Having a baby and the journey until childbirth can be one of the most beautiful and rewarding times of your life. Nothing can recreate the happiness you feel when you finally see your baby for the first time.
But having children can do a number on your pelvic floor, and there’s no getting away from that. Your pelvic floor, which is made up of numerous important muscles responsible for plenty of things, is shaped somewhat like a hammock.
Its importance cannot be overstated. These muscles are responsible for childbirth, using the toilet and even the ability to orgasm.
However, once you’ve given birth – it’s common for you to experience pelvic pain (see also: Can Pelvic Prolapse Cause Leg Pain?)due to a dysfunction in your pelvic floor.
One such way to solve this problem is through a pelvic wand (otherwise known as pelvic floor wand), which is a tool that many physical therapists will suggest. But what exactly is it and what does it do?
Today’s guide will explain everything you need to know. So, if you’re ready to find out more – then read on for all the answers!
Pelvic Wand: What You Need To Know
We’re going to kick off this guide by first exploring the basics, including what a pelvic wand is and why it might be an option, and then we’ll look at other things you might need to know.
We hope we answer all of your questions below.
What Is A Pelvic Wand?
A pelvic wand, which is often referred to as a pelvic floor wand, is a tool that you can use from the comfort of your own home. The tool aims to help you conduct soft tissue massage and trigger point release on your pelvic floor muscles.
These particular muscles are located deep in your pelvis, so the tool is designed to make things a lot easier to reach the area that you need to get to. These tools are made using medical grade materials.
As a result of this construction, they’re entirely safe to insert into the rectum or vagina – which is where you will reach the pelvic regions easier.
How Can A Pelvic Wand Help?
A pelvic floor wand helps you by applying pressure to the muscles that are situated in and around the pelvic floor, which in turn can improve the blood flow.
An improved blood flow in this area can help to alleviate tightness, help relax the area and ease any pain in the area.
The easiest way to think about a pelvic wand is that it is like other massage tools because it helps to ease tightness and pain.
The only real difference is that it is made with silicone and designed to target a specific area, whereas other tools are more generalised.
Pelvic wands are recommended for people dealing with conditions or symptoms that may include the following:
Pelvic Pain And Painful Intercourse
One of the most common symptoms of pelvic dysfunction is of course pelvic pain, but some women will not even be aware of a problem until they have sex.
If you find that intercourse has become painful, then you may find a pelvic wand is incredibly beneficial.
A pelvic wand in this instance can help to release any trigger points of pain and discomfort which are the factors behind your pain sensations in the pelvic floor region.
Urinary Incontinence
While it is true that urinary incontinence can often be down to weakness in the pelvic floor, it can also be a symptom of a pelvic floor that is overly reactive or incredibly tense.
If your pelvic region is tense or reactive, it can lead to urinary leaks.
Additionally, you may not be entirely incontinent – but you might find the urge to urinate has become much more common and frequent.
It’s important to get this checked out if this is your situation because it could be a symptom of numerous conditions.
Whatever the case, a pelvic wand can help to release the tension which causes the muscles to be overly reactive, allowing you to get back to your normal toilet routine.
While all of these symptoms above can normally be alleviated with a pelvic wand, you may wish to avoid using them if you have the following conditions in the next section.
When You May Wish To Avoid A Pelvic Wand
As we said, there may be times where a pelvic wand might not be the right fit for you and speaking to a GP could be much more beneficial. These next points will explain this a little more.
You Have “A Bulge” Or Pelvic Pressure
This is another symptom that could be numerous other conditions, like a pelvic organ (see also: What Organs Does A Pelvic CT Scan Show?)prolapse – so it’s always best to have your GP check this out. However, a pelvic wand could release some of the pressure for you.
You Have A Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
If you have a UTI, you likely have already taken steps to manage it – but it’s important to know that pelvic wands can potentially irritate the infection and make it worse. Therefore, we’d advise speaking to your GP first if you think a pelvic wand is your intention.
How To Use A Pelvic Wand
Using a pelvic wand is pretty simple, but it’s important that you’ve listened to your physical therapist and other medical professionals for the best possible advice.
Always remember to wash your hands, breathe deeply and go slowly – using a personal lubrication product when required. The key thing to remember is to try to relax and go at your own pace.
Once you have reached the intended area, target the area from six to ninety seconds depending on what your advice has been.
The Bottom Line
And that’s everything you need to know about a pelvic wand. If you think a pelvic wand might be the right choice for you, be sure to speak with your GP and physical therapist.
I'm Clare, the owner and operator of Off The Couch, where I serve as a qualified Nutrition & Health Coach.
Based in Dublin, Ireland, I offer coaching services both locally and globally, providing personalized strategies in nutrition, stress management, sleep quality, and fitness.
My journey into this field began as I navigated my own chronic illnesses, including early menopause, Interstitial Cystitis, Lyme Disease, and hydrocephalus.
