Women's Pelvic Health
Pain during sex, pelvic pain or tailbone pain is common and rarely talked about. Often the pelvic floor muscles are part of the problem, and gentle, one-on-one physical therapy can help.
Yes, physical therapy can help pelvic pain and painful sex. Much of this pain involves pelvic floor muscles that are tight, tender or unable to relax. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends pelvic floor physical therapy for chronic pelvic pain linked to pelvic floor muscle problems, and the American Urological Association’s bladder pain guideline recommends it as well. At ARI Physical Therapy in Bakersfield, treatment is gentle, one-on-one and always at your pace.
Pelvic floor muscles can become tense and tender, much like a knot in your shoulders, after childbirth, surgery, an injury or fall, a long stretch of pain or infections, or ongoing stress. When they can’t relax, sex, sitting, using the bathroom or a pelvic exam can hurt, and the pain can feed more tension.
Pelvic pain often has more than one cause, and conditions such as endometriosis need medical care. Pelvic floor therapy works alongside your doctor’s treatment by addressing the muscle side of the pain.
Your first visit takes about 45 to 60 minutes. We talk about your symptoms, history and goals, then assess your posture, hips, breathing and pelvic floor. Your therapist explains every step first, and you can say no to any part of it.
Gentle hands-on treatment, breathing and relaxation training, and exercises that teach the pelvic floor to let go, not just squeeze.
Step-by-step strategies for comfortable sex, sitting and bathroom habits, education about pain, and a home program you can do on your own.
Go to an emergency room for sudden, severe pelvic or abdominal pain, especially if you could be pregnant or feel faint.
See a doctor promptly if pelvic pain comes with:
Pelvic floor care at ARI is for women, and it is always one-on-one at our Bakersfield clinic: 8200 Stockdale Hwy, Suite B2, in the Town & Country Village center next to Trader Joe's. Our clinic director, Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, has postgraduate pelvic rehabilitation training from the Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute. We accept most private insurance plans and Medicare, and we have staff who speak Spanish and Hindi.
Ready to feel better?
Talk to a licensed physical therapist at ARI, one-on-one. Request an evaluation and we'll get back to you, usually within one business day.
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If you have symptoms, a licensed clinician should evaluate you.
Clinically reviewed by Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, board-certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist · Reviewed September 2026