Pelvic Floor Therapy

Don’t Suffer with Painful Cramps – Pelvic Floor Therapy Can Help

Menstrual cramps are often dismissed as a normal part of being a woman, something to endure month after month with pain relievers and heating pads. While mild cramping during menstruation is common, severe cramps that interfere with daily activities, work, or sleep are not normal and deserve proper treatment. At Santa Fe OBGYN, we offer advanced diagnosis and treatment of pelvic pain – including specialized pelvic floor therapy with Jacqueline Maestas, DPT. Jacqueline is a licensed physical therapist who is certified in pelvic floor therapy, providing women with an effective, drug-free approach to reducing pelvic pain and cramping.

Many women describe their menstrual cramps as debilitating pain that radiates through the lower abdomen, back, and thighs. Some experience nausea, headaches, and fatigue alongside the cramping, forcing them to cancel plans or miss work each month. Others deal with chronic pelvic pain that extends beyond menstruation, creating daily discomfort that affects quality of life. The connection between pelvic floor dysfunction and painful cramps is often overlooked, yet addressing muscle tension and dysfunction in the pelvic region can provide significant relief.

Pelvic floor therapy offers a comprehensive approach to reducing painful cramps by releasing muscle tension, improving blood flow, and addressing the underlying factors that contribute to pelvic pain. Rather than simply masking pain with medication, this specialized treatment helps women find lasting relief and take control of their menstrual health.

Understanding Pelvic Floor Therapy for Menstrual Pain

Pelvic floor therapy is a specialized form of physical therapy that focuses on the muscles, connective tissues, and nerves of the pelvic region. These muscles play a significant role in menstrual pain, as tension and dysfunction in the pelvic floor can amplify cramping and contribute to chronic pelvic discomfort. When pelvic floor muscles are tight or in spasm, they restrict blood flow to the pelvic organs, increase nerve sensitivity, and create a painful cycle that worsens with each menstrual period.

During pelvic floor therapy sessions at Santa Fe OBGYN, Jacqueline Maestas, DPT conducts a thorough assessment to identify areas of muscle tension, trigger points, and restrictions in the pelvic region. This evaluation helps determine how pelvic floor dysfunction contributes to cramping and pelvic pain. Many women with severe menstrual cramps have hypertonic pelvic floor muscles, meaning the muscles are constantly tense and unable to fully relax. This chronic tension increases pain sensitivity and creates referred pain patterns throughout the pelvis, abdomen, and lower back.

Treatment is provided in a private, comfortable setting where women can discuss their symptoms openly without embarrassment. Jacqueline Maestas, DPT uses evidence-based techniques to release muscle tension, improve tissue mobility, and teach women how to manage their symptoms between sessions. Most women notice improvement in their menstrual cramps within a few treatment cycles, with continued progress as therapy addresses underlying dysfunction.

What Causes Painful Menstrual Cramps

Menstrual cramps, medically called dysmenorrhea, occur when the uterus contracts to shed its lining during menstruation. The uterus releases hormone-like substances called prostaglandins that trigger these contractions. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, higher levels of prostaglandins are associated with more severe menstrual cramps. These strong contractions reduce blood flow to the uterus, causing pain similar to how reduced blood flow to the heart causes chest pain.

Primary dysmenorrhea refers to common menstrual cramps not caused by another medical condition. This typically begins in adolescence within a few years of starting menstruation and may improve with age or after childbirth. Secondary dysmenorrhea is caused by underlying conditions such as endometriosis, where uterine-like tissue grows outside the uterus, causing inflammation and severe pain. The National Institutes of Health reports that endometriosis affects approximately eleven percent of women between ages fifteen and forty-four, making it a common cause of debilitating menstrual pain.

Uterine fibroids, noncancerous growths in the uterus, can cause heavy bleeding and severe cramping. Adenomyosis, where uterine lining tissue grows into the muscular wall of the uterus, creates painful, heavy periods and chronic pelvic pain. Pelvic inflammatory disease, an infection of the reproductive organs, can cause ongoing pelvic pain and worsened menstrual cramps. While these conditions require medical treatment, pelvic floor therapy at Santa Fe OBGYN can provide significant symptom relief by addressing the muscle tension and dysfunction that amplifies pain.

