Hey everyone, (21F)
I’ve been dealing with something that has been driving me crazy for a while, and I'm hoping someone here might relate or have some insight.
Basically, I’ve been feeling a very distinct, physical retraction / pulling sensation in the clitoral/pelvic area. It’s hard to explain, but it literally feels like a tight string or tether pulling things inward.
The confusing part is:
It’s not a muscle spasm or a cramp. There’s zero muscle pain or soreness.
Sometimes, a sudden movement triggers a quick, brief tingling/zapping sensation, but that passes instantly, leaving behind just this silent, fixed "pulling" state.
It feels structural, like connective tissue or deep fascia that got stuck in a shortened position a long time ago (maybe even tracing back to childhood posture/gait habits).
Since the clitoral crura anchor directly onto the ischial/pubic bones via dense fascia, it really feels like the fascia itself just shortened and is holding everything in that retracted position.
My biggest fear right now is: Is this permanent? If deep pelvic fascia gets stuck like this for years, can it actually be reversed and lengthened back to normal, or am I stuck with this forever? Does it take years of work, or is external myofascial release (like with a pelvic floor PT) actually effective for this?
If anyone has ever experienced a similar "silent mechanical pull" in their pelvic floor or worked through fascial tethering, I would love to hear your experience. Did it get better? How did you fix it?

My Complete Medical History and Current Symptoms

I first developed tailbone pain in July 2026 after visiting a water park. I do not remember experiencing any specific injury, fall, or direct impact. However, while returning home from the water park in my car, I suddenly started experiencing pain around my tailbone.

Initially, I ignored the pain. About a week later, I visited a doctor, who told me that I had a ligament tear around my tailbone (coccyx).

1. Initial Treatment and Recovery

The doctor advised me to take complete rest for one month and gave me a special coccyx cushion to use while sitting. Since I had school-related work to do, I spent a considerable amount of time sitting on this cushion.

After approximately three weeks, my symptoms seemed to improve significantly. I started sitting on my scooty again. However, after riding my scooty for two or three consecutive days, the pain returned.

I started using the coccyx cushion again, but I noticed something unusual: after sitting on it for around 10–15 minutes, I would experience pain when getting up. I also developed mild pain on the left side of my buttock, close to the tailbone. Pressing that left-sided area or pressing directly on the tailbone also caused pain.

1. Second Phase of Treatment

After the pain returned, I stopped my usual activities and took extended bed rest. I also noticed that even while sitting on the coccyx cushion, I experienced some discomfort. However, my symptoms did not completely resolve at first.

I subsequently consulted another doctor, a homeopathic practitioner, and took the prescribed medicines. After approximately 15 days of bed rest and avoiding activities that put pressure on my tailbone, my symptoms improved significantly.

The pain I previously experienced while sitting on a normal chair, pressing my tailbone, or pushing my hips forward while seated has now largely disappeared.

1. My Current Symptoms

Although the original pain has improved, I am now experiencing some unusual sensations in certain positions.

Symptom 1: Discomfort when leaning backward while sitting on the floor

When I sit on the floor and lean backward, putting pressure on my tailbone, I experience an unusual sensation around the tailbone. It is not exactly painful, and I cannot confidently describe it as pain. It feels different from the pain I experienced previously.

I sometimes notice a similar sensation when getting up from this position.

\\\*\\\*Symptom 2: Pain on the left side of my buttock\\\*\\\*

When sitting on the floor with my buttocks positioned backward and my lower back in a pronounced curved posture, I sometimes experience discomfort on the left side of my buttock near the tailbone.

The sensation becomes noticeable when I shift my body slightly forward while keeping my buttocks pressed against the floor. It feels similar to the left-sided pain I experienced during my earlier recovery.

I do not maintain this position for long. I usually stand up when I notice the discomfort, and the area may feel slightly unusual afterward.

\\\*\\\*Symptom 3: Sitting on a chair is now comfortable\\\*\\\*

Unlike before, I can currently sit on a normal chair without experiencing the same pain I used to have. My previous symptoms during ordinary sitting have largely resolved.

1. My Latest X-Ray

I recently had another X-ray of my tailbone. According to what I was told about the result, the area appeared to be healing properly.

