PCOS and Pelvic Health: How Pelvic Floor Therapy and Mindful Movement Can Help in Southern Maine
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common hormonal conditions affecting people of reproductive age, yet it is still widely misunderstood. While many conversations about PCOS focus on periods, fertility, or hormones, this condition also affects the pelvic floor and overall pelvic health.
For people in Southern Maine living with PCOS and struggling with pain, bladder leaks, constipation, or core changes, support is available. At Root To Rise Physical Therapy & Pelvic Health in Scarborough, Maine, we specialize in pelvic floor therapy and mindful movement practices like therapeutic yoga to help you manage PCOS symptoms and feel more connected to your body.
What Is PCOS?
PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) is a hormonal and metabolic condition that changes how the ovaries function. Instead of releasing an egg each month in a predictable cycle, people with PCOS may experience irregular or absent periods. Higher levels of androgens (often called “male hormones,” though everyone has them) and insulin resistance also play a role.
Common PCOS symptoms include:
Irregular or absent menstrual cycles
Difficulty getting pregnant
Ovarian cysts (though not everyone with PCOS has them)
Excess hair growth on the face or body
Acne or oily skin
Thinning hair on the scalp
Weight changes or difficulty losing weight
Fatigue and mood changes
Because PCOS impacts both hormones and metabolism, it is a whole-body condition and not just a reproductive one. That’s why whole-person care, like pelvic floor therapy and yoga, can be so valuable.
PCOS and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
Your pelvic floor doesn’t work in isolation. It’s affected by hormones, abdominal pressure, digestion, and overall stress. PCOS can contribute to a range of pelvic health concerns, including:
Pelvic pain and muscle tension: Hormonal changes and inflammation may heighten sensitivity in the pelvic floor, leading to pain with sex, tampon use, or pelvic exams.
Bloating and abdominal pressure: Digestive changes and insulin resistance often cause bloating, which places added strain on the pelvic floor.
Incontinence or urgency: Extra pressure on the bladder and pelvic floor muscles can lead to urinary leaks or frequent urges.
Constipation: Many people with PCOS struggle with gut health, and straining puts more stress on the pelvic floor.
Core and pelvic coordination difficulties: Hormonal shifts, weight distribution, and fatigue can make it harder to engage the core and pelvic floor together.
Stress and anxiety: The emotional toll of PCOS often shows up as tension in the pelvic floor muscles.
If you’re in Southern Maine and experiencing these symptoms, working with a pelvic floor physical therapist can help restore strength, balance, and comfort.
Pelvic Floor Therapy for PCOS in Southern Maine
Pelvic floor physical therapy focuses on restoring balance, strength, and function to the muscles, tissues, and nerves of the pelvis. At Root To Rise in Scarborough, ME, we provide individualized pelvic floor therapy for people with PCOS to address your unique symptoms and goals.
We may help you with:
Pain relief through manual therapy, dry needling breathwork, and relaxation strategies
Bladder and bowel training to reduce leakage, urgency, or constipation
Core strengthening to reconnect your abdominals, back, and pelvic floor
Exercise guidance to support safe, effective workouts without worsening symptoms
Stress management tools like breathwork and mindfulness to ease pelvic tension
Education and empowerment so you understand your body and feel confident managing symptoms
How Mindful Movement and Yoga Support PCOS
In addition to pelvic floor therapy, therapeutic yoga in Southern Maine is a powerful way to manage PCOS. Unlike high-intensity exercise, which can sometimes worsen stress and hormone imbalance, yoga emphasizes gentle movement, breath, and nervous system regulation.
Benefits of therapeutic yoga for PCOS include:
Lowering stress hormones and supporting hormonal balance
Improving insulin sensitivity and reducing inflammation
Enhancing pelvic floor awareness and coordination with the core
Reducing pelvic muscle tension and pain
Supporting emotional well-being with mindfulness and meditation
Encouraging circulation and blood flow to the pelvis
When combined with pelvic floor therapy, yoga helps people with PCOS reconnect with their bodies, improve pelvic health, and build sustainable wellness practices.
PCOS Care in Southern Maine: The Root To Rise Approach
At Root To Rise Physical Therapy & Pelvic Health, we combine evidence-based pelvic floor physical therapy with holistic tools like yoga, mindfulness, and breathwork. Whether you’re seeking relief from pelvic pain, bladder leaks, constipation, or simply want more energy and balance, our team is here to support you.
If you’re living with PCOS in Southern Maine, you don’t have to navigate these challenges alone.
✨ Ready to start your journey? Book a consultation with our Scarborough, Maine pelvic floor specialists today and learn how we can support your PCOS and pelvic health.
At Root to Rise Physical Therapy & Pelvic Health, we believe in a holistic approach to physical therapy. We are located in Scarborough, Saco, and Bath, and are here to support you!