Pelvic Floor Acupuncture in Portland, Oregon
Pelvic Floor Acupuncture
- Holistic Integrative Approach
- Personalized Medicine
- Evidence-based Care
Acupuncture for Pelvic Floor Muscles in Portland OR
What is the Pelvic Floor?
The pelvic floor is comprised of the muscles and ligaments that are attached to the pelvis, supporting the abdomen. These muscles are responsible for bladder and bowel movement control.
What are the symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction?
One in five people will experience a pelvic floor dysfunction as a result of weak pelvic muscles and connective tissue. These are some of the common conditions:
- Urinary Incontinence
- Bladder control issues such as urgency or dribbling
- Chronic constipation
- Endometriosis
- Painful periods
- Pain with intercourse
- Inflammation and prolapse
- Diffuse pain in the glutes
- Pain from an episiotomy or scarring from a C-section
- Vulvodynia – severe pain, burning, stinging of the vulva
- Tailbone pain from past falls or after birth
- Post surgical recovery for gender affirming care
Pelvic floor acupuncture gently needles soft tissue and ligaments, enhancing neural communication, reducing pain, and restoring pelvic floor muscle function by improving neural reintegration.
Benefits of Pelvic Floor Acupuncture:
Pelvic Floor acupuncture is a gentle technique of needling soft tissue and ligaments that have a direct effect on the pelvic floor muscles. These highly effective pelvic floor acupuncture techniques establish a direct communication between the pelvic floor muscles and the central nervous system, allowing for neural reintegration and adjustment of muscles, thus reducing pain.
Acupuncture releases muscle tension and fascial adhesions to restore proper range of motion in the tissue. The pelvic floor muscles are restored to proper function by:
- Reducing pain
- Relaxing taut muscle tissue, ligaments and fascia
- Creating a neurological reintegration and adjustment of inactive or weak muscles
Pelvic Floor Acupuncture for Gender-Affirming Care
Pelvic floor health is an important part of recovery and long-term wellbeing for transgender and non-binary individuals — both before and after gender-affirming surgery. At Willow Tree, Dr. Kiné Fischler and Lauren Love bring clinical experience and deep respect for the trans and non-binary community to every appointment.
Acupuncture can support post-surgical healing by reducing inflammation, relieving pelvic pain, improving circulation to healing tissue, and calming the nervous system during recovery. It can also help address pelvic floor tension, scar tissue sensitivity, urinary changes, and emotional stress that often accompany surgical transition. Lauren’s approach to pelvic floor acupuncture is gentle, consent-centered, and highly effective — meeting each patient exactly where they are in their healing process.
We understand that finding affirming, knowledgeable healthcare providers in Portland can be challenging. At Willow Tree, every patient is welcomed with respect, dignity, and individualized care regardless of gender identity or surgical history. If you have questions about how acupuncture can support your recovery or pelvic floor health, we invite you to schedule an initial consultation.
Gentle, consent-centered pelvic floor acupuncture for transgender and non-binary patients — supporting your healing at every stage of your gender-affirming journey.
- Gentle, Consent-Centered Care
- Affirming & Inclusive Environment
- Experienced in Trans & Non-Binary Health
Individual Pelvic Floor Acupuncture Plans for Portlanders
Where are you needling?
Using small needles to minimize discomfort, we use points that affect the pelvic floor in the low back, glutes, abdominal muscles, and adductors. Each individual patient is assessed for the number of sessions required and areas that we will be treating. You are completely in control of the process and each step will be explained along the way as well as asking for consent throughout treatment.
Pelvic Floor Acupuncture FAQ
Q: Can acupuncture help with pelvic pain?
A: Yes, when done with a practitioner who has specifically trained in pelvic floor acupuncture. Chronic pelvic pain is one of the conditions that responds well to acupuncture, particularly when the pain involves muscle tension, nerve sensitization, or inflammatory patterns. Acupuncture can reduce pain signals, release tight muscles, improve pelvic circulation, and calm the nervous system — addressing the multiple overlapping factors that often drive chronic pelvic pain.
Q: Does acupuncture work alongside pelvic floor physical therapy?
A: Yes — and this combination is often more effective than either treatment alone. Acupuncture helps reduce muscle tension, pain, and nervous system reactivity, which can make pelvic floor physical therapy more accessible and productive. At Willow Tree, we regularly collaborate with pelvic floor physical therapists throughout Portland and welcome coordinated care. If you are currently working with a pelvic PT, please let us know so we can align our approach with your existing treatment.
Q: Is pelvic floor acupuncture painful?
A: No — pelvic floor acupuncture at Willow Tree is gentle and should not be painful. Slight discomfort can indicate an area of restriction but is often described as a productive release of the tissue. We do not perform internal exams or acupuncture. Our practitioners are experienced in working with patients who have pain sensitivity and always adjust treatment based on your comfort level. Most patients find sessions deeply relaxing.
Q: Can acupuncture help with pelvic floor dysfunction?
A: Yes. Acupuncture is an effective complementary treatment for pelvic floor dysfunction, working by releasing hypertonic muscles, reducing inflammation, calming the nervous system, and improving circulation to the pelvic region. A gentle approach is essential — aggressive treatment can trigger flare-ups in patients with sensitive or overactive pelvic floor muscles. At Willow Tree, our practitioners are experienced in pelvic health and use a careful, individualized approach that works with your body rather than against it.
What Our Patients Say
90+ five star reviews