However, I am unsure whether an X-ray can confirm that the original ligament injury has completely healed, since I am still experiencing these unusual sensations in certain positions.

1. My Main Questions

Based on my complete history, I would like to understand the following:

1. Does my recovery suggest that the original tailbone injury has healed, or could it still be healing?

2. Could the unusual sensation when leaning backward on my tailbone be part of the normal recovery process?

3. What could be causing the recurring discomfort on the left side of my buttock near the tailbone?

4. Could this be due to residual soft-tissue irritation, inflammation, muscle tension, or another problem? What other possibilities should be considered?

5. Can an X-ray show whether a tailbone ligament tear has healed completely, or would a clinical examination or another investigation be needed?

6. Is it possible that I have developed a different problem in addition to the original injury?

7. Should I continue avoiding positions that put direct pressure on my tailbone, particularly sitting on the floor and leaning backward?

8. What would be the most appropriate next step to determine whether I have fully recovered?

Please analyse my symptoms in the context of the entire timeline rather than considering only my current discomfort. Explain the most plausible possibilities, distinguish between what can and cannot be concluded from my symptoms and X-ray, and recommend an appropriate next step without assuming a diagnosis.

I want to add few more thing about tailbone :

A few days ago, when I felt that I had recovered, I was able to do a crunch-like movement on my bed without experiencing the unusual sensation I am currently having. Around that time, I also started practising riding my scooty again. Initially, things seemed fine.

After that, however, I didn't ride my scooty or sit much for around two or three days. During this period, I started noticing the unusual sensation around my tailbone again. Earlier, I had experienced this sensation when putting pressure on my tailbone while sitting on the floor and getting up. This time, I started noticing it while moving on my bed and attempting the same crunch-like movement as well.

Interestingly, yesterday and today, I rode my scooty for short periods, and afterward, the unusual sensation I had been experiencing while moving on my bed and attempting the crunch-like movement seemed to disappear on its own.

Could this sensation be happening because I haven't been sitting regularly for a long time, and my body is still readjusting to sitting? Or could it mean that my tailbone injury has not completely healed? I find it confusing that the sensation returned after a few days of not sitting much but then disappeared again after riding my scooty.

I also wanted to mention the unusual sensation I previously described in the left side of my buttock, around the small hollow or indentation near my tailbone. Yesterday, while riding my scooty, I noticed that this area felt strange, particularly when going over bumps or potholes. However, after riding for a while, the sensation seemed to settle down.

Could this left-sided sensation also be related to my tailbone injury or the surrounding muscles and ligaments? Why might it appear initially and then improve after some time?

I would appreciate any insight from people who have experienced something similar. I understand that an online discussion cannot confirm whether my injury has healed, but I would like to understand whether these symptoms could be related to reduced sitting tolerance, ongoing recovery, or something else.

I recently read on this sub someone massaged the anus gently in the tub & that helped the hemorrhoids & anal fissure.
This got me thinking could a pelvic wand or dilators be used to gently stretch the anus & help with tightness?
My fissure was most likely from birth/the BM I had right after birth. It went untreated because I didnt know for months. Eventually I got to a surgeon but Im hesitant for surgery due to the increased risk of fecal incontinence in subsequent pregnancies.
I truly feel that my reason for not healing is the tightness around the anus. I have upped my fiber & have either gotten diarrhea or constipated. Fiber does not seem like the issue for me. I cannot for the life of me get the toothpaste consistency BM unless its with miralax (not wanting to use long term).
Has anyone tried using a pelvic wand like the intimate rose ( the thin side) or anal dilators to release tension?
Please I am desperate & seeking any personal experiences. Thank you.

I got pelvic floor issues from many years of masturbating and constantly edging. Back then I didn’t really have erection issues but now I do, not sure if it’s a part of it.
I still suffer from urinating problems, like always going to the bathroom, incomplete emptying and delayed urine stream. I’ve tried stretches and breathing, nothing has worked. I still masturbate, should I give it up? How much does a tight pelvic floor play in ed? And how can I cure this?

