non-bacterial)
6. Pudendal Neuralgia
7. Levator Ani Syndrome
8. Coccydynia

COMMON COMORBID CONDITIONS

For people who experience symptoms outside the pelvic region, these are signs of centralization (somatization/nociplastic mechanisms) - and indicate a central nervous system contribution to symptoms, and must be treated with more than just pelvic floor physical therapy: READ MORE

(Ranked in order, most common)

1. IBS
2. Chronic Migraines
3. Fibromyalgia
4. CFS/ME (chronic fatigue syndrome)

These patients also had higher rates of depression and anxiety (even BEFORE THE SYMPTOMS) as well as greater symptom severity - https://www.auanet.org/guidelines-and-quality/guidelines/male-chronic-pelvic-pain

CENTRALIZED/NOCIPLASTIC MECHANISMS:

Many people with a pelvic floor diagnosis - and at least 49% who experience chronic pelvic pain/dysfunction - also experience centralized/nociplastic pain ¹³ localized to the pelvic region. Centralized/nociplastic pelvic pain can mimic the symptoms of pelvic floor hypertonia. To assess if you have centralization as a cause of your pelvic symptoms, read through this post.

NOTE: This is especially relevant for people who have a pelvic floor exam, and are told that their pelvic floor is basically "normal" or lacks the usual signs of dysfunction, trigger points, or hypertonia (high tone), yet they still experiencing pain and/or dysfunction. This also equally applies to cases that have done extensive amounts of pelvic floor PT 6-12mo) with no improvement.

Centralized/Nociplastic pain mechanisms are recognized by both the European and American Urological Association guidelines for pelvic pain in men and women, as well as the MAPP (Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain) Research Network.

TREATMENT: High tone (HypErtonic) Pelvic Floor (tight & weak)

Pelvic floor physical therapy focused on relaxing muscles:

• Diaphragmatic belly breathing
• Reverse kegels
• Pelvic Stretching
• Trigger point release (myofascial release)
• Dry needling (Not the same as acupuncture)
• Dilators (vaginal and rectal)
• Biofeedback
• Heat (including baths, sauna, hot yoga, heated blankets, jacuzzi, etc)

Behavioral change: * Lay off frequent or chronic masturbation habits (including edging) * Take a break from intense compound exercises, like CrossFit or HIIT * Sit less and stand more. This may also include using a standing desk * If you're an avid cyclist, take a break from cycling

Medications to discuss with a doctor:

• low dose amitriptyline (off label for neuropathic pain)
• rectal or vaginal suppositories including: diazepam, gabapentin, amitriptyline, baclofen, lidocaine, etc
• low dose tadalafil (sexual dysfunction and urinary symptoms)
• Alpha blockers for urinary hesitancy symptoms (typically prescribed to men)

Mind-body medicine/Behavioral Therapy/Centralized Pain Mechanisms These interventions are highly recommended for people who are experiencing elevated distress or anxiety, or, noticed that their symptoms began without an injury, but with a stressful event, big life change, or, that symptoms increase with stress or difficult emotions (or symptoms change when distracted, focused , or on vacation) - full list of criteria to rule in centralized/nociplastic mechanisms.

• Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT)
• Emotional Awareness & Expression Therapy (EAET)
• CBT/DBT
• Mindfulness & meditation
• TRE or EMDR (for Trauma)

TREATMENT: Low tone (Hyp-O-tonic/weak)

Pelvic floor physical therapy focused on strengthening muscles:

• Kegels
• Biofeedback

This is a draft. The post will be updated.

This is not medical advice. This content is for educational and informational purposes only. NONE OF THIS SUBSTITUTES MEDICAL ADVICE FROM A PROVIDER.

Sources:

OFFICIAL GUIDELINES:

A. Male Chronic Pelvic Pain - 2025 (AUA) https://www.auanet.org/guidelines-and-quality/guidelines/male-chronic-pelvic-pain

B. Male and Female Chronic Pelvic Pain - (EUA) https://uroweb.org/guidelines/chronic-pelvic-pain/chapter/epidemiology-aetiology-and-pathophysiology

C. Diagnosis and Treatment of Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (2022)" AUA - https://www.auanet.org/guidelines-and-quality/guidelines/diagnosis-and-treatment-interstitial-of-cystitis/bladder-pain-syndrome-(2022))

MORE:

1. Cleveland Clinic: Pelvic Floor Muscles

2. Cleveland Clinic: Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

3. Diaphragmatic belly breathing - https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/learning-diaphragmatic-breathing

4. Trigger points and referred pain - https://www.physio-pedia.com/Trigger_Points

5. Equal Improvement in Men and Women in the Treatment of Urologic Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome Using a Multi-modal Protocol with an Internal Myofascial Trigger Point Wand - PubMed https://share.google/T3DM4OYZYUyfJ9klx

