10 Signs Your Client Needs Pelvic Care Acupuncture
As acupuncturists, we are amazing at distilling symptoms into a diagnosis. Pelvic Health is an area we can provide really nutritive support if we can recognize the signs that there might be an issue.
Here are my top 10 signs and symptoms and how to investigate them:
Chronic Pelvic Pain:
While this seems obvious, clients don’t always volunteer that they have pelvic pain. It is our job to ask the questions. I group pelvic pain into the initial evaluation. Once we’ve warmed up and gotten through most of the health history, I start asking some more challenging questions about bladder, bowel and sexual health, then I usually ask about pelvic pain.
Menstrual Irregularities:
It is so normal for clients to think that irregular menstrual cycles, heavy or painful periods, or other menstrual disorders are normal. It is our role to help take normalcy out of imbalance. Pelvic Care acupuncture can help regulate hormonal balance and improve overall reproductive health.
Fertility Challenges:
There are so many factors that come into play when we have fertility issues. The pelvic floor isn’t often the number one thing we think of, but it sure can be a contributing factor for both men and women.
Urinary Incontinence:
Urinary incontinence is very often, though not always a sign, that there is some type of pelvic health disorder. Addressing the muses of the pelvic floor with Ashi Points and the surrounding tissues combined with acupuncture points for the TCM pattern can make substantial shifts in the body’s function.
Postpartum Recovery:
This transformation phase is a crucial time for women to get support in a number of ways, the pelvic floor being one. This is a great time to refuel the body and work with the spirit of the points to assure that the body feels whole again.
Gastrointestinal Disorders:
Conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or other gastrointestinal issues that manifest in the pelvic region may be an indicator of pelvic floor dysfunction. We already know the ways that acupuncture helps GI disorders, but recurring chronic disorders might require a deeper look to fully unwind the pattern.
Menopause:
Menopause is such a beautiful transitionary time, but it can be extremely uncomfortable for women. With the dramatic changes in hormones, the whole body, including the pelvic floor is functioning differently, systematically. Going directly to the pelvic floor, lower abdomen and sacrum can provide relief from the source.
Stress and Anxiety:
Again, acupuncture works wonders for stress and anxiety. Over the years, I have found that uncovering the source of the stress is really important to relieving that stress in a more permanent way. I would say with general acupuncture clients, about 15% of the time, the stressor is some type of pelvic floor related issue.
Recurrent Reproductive Health Issues / Traumas:
The physical and emotional toll of chronic and continuous problems related to reproduction is really hard. These issues over time left unresolved can lead to both physical and emotional blocks in the systems functioning. As acupuncturists, we are pros at clearing blocks and restoring the flow of blood and qi.
Musculoskeletal Pain:
Musculoskeletal pain in the pelvic area, including the low back, abdomen, hips, sacroiliac joints, sacrum, or coccyx, can be a sign of pelvic dysfunction. We can target specific patterns of dysfunction to restore optimal function.
It's important to note that these signs are not exhaustive or exclusive, and each client's situation is unique. As acupuncturists, we should conduct thorough assessments, consider the client's medical history, and engage in open communication to tailor treatment plans to individual needs. So much of our diagnostics are based on awareness; the more awareness we have to the pelvic floor, the more distilled our approach can become to rule in or rule out specific issues.
To learn more about my comprehensive approach to Pelvic Care as a whole click here.