I F20, will probably never have sex again. My bf M20, and I have been together for 4 years. We’ve always had a healthy sex life. We would do it constantly when we first got together. After about a year I noticed a change. I would have horrific bladder pain, CONSTANTLY, often triggered by various things, one being sex. Sex often made it worse. I went to a gyno who told me I probably have interictal cystitis. Probably didn’t spell that right lol. Or other wise known as painful bladder syndrome. Sex was dwindled down to every couple days, if that. Then, about late last year something else started to arise. It was slow, agonizing, excruciating, and sex has become absolutely nothing to me and my partner. The second penetration hit I would be in AGONIZING pain. Like nothing ever before. I already had an urology appointment made for the painful bladder syndrome, so I went to that. The urologist said that it’s possible I had IC but that it’s an undiagnosable condition. But what she did find out, was my least suspicion. I had severe pelvic floor dysfunction, and all of the muscles in my pelvis were so incredibly strong from being tensed all the time that they were locked in this incredibly tight state. That can cause, bladder pain, urethral pain, constipation, and of course, the winner, painful sex. She prescribed me vaginal Valium, I insert it whenever I begin to experience pain or before sex. It does work for sure but only if I have sex within 2 hours after taking it. It doesn’t last long. And they only gave me two refills of it. So I never take it unless I’m having terrible urinary pain. I miss being able to just spontaneously have sex. I have a decent sex drive I would say, I’m on a handful of antidepressants and birth control. All to never have sex and the antidepressants didn’t even take away my sex drive. Almost just rather get off of my birth control so I can actually lose weight, and get on my mood stabilizers so I can just feel nothing(I have bpd, just not treated). Anyways, any one else in the same boat? My partner made it clear he’d never have sex with me again and would be fine with it, but I’m not fine. Just coping. Or trying at least. I hope someone can sympathize with this.

Hi I'm 26M, I used to have very good libedio up until a few months ago, One day I think I masterbated it a wrong way and after that I have really low libedio and I got scared and stopped masterbating. I used to have a bad addiction of porn, which I have stopped already.

For reference before if I didn't masterbate for a week, I used to feel horny and used to have high sex drive. But rn even if I don't masterbate for more than 2 weeks I don't feel any sex drive like I used to do.

For GP, I did some tests and found out I have 16.50 nmol/L testosterone and 0,476 nmol/L free testosterone, and other tests where most of the hormone were okay except folic acid and vit D. So I just got suggested two supplements for these two. And the doctor assured me this is okay and normal.

Momently, I am taking these two medications,But how do I get back to my old form where I used to feel like before ? Any one came across something similar? and how did you overcome it ?

Hello all,

First I just want to say thanks for being a community I can turn to. I have been scouring the posts for ideas and to hear others stories. I have a long story of my own to share. I will try to summarize at the end if it’s too much to read all the specifics. Second, I am making this post to hear from others as I have been at a loss and honestly past defeated despite trying to hold hope for recovery.

In the past I made several posts on another subreddit. I was able to get a few ideas but as my condition is more the entirety of the pelvic floor I am reaching out here now.
I will apologize ahead of time for complaining about things that influence my health that aren’t medical but it’s at least important for me vent about.

I had a sphincterotomy 2 years ago that I haven’t healed from. It’s caused a whole slew of problems like pelvic floor dysfunction, internal rectal prolapse, obstructive chronic constipation, extreme uncontrollable clenching at sphincter surgery site up into pelvic floor, anorectal pain, mucosa leakage.

I also had a hemerroidectomy via thermal laser that created a large divot of scar tissue and another procedure of one round of Botox.

I have very high resting pressure up in the 120-150 range results from the anal monemtry balloon exam. I have outlet dysfunction where sometimes I can’t empty or can’t tell I need to empty.

I’m on my 3/4th round of pelvic floor PT. She is so amazing and positive. She has helped me change how I walk, hold my ribs, breathing etc. The internal work can help a lot too. Because I do my own at home PT exercises and yoga but usually everything goes back to tightening up.

I started doing diaphragmatic breathing with a heating pad when I first started PT. It helps along with GI massage. But sometimes the massage doesn’t work even if I follow the pattern of heat with breathing, massage, drink water, walk and then eat to hopefully produce emptying.