Pelvic floor muscle dysfunction itself contributes significantly to painful cramps. When pelvic floor muscles are chronically tight, they create tension throughout the pelvis that intensifies cramping sensations. Poor posture, stress, previous trauma, and even holding urine or stool too long can cause pelvic floor tension. This muscle tension restricts blood flow to pelvic organs, increases inflammation, and heightens pain sensitivity, making normal uterine contractions feel much more painful than they should.

How Many Women Experience Severe Menstrual Cramps

Painful menstrual cramps affect a significant portion of women of reproductive age. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, dysmenorrhea is the most common gynecologic complaint among women, with studies indicating that between fifty and ninety percent of women of reproductive age experience some degree of menstrual pain. However, the severity varies widely, with approximately ten to fifteen percent of women experiencing pain severe enough to interfere with daily activities.

Research published in the Journal of Women’s Health found that among women with dysmenorrhea, approximately fourteen percent consistently miss work or school due to menstrual pain, and many more report decreased productivity during menstruation. The economic impact is substantial, with estimates suggesting that dysmenorrhea causes approximately six hundred million lost work hours annually in the United States alone. Beyond the economic costs, the physical and emotional toll of living with severe monthly pain significantly diminishes quality of life.

Despite how common and debilitating painful cramps can be, many women do not seek treatment. Some believe severe cramping is normal or that nothing can be done beyond taking pain medication. Others feel embarrassed discussing menstrual symptoms or worry their concerns will be dismissed. This is unfortunate because effective treatments, including pelvic floor therapy at SAnta Fe OBGYN, can provide substantial relief, yet many women continue to suffer unnecessarily for years before discovering this option.

How Pelvic Floor Therapy Reduces Painful Cramps

Pelvic floor therapy addresses painful cramps through multiple mechanisms that target the root causes of pelvic pain. The primary focus is releasing tension in the pelvic floor muscles through manual therapy techniques. Jacqueline Maestas, DPT uses specialized internal and external myofascial release to identify and release trigger points, areas of tightly contracted muscle fibers that refer pain throughout the pelvis. As these trigger points are deactivated and muscle tension decreases, many women experience significant reduction in cramping intensity.

Improving blood flow to the pelvic region is another key benefit of pelvic floor therapy. When tight muscles are released, circulation improves, bringing more oxygen and nutrients to pelvic tissues while removing inflammatory substances. This improved circulation reduces the ischemic pain caused by uterine contractions and helps tissues heal from chronic inflammation. Better blood flow also supports healthier function of the reproductive organs overall.

Pelvic floor therapy includes treatment of surrounding areas that contribute to pelvic pain. Tension in the hips, lower back, and abdomen often accompanies pelvic floor dysfunction and can amplify menstrual cramps. Jacqueline Maestas, DPT addresses these areas through manual therapy and corrective exercises, releasing fascial restrictions and improving overall pelvic alignment. When the entire pelvis and surrounding structures function optimally, cramping typically decreases significantly.

Breathing and relaxation techniques form an important component of treatment. Many women with chronic pelvic pain develop shallow chest breathing patterns and hold tension in their abdomen and pelvic floor. Learning diaphragmatic breathing helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing pain perception and promoting muscle relaxation. These techniques can be used at home during menstruation to help manage cramping when it occurs.

For women with conditions like endometriosis or fibroids contributing to painful cramps, pelvic floor therapy serves as an important complementary treatment. While it does not cure these conditions, addressing pelvic floor dysfunction can significantly reduce the pain symptoms they cause. Many of our patients at Santa Fe OBGYN find that combining medical treatment for underlying conditions with pelvic floor therapy produces better results than either approach alone.

