Pelvic Floor Therapy WITHOUT Pregnancy?!
- Natalie Miller
- Jan 7
- 3 min read
One of the biggest myths I hear is that pelvic floor therapy is only for people who have been pregnant or given birth. While pregnancy and birth can absolutely impact pelvic health, they are not the only reasons someone might need pelvic floor therapy.
In fact, pelvic floor therapy without pregnancy is incredibly common, and often overlooked.
Every person has a pelvic floor. Men, women, nonbinary folks, children, teens, and adults all have a group of muscles at the bottom of the torso that supports the bladder, bowels, and other internal organs. This muscle system also plays a role in breathing, posture, core support, continence, and sexual function. It does much more than most people are ever taught.
Because the pelvic floor is part of your core system, it is affected by pressure and stress regardless of whether a uterus is involved or whether a baby has ever grown there.
Why pregnancy is not the deciding factor
The pelvic floor responds to daily life. Things like sitting for long periods, heavy lifting, high impact exercise, chronic stress, constipation, surgery, illness, trauma, and even breathing patterns all influence how these muscles function.
I work with many clients who have never been pregnant and still experience symptoms that benefit from pelvic floor therapy, including:
Pelvic pain or tailbone pain
Pain with sex or difficulty relaxing
Urinary urgency, frequency, or leakage
Difficulty connecting to or coordinating core muscles
Chronic low back, hip, or abdominal pain
Symptoms related to endometriosis, PCOS, or pelvic congestion
Changes after cancer treatment or other surgeries
Inflammation in the core/pelvic floor
Persistent feelings of pressure or heaviness
Pelvic floor issues are not always about weakness. Often they involve coordination problems, muscle overactivity, sensitivity, or a nervous system that has been under stress for a long time.
What pelvic floor therapy actually addresses
Pelvic floor therapy is not just about strengthening. In my work as a pelvic health occupational therapist, we focus on:
Muscle coordination and timing
Pressure management through the core
Nervous system regulation
Functional movement for real life activities
Education and body awareness
Social and emotional factors that play an important part
Your ability to fully participate in your preferred and needed daily activities
What about people who have had babies?
Having a baby does not automatically mean something is wrong. That said, pelvic floor therapy is almost always useful in some way before and after pregnancy and birth. Therapy can help with muscle prep and memory, recovery, awareness, strength, relaxation, coordination, confidence, and long term support.
On the other hand, not having a baby does not mean you do not need pelvic floor therapy. People with female anatomy or those who grew up socialized as women are rarely taught how the pelvic floor works. They often lack a baseline understanding, not because they did something wrong, but because this information was never shared with them. Many have been dismissed, minimized, or told their symptoms are normal when they are actually treatable.
Pelvic floor therapy is about symptoms, not labels
Pelvic floor therapy without pregnancy is appropriate if something feels painful, limiting, confusing, or off in your body. You do not need to meet a certain milestone to deserve care.
If you are looking for pelvic floor therapy in Moseley, Woodlake, Midlothian, or elsewhere in Chesterfield County, VA, I offer one on one occupational (pelvic) therapy focused on holistic pelvic health at Core + Flow.
If this resonates with you, reach out to schedule a free 15 minute discovery call to see if pelvic floor therapy is a good fit for your needs. Click here to get scheduled!
At Core + Flow, we help tweens, teens, and adults stop leaks, pain, and uncertainty from pelvic floor, period, or perimenopause issues so they can trust their bodies and show up for what they love, not just what their symptoms allow.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this website, including videos, text, and graphics, is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or surgical recovery. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or seen on this website. Reliance on any information provided by Core and Flow Health is solely at your own risk.
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