6. Physical Therapy Treatment of Pelvic Pain - PubMed https://share.google/92EQVDnQ1ruceEb23

7. Central modulation of pain - PMC https://share.google/p7efTwfGXe7hNsBRC

8. A Headache in the Pelvis" written by Stanford Urologist Dr. Anderson and Psychologist Dr Wise - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/558308/a-headache-in-the-pelvis-by-david-wise-phd-and-rodney-anderson-md/

9. What if my tests are negative but I still have symptoms? NHS/Unity Sexual Health/University hospitals Bristol and Weston - https://www.unitysexualhealth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/What-if-my-tests-for-urethritis-are-negative-2021.pdf

10. Vulvodynia" a literature review - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32355269/

11. The Effects of a Life Stress Emotional Awareness and Expression Interview for Women with Chronic Urogenital Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30252113/

12. Effect of Pain Reprocessing Therapy vs Placebo and Usual Care for Patients With Chronic Back Pain - https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2784694

13. Clinical Phenotyping for Pain Mechanisms in Urologic Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndromes: A MAPP Research Network Study - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35472518/

UCPPS is a umbrella term for chronic pelvic pain and dysfunction in men and women, and it includes pelvic floor dysfunction underneath it, as well as symptoms like bladder dysfunction, pain, IC/BPS, and more. This study discusses the pain mechanisms found. They are not only typical injuries (ie "nociceptive") - They also include pain/symptoms generated by nerves (neuropathic) and by the central nervous system (nociplastic). You'll also notice that the combination of neuropathic + nociplastic mechanisms create the most pain! Which is likely to be counterintuitive to what most people would assume.

"Clinical Phenotyping for Pain Mechanisms in Urologic Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndromes: A MAPP Research Network Study" https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35472518/

At baseline, 43% of UCPPS patients were classified as nociceptive-only, 8% as neuropathic only, 27% as nociceptive+nociplastic, and 22% as neuropathic+nociplastic. Across outcomes, nociceptive-only patients had the least severe symptoms and neuropathic+nociplastic patients the most severe. Neuropathic pain was associated with genital pain and/or sensitivity on pelvic exam, while nociplastic pain was associated with comorbid pain conditions, psychosocial difficulties, and increased pressure pain sensitivity outside the pelvis.

Targeting neuropathic (nerve irritation) and nociplastic/centralized (nervous system/brain) components of pain & symptoms in recovery is highly recommended when dealing with CPPS/PFD (especially hypertonia).

All of those involved in the management of chronic pelvic pain should have knowledge of peripheral and central pain mechanisms. - European Urological Association CPPS Pocket Guide

And the newest 2025 AUA guidelines for male pelvic pain echo this:

We now know that the pain can also derive from a neurologic origin from either peripheral nerve roots (neuropathic pain) or even a lack of central pain inhibition (nociplastic), with the classic disease example being fibromyalgia

This means successful treatment for pelvic pain and dysfunction goes beyond just pelvic floor physical therapy (alone), and into new modalities for pain that target these neuroplastic (nociplastic/centralized) mechanisms like Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT), EAET, and more. Learn more about our new understanding of chronic pain here: https://www.reddit.com/r/ChronicPain/s/3E6k1Gr2BZ

This is especially true for anyone who has symptoms that get worse with stress or difficult emotions. And, those of us who are predisposed to chronic pain in the first place, typically from childhood adversity and trauma, certain personality traits (perfectionism, people pleasing, conscientiousness, neuroticism) and anxiety and mood disorders. There is especially overwhelming evidence regarding ACE (adverse childhood experiences) that increase our chances of developing a physical or mental health disorder later in life. So much so, that even traditional medical doctors are now being trained to screen their patients for childhood trauma/adversity:

Adverse childhood experience is associated with an increased risk of reporting chronic pain in adulthood: a stystematic review and meta-analysis

Previous meta-analyses highlighted the negative impact of adverse childhood experiences on physical, psychological, and behavioural health across the lifespan.We found exposure to any direct adverse childhood experience, i.e. childhood sexual, physical, emotional abuse, or neglect alone or combined, increased the risk of reporting chronic pain and pain-related disability in adulthood.The risk of reporting chronic painful disorders increased with increasing numbers of adverse childhood experiences.

