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When it comes to pelvic health for women and people with vaginas, there are a lot of myths out there. Hyivy Health was founded by Rachel Bartholomew who had no idea about how common, pervasive, and important pelvic health was until she started experiencing challenges of her own. 

For today’s post we’re going to debunk what we see as the most common pelvic health myths out there, hopefully empowering you or someone you care about to move forward with more information on your pelvic health journey.  

Myth #1: Kegels Are the Answer! 

Kegel exercises aim to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles in order to support the uterus, bladder, small intestine, and rectum. Kegel exercises are typically performed by lifting, holding, and relaxing the pelvic floor muscles. Kegel exercisers (kegel devices) include insertable trainers, weights, and biofeedback devices. 

But they are not for everyone and can for some people, kegels can cause serious damage. 

Think of it this way, let’s say you’ve hurt your arm and now, you’re experiencing pain and can feel the muscles around the injury tensing up and making the pain worse. Would you then want to go to the gym and start lifting weights? – of course not!  

This serves as an analogy for folks who have a pelvic floor that’s too tight (hypertonic), and instead of working the muscles harder through kegels they need to relax these muscles to help relieve pain. 

Currently, vaginal dilators are prescribed for this reason, and Hyivy is currently developing the first smart dilator that includes dilation without reinsertion, thermal therapy (hot and cold for those muscles), and biosensors to capture the first subjective and objective data on the pelvic floor. 

Myth #2:

Pelvic Health Issues Only Affect Older People 

Pelvic health issues affect 1 in 3 women across all ages and is not just an issue that affects people 65+. This myth might be so persistent because of the stigma and shame that surrounds pelvic health. 

It’s important to know there are a range of pelvic health disorders and gynecological conditions that cause a wide range of pelvic floor issues including:  

• Endometriosis  
• Pelvic Cancers  
• Vaginismus  
• Vulvodynia  
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)  
• Uterine fibroids  
• Perimenopause and menopause  
• Pregnancy and childbirth  
• Dysmenorrhea (painful periods)  
• Gender affirmation surgery  
• Pelvic mesh complications  
• Pelvic floor hypertoncity that ebbs and flows with your menstrual cycle and menopause  

Myth #3: Sex Is Supposed to Be Painful 

According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG) painful sex is a very common problem with 3 out of 4 women and female identifying people experiencing painful sex at some point in their lives.   

But that doesn’t mean you need to keep having painful sex. It’s important to see a healthcare professional to root out the underlying causes for your pain and potentially seek the help of a pelvic floor physiotherapist.  

One thing to remember is that if you are experiencing painful sex, you are not alone. Everyone will take their own time to get to the amount of sexual activity they prefer. The most important thing is to listen to your body.   

Myth #4: Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy is Only for People Who Have Given Birth 

Although pelvic floor physiotherapy for pregnant and people who have given birth can be immensely helpful, these aren’t the only people who can benefit from seeing a Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist (PFPT). 

PFPTs can help you with a wide range of pelvic health concerns. Some reasons you might want to seek out pelvic floor physiotherapy are:  

• Pain in the (pelvis) pelvic, lower back, or genital region 
• Urinary incontinence or frequency,  
• Pelvic organ prolapse (POP)  
• Pain with sex (dyspareunia) or when trying to insert a tampon 
• Difficulty emptying the bladder or bowels.   

What are some pelvic health myths you’ve come across on your pelvic health journey? Feel free to message us at hello[@]hyivy.com or DM us on Instagram at @ hyivyhealth so we can share across our social media channels.  

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Is there a blog topic you’d like us to cover? Reach out today to let us know.  

Here at Hyivy Health we’re dedicated to helping women down there and everywhere. The purpose of this blog post is intended to offer resources and education about pelvic health and is not intended to serve as medical advice. This information provided above is not a substitute for the treatment, advice, or opinion of a medical professional. Always consult with a certified health professional before starting any treatments. 

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What is Chronic Pelvic Pain? 

Chronic pelvic pain is pain that lasts for more than six months in the pelvic area. 

This pain can be experienced constantly, on a regular cycle, or only at certain times. For example, you might only experience this pain when menstruating, emptying your bladder, during or after sexual intercourse, or from sitting or standing for long periods of time.  

Although chronic pelvic pain is very common, with as many as 25% of women experiencing this at some point in their lives, there’s been a lack of research into the exact mechanisms of chronic pelvic pain.  

What Does Chronic Pelvic Pain Feel Like? 

Chronic pelvic pain can be felt in different areas of your pelvis, not just one spot every time. Chronic pelvic pain can be mild to moderate or be so intense they might cause you to miss work or prevent you from living the way you prefer. 

Chronic pelvic pain can be described in several ways including:  

• Pressure or heaviness in the pelvis  
• Dull aching  
• Serious and steady  
• Pain that comes and goes  

Because many of the conditions leading to chronic pelvic pain cause your pelvic floor to become too tight or tense up (hypertonic) and the pelvic floor acts as a hammock that supports your organs including your bowel, bladder, and uterus you may also experience symptoms like: 

• An urgent or frequent need to urinate  
• Abdominal bloating  
• Gastrointestinal problems like upset stomach or IBS  
• Constipation  

What Causes Chronic Pelvic Pain? 

There are a range of conditions that can cause chronic pelvic pain and it’s important that you see a healthcare provider as soon as possible when you start experiencing symptoms.  

Some conditions that cause chronic pelvic pain include but are not limited to:  

• Endometriosis  
• Side effects from radiation in your pelvic area (radiation induced vaginal stenosis)  
• Uterine fibroids  
• Pelvic inflammatory disease  
• Pelvic floor injury caused by an accident, pregnancy, or childbirth  
• Interstitial cystitis, also known as painful bladder disease  
• Dysmenorrhea (painful periods)   

How is Chronic Pelvic Pain Treated? 

The first step to treating chronic pelvic pain is seeing a healthcare professional who will take a medical history, ask you about your daily life, and conduct a pelvic exam.  

Depending on your diagnosis the underlying condition may be treated with medication for infection, hormonal birth control for issues with menstruation, or potentially surgery.  

For many people with chronic pelvic pain, managing the pain and severity is achieved through:  

• Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy – Pelvic floor physiotherapists (or PFPTs) work to help you rehabilitate your pelvic floor muscles. They are specially trained to conduct internal and external assessments and treatments for your pelvic floor. Learn more about what to expect from your first pelvic floor physio appointment. [link to blog] 
• Vaginal dilators – Vaginal dilators (inserts) are plastic or silicone rods or cylinders with a rounded tip. They are meant to open (dilate) and stretch the tissues of the vagina. 
• Cognitive behavioral therapy or sex therapy – this does not mean that your pain is not real or “all in your head” but rather, a licensed professional may help to support you through your treatment plan  

Hyivy Health is currently working with researchers across the world to help grow our knowledge base of how chronic pelvic pain works and how to better treat it. We’re currently developing a smart vaginal dilator with multi-therapy capabilities which will be the first ever to collect both subjective and objective data on the pelvic floor which will be shared with clinicians through our clinician software.  

If you or someone you know is interested in participating in focus groups and potential product testing, reach out today.

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Is there a blog topic you’d like us to cover? Reach out today to let us know.  

Here at Hyivy Health we’re dedicated to helping women down there and everywhere. The purpose of this blog post is intended to offer resources and education about pelvic health and is not intended to serve as medical advice. This information provided above is not a substitute for the treatment, advice, or opinion of a medical professional. Always consult with a certified health professional before starting any treatments. 

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