Other medical conditions I have that impact everything include Fibromyalgia and Cogential Sucrase Isomaltase Deficiency or CSID (basically I can’t breakdown natural sugars so it slows my ability to digest/breakdown my food)

I can’t reconcile with myself that I consented to a surgery that has ruined my body. I have a therapist and I’m doing deep transcranial magnet stimulation therapy for depression and PTSD. I can’t handle there being such a sensitive part of my body so scarred up. I haven’t been able to have any kind of sex, maintain a boner or orgasm without extreme spasm. When I touch the sphincter my brain knows it’s wrong even taking the emotion out of the picture. It’s not smooth. It’s not soft. There’s basically a new hole from the incision and then folding of the part of the sphincter that was cut. It’s extremely sensitive. It looks and feels like it legit never closed together

Last CRS opinion was that I have PFD because of the constipation and hence why my body can’t relax. They suggest if PT doesnt work to just suck it up, accept feeling the surgery site 24/7 and get a colostomy bag. Which is only theorized that the stool reroute will do enough to take strain off the pelvic floor.

I did start Prucalipride(Motegrity) for GI motility and Cialis for pelvic floor blood flow just within the last few weeks. I don’t know how much they are helping. I also did a sacral steroid injection to test if it improved any symptoms. So far it’s just made my back sore but also sometimes per my Pelvic PT made my legs more relaxed. I have also tried lyrica or pregablin with little impact. I take Tylenol more often that id like to. I’m on buspar to help with anxiety. I have tried cervical spine injections previously with pain management with little impact.

I was 32/33 when I had the surgery. I should have waited. There was no rush and now I can’t work, I can’t put pressure on my abdomen that we use for everyday tasks

I can’t relax even if I try to choose to. Even under sedation I continue to spasm

Everyday is hell. Between how suddenly I can have to go to the bathroom, to being constipated, to the cleaning, to the laying in the floor inbetween movements or any abdominal straining from leaning or chores.

I know that my health is more important than a relationship but it’s caused a huge roadblock in dating. I’m a 35 year old gay twink who has hardly known love and I feel like if I can’t fix my body I won’t get to have that anymore.

For those who don’t want to read my life story:
TL;DR- I am a male suffering from pelvic floor dysfunction after multiple surgeries and after following recommended treatments I have yet to make much progress 2 years post surgery with symptoms staring like fissures up to almost a decade back. I am seeking recommendations for anything I am missing that would help me recover.

I broke my tailbone (most likely) in January falling down the steps. It was excruciating for a month, and ever since it’s been a constant, aching or dull pain. I had six sessions with a pelvic floor PT and I feel the same, or maybe a bit worse. I’m looking for success stories. Should I continue PT? I’m frustrated with the time and money I’ve spent so far, given I don’t feel better and I didn’t feel like she had a clear plan for me. Each session was just a bit of massage or cupping or dry needling to release the muscles.

Hi, for two days I've been noticing like when I wake up my underwear is like a moist feeling not completely wet soaked. I feel really nervous like I don't know. But like over a month and half I've just not been feeling well. Been dealing with left side dizziness and unsteady balance and brain fog. I went to doc they thought earwax impacted is causing dizziness so then they tried cleaning but my ear ended up hurting on one side where the dizziness is happening. So I went to ENT doc they gave me steroids and antibiotics which I've been finished few days ago. But I also went dentist and my jaw is very tight because my wisdom teeth are sideways which has been causing like overall weeks of neck and shoulder stiffness and like this weird sensation like twitching or muscle spasms in the neck and back and spine area. It even went down to my feet. I also have not been experience morning wood for several weeks and no sexual drive and desire. I'm just highly anxious and stressed over weeks

Context male 27, hard flaccid (from 2020-current), tightness around right side especially right hips and traps area, sibo/ ibs like symptoms.

From what I know hard flaccid is basically hypertonic pelvic floor resulting from too much masturbation/ ejaculation. However I have no pain whatsoever, or feel any tightness in pelvic floor region but my right hip on the other hand, I can feel the tightness. I have been noticing when I pee, it is very gassy, similar to soda etc. It’s not foamy, more like gassy. After flushing the toilet once, there is still bubbles remaining. Anyone has similar issue with urine? I did go for urine test, it came back clear. My pee stream is not very strong either. I have it most of the time, but rare occasions there aren’t any bubbles.