Self-Care Strategies Complement Pelvic Floor Therapy for Cramps

Along with hands-on treatment at Santa Fe OBGYN, Jacqueline Maestas, DPT teaches women self-care strategies to manage cramping between therapy sessions. These may include specific stretches for the hips, lower back, and pelvic floor that help maintain muscle flexibility and reduce tension. Gentle yoga poses that open the hips and lengthen the psoas muscles can be particularly helpful. Women learn how to use tennis balls or foam rollers to release external trigger points in the hips and buttocks that contribute to pelvic pain.

Heat therapy remains a valuable tool for managing menstrual cramps, and understanding how to use it most effectively enhances results. Applying heat to the lower abdomen and lower back increases blood flow and relaxes muscles. Some women find relief using heat on the inner thighs or hips where pelvic floor tension may refer pain. Warm baths with Epsom salts can provide full-body relaxation and magnesium absorption, which may help reduce muscle cramping.

Lifestyle modifications can also impact menstrual pain. Regular physical activity, particularly exercises that strengthen the core and improve pelvic stability, helps reduce cramping severity. According to research in the Journal of Education and Health Promotion, women who exercise regularly report less severe dysmenorrhea than sedentary women. Managing stress through mindfulness, meditation, or other relaxation practices helps prevent the muscle tension that amplifies pelvic pain. Adequate sleep supports the body’s natural pain management systems and reduces inflammation.

Why Choose Pelvic Floor Therapy at Santa Fe OBGYN for Menstrual Pain

Addressing painful cramps requires specialized expertise and a comprehensive understanding of how pelvic floor dysfunction contributes to menstrual pain. At Santa Fe OBGYN, Jacqueline Maestas, DPT brings advanced training as a licensed physical therapist who is certified in pelvic floor therapy, with specific expertise in treating pelvic pain conditions. Her thorough approach addresses not just symptoms but the underlying muscle dysfunction and movement patterns that perpetuate painful cramps month after month.

At Santa Fe OBGYN, pelvic floor therapy is integrated within a full-service women’s health practice. This allows Jacqueline Maestas, DPT to work collaboratively with board certified OBGYN Dr. Lynore Martinez, MD and the entire care team. If underlying conditions like endometriosis, fibroids, or hormonal imbalances contribute to painful cramps, these can be properly diagnosed and treated by Dr. Martinez, while pelvic floor therapy addresses the musculoskeletal component of pain. This coordinated care approach produces better outcomes than treating symptoms in isolation.

The treatment environment at Santa Fe OBGYN prioritizes comfort and privacy. Discussing menstrual pain and pelvic symptoms can feel vulnerable, and the compassionate approach taken by Jacqueline Maestas, DPT helps women feel at ease. Each treatment plan is individualized based on the severity of symptoms, underlying conditions, and personal goals. Some women find relief within a few months, while others with complex chronic pain benefit from longer treatment courses. Throughout the process, education and support empower women to understand their bodies and actively participate in their healing.

Research supports the effectiveness of pelvic floor therapy for reducing menstrual pain. Studies published in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies have demonstrated significant reductions in dysmenorrhea severity following pelvic floor physical therapy interventions. Women in these studies reported decreased pain intensity, reduced need for pain medication, and improved quality of life. The drug-free nature of this treatment makes it particularly appealing for women who prefer to avoid or reduce medication use.

Pelvic Floor Therapy | Santa Fe

Pelvic pain and severe menstrual cramps do not have to control your life month after month. If you find yourself canceling plans, missing work, or living in fear of your next period, pelvic floor therapy at Santa Fe OBGYN can help you find relief. Jacqueline Maestas, DPT has helped many women reduce painful cramps and chronic pelvic pain through specialized treatment that addresses the root causes of discomfort.

You deserve to experience comfortable menstrual cycles without debilitating pain. Schedule a pelvic floor therapy consultation at Santa Fe OBGYN today and discover how pelvic floor therapy can help you reduce pain and get your life back.

Santa Fe Pelvic Floor Therapy: 505-988-4922