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Pelvic health for women
Pelvic pain treatment in Shirley, MA
The short answer
Pelvic pain often comes from muscles in and around the pelvis that are tight, tender or not working well together, sometimes along with bladder, bowel or hormone related conditions. It can follow childbirth, surgery, a fall, or years of guarding and stress. Pelvic floor physical therapy helps many women sit, move, go to the bathroom and enjoy intimacy with much less pain.
On this page
What usually causes pelvic pain
Pelvic pain can be hard to talk about and hard to explain, and many women have been told everything looks normal. Very often the muscles and nerves are a big part of the story.
- A tight or overactive pelvic floor
- Muscles that are always clenched can cause aching, pressure, pain with sitting, and pain with intimacy or exams.
- Bladder pain and urgency
- Conditions like interstitial cystitis, also called painful bladder syndrome, often come with tight pelvic floor muscles that add to the pain, urgency and frequency.
- Endometriosis and painful periods
- These can leave the muscles around the pelvis guarded and sore. Therapy can help alongside the care from your doctor.
- After childbirth or surgery
- Scar tissue, tearing or a c-section can leave areas tight and sensitive long after healing.
- Tailbone, hip and low back problems
- Pain in the pelvis can come from nearby joints and muscles, so we check the whole area.
When to get it checked
Get checked if pelvic pain has lasted more than a few weeks, keeps coming back, or makes sitting, exercise, bathroom visits, tampons, exams or intimacy painful. It is also a good idea to see your doctor or gynecologist so other causes can be ruled out. Go to the emergency room right away if you have sudden, severe pelvic or belly pain, pain with fever or vomiting, heavy or unusual bleeding, fainting, or pelvic pain when you are or might be pregnant.
What you can do at home right now
These are safe starting points for most people. They are not a replacement for a proper evaluation.
- Belly breathing
- Slow breaths that let your belly and ribs expand help the pelvic floor relax and let go.
- Take the pressure off
- Try a cushion when sitting, get up often, and do not hover over the toilet. Sitting fully lets the muscles relax.
- Gentle heat and movement
- A warm bath or heating pad and easy stretches for the hips and inner thighs can take the edge off.
How we treat pelvic pain at Whole Health Solutions
Your pelvic health therapist is with you for the whole appointment, start to finish, in a private room. We start by listening, you are always in control of what happens, and nothing is done without your okay. Then we build a plan around your body and your goals.
01
Relieve
Gentle hands on care, breathing and relaxation work, and changes to daily habits that help the muscles and nerves calm down.
02
Rebuild
Teaching the pelvic floor to relax and work normally again, plus strength for the core, hips and back.
03
Perform
Back to sitting through a workday, exercise, intimacy and everyday life with confidence, and a plan to manage flare ups on your own.
04
Thrive
Stay strong through every season of life, from pregnancy to menopause and beyond, with a team that already knows your story.
Thrive is not a finish line. When life brings something new, the loop starts again with the same team.
Common exercises for pelvic pain
These are a few of the exercises our team often uses for pelvic pain. Tap one to watch.
Please read first. These are not right for everyone. If a move brings on sharp pain, numbness or tingling, stop and talk to one of our pelvic health therapists before you keep going.
Learn from our team
Short, free videos from our clinicians on questions we hear about pelvic pain all the time.
Read more from our team
Blog posts and newsletter tips from our clinicians that go with pelvic pain.
- BlogThe Symptoms Women Are Told to Accept After Kids (And Which Ones Are Actually Fixable)Sep 15, 2026
- BlogThe Complete Guide to Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy in Shirley MA: What It Helps and What to ExpectOct 29, 2025
- BlogWhat Is Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy, and Why Every Woman Should Know About ItMay 2, 2025
★★★★★
"If you are struggling with chronic pelvic pain, urgency and frequency or IC, please do not lose hope, go see her immediately."
Talk to a pelvic health therapist
A free call to tell us what is going on and see if we are the right fit.
Common questions about pelvic pain
Can pelvic floor therapy help with pain during intimacy?
Yes. Pain with intimacy is very often linked to tight or sensitive pelvic floor muscles, and pelvic floor therapy helps many women feel comfortable again. Care always goes at your pace.
Do I have to have an internal exam?
No. An internal exam can give helpful information, but it only happens if you consent to it. We can learn a lot and do a lot of treatment without one.
Can physical therapy help interstitial cystitis or endometriosis pain?
It can help a lot with the muscle and nerve side of the pain. We work alongside your doctor, not in place of them.
Do I need a referral for pelvic pain?
No. You can book directly with us. Most of our clients do use their insurance for reimbursement of our physical therapy services. We go over everything in the discovery meeting.
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Everyone is different, so the best next step is an evaluation with one of our pelvic health therapists.
Visit us
Serving 22+ nearby towns and beyond
2 Shaker Road, Suite C200, Shirley, MA 01464. Monday to Thursday, 5:00 am to 8:00 pm, Friday, 5:00 am to 3:00 pm, and Saturday, 6:00 am to 1:00 pm.