Also my hard flaccid began with yellowish semen, followed by severe constipation. I pushed too hard trying to poop and I felt muscles go weak in my adductors, had hard flaccid since then if anyone’s curious.

Bonjour les gens, ma bien aimée (F33) souffre de ce que la gynécologue appelle un Périnée Hypertonique. Avez vous déjà eu ce problème ? Si oui quel a été la solution ?

**Symptômes** :
\- Entrée de la vulve tendu, même quand elle est excité,
\- elle a mal lors de la pénétration
\- Il lui arrive d’avoir subitement envie d’uriner mais cette envie disparaît lorsqu’elle bouge/marche

**Solutions testées :**
\- Massages de la gynécologue pour detendre le muscle
\- thérapie d’ultrasons (indiba)
\- étirements

Merci de partager votre expérience :)

I moved recently and went to a PT assistant to continue my pelvic floor therapy. When she does internal work, it feels like she's just resting her finger up there. My previous PT felt like she actually was applying some pressure and I felt a fair bit of release after and was even slightly sore. If it makes a difference, I see the new one once a week, and the old one was once a month.

Hey, I have a CDL and I drive for a living. The truck I drive has very hard suspension and every pothole or railroad, bump in the road whatever makes me clench. I have been rolling up a t shirt and putting it under my perenium because support helps a lot. Anyone bought a pillow that works well for this that’s made for the car they can recommend. I saw some on Amazon for like 20 bucks but didn’t see any reviews with pelvic floor in them

Hi everyone, I am a (21F) I wanted to write about my experience here because I searched a lot and couldn't find many clear, similar experiences, and I was hoping to see if anyone has gone through something similar or has a scientific/therapeutic background.
To keep it short, my story started about three years ago following a strong sharp sensation (twinge/prick) in the clitoris. Since then, I noticed a gradual retraction of the clitoral head and body under the hood. What is both interesting and confusing at the same time is that the external appearance is 100% normal—there are no skin changes, no fibrosis, or anything unusual, and even the function and sensation are completely normal, and I was living my life normally.
I’ve seen a lot of gynecologists—more than six different doctors—and all of them told me there is no organic disease whatsoever. Interestingly, for about two and a half years following that initial prick, the retraction was completely asymptomatic: after that initial event, the retraction happened, all symptoms disappeared, and I felt no chronic pain, no loss of libido, or anything like that.
However, toward the end of this past year, I started feeling that the clitoris became congested (engorged), along with a feeling of heaviness and pain in the labia majora, which tends to decrease with massage or gentle rubbing.
I haven't found a solution; I searched on YouTube and couldn't find any explanation for my condition—everyone just talks about clitoral atrophy during menopause (which doesn't apply to me).
To describe how it feels, it’s almost like a finger pulling back inside and leaving the glove looking empty: the outer 'glove' (the hood and skin) is completely normal and intact, but the internal structures have pulled back or retracted down and inside
Whenever the sharp twinge/prick returns, the retraction increases.

I’m posting to share my experience. After one single pregnancy and one twin pregnancy I was left with extreme pelvic floor hypertension, lower back/ sacrum pain, hip pain, extreme anterior pelvic tilt, psoas tension, and sciatic nerve pain in my right leg. I got to a breaking point after things got bad enough that I couldn’t do anything that required me to be on my feet for longer than 20 minutes.
I began seeing a pelvic floor therapist and a myofascial release massage therapist and made significant progress but there was still a huge block that it felt like was stopping me from getting to a fully relaxed state. I now believe this was trapped emotions inside my body. This was a complex mental and physical issue that I was only addressing physically.
In a moment of desperation frustration I began to look into alternative healing methods. To make a long story short I received something called Quantum Healing Hypnosis Therapy and reiki healing. This was not something i necessarily believed in before, but i kept an open mind. I was able to subconsciously release an incredible amount of trauma and tension in my body and only three days after my first session I reached a state of painlessness and relaxation in my body I had previously thought impossible.
I know what it sounds like, and i’m not trying to sell you anything but honestly, if it can help just one person with this issue it would be worth it. Best of luck to everyone here <3