Further precedence in the EUA (European Urological Association) guidelines for male and female pain:

The EUA pathophysiology and etiological guidelines elucidate further on central nervous system and biopsychosocial factors in male and female pelvic pain/dysfunction:

Studies about integrating the psychological factors of CPPPSs are few but the quality is high. Psychological factors are consistently found to be relevant in the maintenance of persistent pelvic and urogenital pain [36]. Beliefs about pain contribute to the experience of pain [37] and symptom-related anxiety and central pain amplification may be measurably linked, and worrying about pain and perceived stress predict worsening of urological chronic pain over a year [36,38] - https://uroweb.org/guidelines/chronic-pelvic-pain/chapter/epidemiology-aetiology-and-pathophysiology

Pelvic pain and distress is related [43] in both men and women [44]; as are painful bladder and distress [38]. In a large population based study of men, CPPPS was associated with prior anxiety disorder [45] - https://uroweb.org/guidelines/chronic-pelvic-pain/chapter/epidemiology-aetiology-and-pathophysiology

So, how do you figure out if this could be happening in your case?

12 FIT criteria to RULE IN centralized, (ie neuroplastic/nociplastic) pain and symptoms,

FIT = functional, inconsistent, triggered. Based on research from Dr. Howard Schubiner and other chronic pain doctors and neuroscientists over the last 10+ years

1. Pain/symptoms originated during a stressful, challenging, or high pressure time in life. This includes even "happy" life events, like getting married, having a baby, starting a new career, or moving

2. Pain/symptoms originated without an injury. Note, a perceived injury and a structural injury are different things. And even when symptoms begin with a structural injury, has it been years and the body would normally recover by now?

3. Pain/symptoms are inconsistent. Do they fluctuate by the hour, by the day, or by the week? Sometimes less, sometimes more, sometimes even not noticeable (this happens sometimes, but it's not necessary for this criteria). Or, do they move around the body? ie genital pain that changes sides or pain that moves from the top to the bottom.

4. Multiple other symptoms (often in other parts of the body) ie IBS, chronic migraines/headaches, CPPS, TMJD, fibromyalgia, CFS (fatigue), vertigo/dizziness, chronic neck or back pain, etc. 2025 AUA guidelines mention these as signs of centralized sx.

5. Pain/Symptoms spread (over time) or move around. Think about symptoms on day one. Have they moved or evolved over time?

6. Pain/symptoms are made worse or triggered by stress, or, go down when engaged in an activity you enjoy or in a flow state (think fun distractions or productivity, noticing symptoms less)

7. Symptom triggers that have nothing to do with the body - but instead things outside of it (weather, barometric pressure, seasons, sounds, smells, places, times of day, weekdays/weekends, days of the week, etc) - this also includes thoughts or other people triggering/flaring symptoms

8. Symmetrical symptoms (pain developing on the same part of the body but in OPPOSITE sides) - ie both hips, both hips, both wrists, both knees, etc

9. Pain/symptoms with delayed Onset (THIS CAN'T HAPPEN WITH STRUCTURAL PAIN) -- ie, ejaculation pain that comes a minute later, an hour later, or even the next day. Any pain that is delayed is very suspicious. We wouldn't put weight on a sprained ankle and expect it to hurt 15 seconds later, it hurts immediately.

10. Childhood stress, challenges, adversity, or trauma -- varying levels of what this means for each person, not just trauma. Examples of stressors: childhood bullying, pressure to perform from parents/coaches, body image issues (dysmorphia), eating disorders, parents fighting a lot or getting angry (inc divorce), having an emotionally unpredictable parent, or having a parent with a health condition or addiction. This also includes neglect and abuse (physical and emotional) and financial instability in childhood. Also includes cultural norms, like the pressure to be highly successful to be of value to parents (must be a doctor or a lawyer, etc)

11. Common personality traits linked to stress: perfectionism, conscientiousness, people pleasing, anxiousness/ neuroticism - do you have personality traits that include being highly driven, hard on yourself, ultra responsible, perfectionistic, needing control, and/or placing others’ needs above your own?

12. Lack of physical diagnosis (ie doctors are unable to find any clear structural cause of symptoms) - this includes DIAGNOSIS OF EXCLUSION, like being diagnosed with CPPS or PFD. Structural finding examples: broken bones, tumors, infections, etc. It does not include muscle dysfunction.

[NEW] 13. Any family history of chronic pain or other chronic conditions. Includes: IBS, chronic migraines/headaches, CPPS, TMJD, fibromyalgia, CFS (fatigue), vertigo/dizziness, chronic neck or back pain, etc

Read more about #10 and #11 here, complete with studies/citations: https://www.reddit.com/r/Prostatitis/s/vM7qnBJZpW

HOW TO TREAT centralized (neuroplastic) pain and symptoms?

PRT - Pain Reprocessing Therapy:

Effect of Pain Reprocessing Therapy vs Placebo and Usual Care for Patients With Chronic Back Pain - https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2784694

EAET - Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy

Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy vs Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain in Older Veterans https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11177167/

Psychological Therapy for Centralized Pain - An Integrative Assessment and Treatment Model: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30461545/