Pelvic Floor Therapy for Endometriosis - NYC

Endometriosis is a condition that can greatly affect your quality of life due to pain and fatigue—but it can be managed with the right treatment and support.

This condition can impact your productivity at school and work, as well as your relationships with partners, family, and friends. In fact, 1 in 10 women live with endometriosis.

Understanding Endometriosis

Endometriosis happens when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus travels and attaches to other organs, forming adhesions. It commonly affects the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterosacral ligaments, bladder, bowels, and even the gallbladder. In some cases, it can reach the diaphragm and lungs. These adhesions often become inflamed and cause pain, which can be severe.

Common Symptoms of Endometriosis:

• Pain throughout different phases of your menstrual cycle

• Painful periods

• Chronic pelvic pain and cramping

• Low back pain

• Fatigue

• Constipation or other GI issues

• Possible infertility (seen in 25%-35% of cases)

• Pain with intercourse

• Pain with urination or bowel movements

• Nausea

• Pelvic floor dysfunction

Diagnosing Endometriosis

Getting a proper diagnosis can be challenging—on average, it can take 6 to 12 years. While imaging studies (like ultrasounds or MRIs) may suggest endometriosis, the gold standard for a definitive diagnosis is a biopsy taken during laparoscopic excision surgery. During this minimally invasive procedure, a surgeon can view the pelvis, identify endometriosis lesions, and remove or excise them for further analysis.

Early detection and specialized care are essential. If you suspect endometriosis, discuss all diagnostic options with your healthcare provider.

Comprehensive Treatments for Endometriosis

Although there is no cure for endometriosis, its symptoms can be managed through a multidisciplinary approach. It’s important to work with a team of practitioners who communicate well with each other. This team may include:

• A gynecologist or physiatrist specializing in pelvic pain

• A pelvic floor physical therapist

• A gastroenterologist

• A nutritionist

• An experienced surgeon (if needed)

Lifestyle adjustments such as eating a balanced, anti-inflammatory diet and practicing relaxation techniques can help reduce inflammation and stress on the body. Acupuncture can calm the nervous system and lessen pain, while meditation can help you handle daily stress.

Surgical Treatment

For moderate to severe cases or when conservative measures are not effective, surgery may be recommended. Laparoscopic excision is considered the most effective surgical approach. Benefits of surgical excision include:

• May provide significant pain relief.

• Can improve fertility outcomes, especially if endometriosis affects reproductive organs.

• Helps confirm diagnosis through biopsy.

Recovery varies, but many individuals find that combining surgery with pelvic floor physical therapy optimizes healing, reduces pain, and addresses any lingering muscle tension or nerve sensitivity.

Physical Therapy for Endometriosis

Pelvic floor physical therapy plays a crucial role in managing endometriosis because it directly addresses the tension, tightness, and discomfort often found in the pelvic area.

The pelvic floor muscles support everything in your abdomen. They can be greatly affected by the fluctuating inflammation caused by the endometriosis lesions. The stress from the lesions, or from secondary symptoms such as gastric upset, can lead to severe tension and sensitivity in the pelvic musculature.

Some techniques our physical therapists might use are: 

• Mobilization of the pelvic floor muscles to reduce tension and pain

• Myofascial release of the hips, core, or other symptomatic areas

• Diaphragmatic release to enhance mobility, ease breathing, and decrease pain in the abdominal canister

• Visceral mobilization to alleviate bowel distress or bladder sensitivity

• Graded exposure techniques for desensitizing painful tissue and reducing pain with intercourse

• Retraining of pelvic floor muscles to improve function

• General strengthening and mobility work

• Postural retraining

• Manual lymphatic drainage to reduce bloating and inflammation

With the help of a pelvic floor physical therapist, many women with endometriosis experience decreased pain and a better overall quality of life.

If you need help treating endometriosis, we are here for you. Our pelvic floor physical therapists will guide you through a personalized treatment plan to alleviate your pain and improve your well-being. Whether you’re exploring conservative management options or recovering from surgical intervention, a targeted physical therapy program can greatly enhance your quality of life.

Take the first step toward relief—book your appointment today.