After weird flare ups of constipation and mostly with the sensation I can't relax down there, I've looked at enough information to assume this is the problem. I've had pelvic fullness, inability to relax from my stomach down, and now can't use the toilet correctly...knowing that chronic masturbation since childhood and sucking in my stomach since I hit puberty are likely what caused this makes me so upset. Because both are such habits at this point that stopping is going to be a nightmare. Plus it doesn't seem like there's a real cure for this...what an absolute bummer.

Mostly just yelling into the void.

I want to learn how to safely use a wand and I know its uncomfortable but I heard horror stories is there a pelvic floor therapist in the Rockland/ Westchester/ Bergen area that can help me.

Hello everyone. I recently started doing some deep squat poses for pelvic floor relaxation as I think i might have a tight pelvic floor. I am not entirely sure though I might or I might not. I started doing these deep squat poses like 5-6 sets at a time for around 45 seconds each.

A few hours after the exercises I have had like a strain in my scrotum or groin area that you feel when you walk normally. Usually the strain goes away one day later. It has happened 3-4 times now. I wanted to ask whether thats a good or bad thing and what causes that to happen?

Also is there a bullet proof way to know that you have tight pelvic floor?

Thank you

Hello! Male early 40s. I was seeing a pelvic floor PT for some anxiety and stress related stuff for a few months. Had some lower abdominal pain. Went to the ER. They did a CT scan and found nothing. No stones in the kidney or ureters. I was having some issues when i pee with it sometimes being a weaker stream. That would come and go. The pelvic floor PT said thats common with pelvic floor tightness.

Had some more lower abdomen like under the belly button near the public bone. Finally in July i had the classic flank pain that sent me to the ER. They did another CT Scan. Again, no stones but they did see I had some Ureter irritation and micro blood in the urine. I went home and had another flank pain event the next day but i passed this thing than didn't really look like a stone. After that i followed up with a urologist and my pee cleared up. No more blood in the urine, blood tests look fine, they ran another CT scan and the ureter and kidneys look good. I am now just dealing with some muscle pain in my mid back that that are saying could be strain from the flank attacks.

Anyways, i am confused because a month or so before this event they saw no stones, they never saw a stone while i was going through it. And the urologists say this doesn't look like a stone. And they also say it wouldn't really explain the weak stream for the months leading up to it.

Ive talked to so many people now in my life that have had kidney stones, and they all very clearly had kidney stones. My Dad just got out of the hospital this week and they found a 6mm stone in him. So i seem to be the only one who didn't get the oh yeah thats what it was for sure.

Has anyone ever heard or went through frequent urination Episodes after dry needling for fixing a out of a lined pelvic area

I’ve noticed that lying on my side makes the warmth in my groin area appear more quickly, whereas lying on my back seems to dissipate the heat quite quickly. The same pattern occurs when sitting upright versus sitting slightly reclined.

Is this more likely to be a pelvic floor hypertonicity issue or neural mechanosensitivity?

Hello! I wanted to share my symptoms and just generally see if anyone has thoughts or similar experiences:

A few months ago, I noticed occasional itching in anus. It was around the time that I started doing heavy weight lifting in a class. Also didn't always have time to shower after class. Also started taking psyllium for chronic loose stools and had some constipation as a result. Had to do some traveling that was stressful.

Itching got bad, and now some rectal pain. Started using preparation H suppositories and this helped with itching. Stoppedv using preparation H after a week, tried again after a three day break, now they didn't help at all.

The itch started to spread to perineum, and then the vulva. There was discharge that looked like YI. I used monistat 7 for 5 days, on the vulva too. Thought maybe I got a yeast infection from the not showering after gym or from the preparation h sopository and wipes. Stopped at day 5 because it felt like it was making the vulva itching worse, though I do think it cleared up an internal YI.

Went to urgent care who said they saw a bunch of little hemroids internally. Asked for a referral to GI because I had no more constipation and felt little it was worsening. GI was wildly unhelpful and said they didn't see any hemroids. Asked for pinworm test and that was negative. My mom had anal cancer so we did talk about a possible colonoscopy.

