Pelvic Pain Awareness Month

Pelvic Pain during Perimenopause and Menopause

May is Pelvic Pain Awareness Month. We have previously highlighted many pelvic pain conditions which can be found using our search bar on our blog page. This week we discuss the impact of Perimenopause and Menopause with regards to Pelvic Pain.

As conversations about perimenopause and menopause become more nuanced, the medical community is reevaluating long-held beliefs around hormone therapy, pain perception, and musculoskeletal health. What’s emerging is a holistic picture—one where pelvic health physical therapy plays a pivotal, if under-recognized, role.

Hormones Influence Pain Experienced

Perimenopause is often framed through the lens of hormone decline and hot flashes, yet deeper myths persist. Hormone therapy, once vilified, is now regaining acceptance in certain contexts for symptom relief and bone health. But hormones alone don’t tell the whole story.

New research suggests that hormonal fluctuations during perimenopause can heighten pain sensitivity, especially in the pelvic region. This insight underscores the connection between estrogen loss and altered pain perception—bringing pelvic health physical therapy into sharp focus. Pelvic health specialists can tailor interventions that calm overactive pain pathways and improve tissue health through manual therapy and neuromuscular retraining.

Reduced Movement Reduces Muscle Strength

Meanwhile, the musculoskeletal effects of menopause—such as reduced bone density, joint stiffness, and pelvic floor dysfunction—are too often overlooked. These changes are frequently compounded by decreased physical activity, as pain or discomfort leads many women to move less, creating a cycle of stiffness, weakness, and further pain. During perimenopause and menopause, this reduction in movement is particularly impactful: hormonal shifts already predispose the body to muscle loss and joint vulnerability, making regular exercise all the more essential. Pelvic health physical therapy interrupts this cycle with targeted strength training, postural education, and pelvic floor exercises that not only address the root of dysfunction but also empower women to move confidently again—restoring balance, stability, and long-term resilience.

Our Role in Helping You

Menopause is not simply a hormonal cliff; it’s a biological transition that affects the whole body. Integrating pelvic health physical therapy into perimenopausal and menopausal care offers a grounded, evidence-based approach that can improve quality of life—without relying solely on a prescription pad.

Our treatments are for up to one hour and include a spectrum of interventions from hands on manual therapy to resistance strength training which aims to improve bone density and muscle mass. Our physical therapists are all certified in pelvic health and together have a combined over 25 years of experience.