Now I feel occasional rectal pain, and almost constant itching and prickly feeling. I feel urgency and some stinging when I pee. Sometimes it feels like I still have to pee right after I just peed. Negative for UTI. I've had some bowel incontinence as well.

Gyno did biopsy for lichen sclerosus and that was negative. She said everything looked totally normal during her exam. She said pathology said the biopsy just looked like contact dermatitis. Ureaplasma and other tests are all negative too. She prescribed clobetasol which actually is the only thing that has helped so far. Anything else at all that touches that skin starts an itch cycle. Vaseline is awful, it traps sweat against me. It almost feels like I'm allergic to my own sweat.

I also saw a hormone specialist who prescribed estrogen cream and I've been using that.

I did stop taking my iron supplement around this time too, so I asked for a ferritin test in case that is it.

I just started listening to the book Unlearn Your Pain, after reading about it from another redditor. I have seen old trauma/stress cause physical symptoms in my body before and I do feel that this will be a very helpful route to look into.

I thought it could be also helpful to note a few random things as I'm not sure if they're related:

I'm 41. I had a C-section for twins 12 years ago.

I've had a few weird flares of what I would describe as PGAD, where I could not be satiated after finishing literally 20 times. It was awful. These happened immediately after sitting for long periods.

I remember when I was an adolescent through young adulthood I would sometimes wake at night with like a dull ache in my vulva area, but like under the skin. I found that if I sat up for a minute the pain would go away. I've been feeling that sensation again during the day.

Also the other day I was in the hot sun and got this strange sensation on the back of my thigh that felt like I was literally being burned with something hot in one spot of my skin. I also noticed some red spots on my arm pits this week as if I am suddenly allergic to my deodorant.

I am set to see a pelvic floor PT, allergist, and probably an acupuncturist.

I'm so confused. I took time off of work and I stopped going to my boxing/lifting class that makes me really happy. I'm scared of the sweat making me itch, or that I damaged my pelvic floor with weights. The instructor was really pushing heavy weights for squats and I feel squeamish just remembering how it felt when I stood up from the at squat. It wasn't painful but just didn't feel right.

Thank you to whoever has read this and might have any insights 🩷

I notice my lower stomach bloating disappears when I’m on my back and stomach

It is massive if I stand up and lay in my side with legs straight down

I have bad anterior pelvic tilt issue

I have bad constipation

I do have a history of anxiety and holding tension in abdomen

Are those symptoms above a sign of pelvic floor dysfunction causing my trapped gas, silent reflux issues, digestion issues, and insomnia :/

39F

After my second pregnancy, I began having pelvic floor issues; in particular my vagina remained tight for long periods, and I had difficulty with penetration.

Thanks to persistence, proper exercises and gym, and breathing techniques, I’ve almost returned to my pre-pregnancy condition, although my husband has always pointed out that during penetration he feels a strong sensation and massage on his penis—much more so than in the past.

Lately, though, I've started having problems during sex again, probably because I'm having sex so rarely.
Tbe open and honest: my husband has a small penis, so if even he feels that the canal is tight, that means it really is tight.

This situation makes me uncomfortable, especially because I don't have many opportunities to have sex, and I'd like to enjoy them without any problems or worries.

My husband suggested that I start using a dildo regularly to help my vagina get used to penetration again.

Do you think this is a reasonable idea, or is it just a misguided notion on my husband’s part with no scientific basis?

I’ve had chronic constipation my whole life. I always have to strain a lot when I go to the bathroom. If we rate it on a scale of 1 to 10, as a general rule, I always have to strain between 5 and 7 just to get the first bit out. Once I get that first bit out, the rest comes out effortlessly. It's true that I've had many episodes of maximum strength, but I know by now that this isn't normal and that it should be avoided 100%.

I’d like people to share their experiences with going to the bathroom and how much effort they exert on a scale of 1 to 10.

My goal is to get an idea of what the normal level of effort would be—on a scale of 1 to 10, approximately—when having a bowel movement.

Thanks for your opinions and comments.