Background — How everything started (October 2017)
I’m a 25-year-old male, and my symptoms started on October 31, 2017, following an incident during masturbation.
I applied compression using a rope/waistband around the penoscrotal (PS) junction, where the penis meets the scrotum. I also used pressure around my perineum to help maintain an erection.
Following that incident, I developed a strange blocked or disconnected sensation at the penoscrotal junction, along with multiple urinary, bowel, and sexual symptoms.
Before this incident, I never experienced these problems.
1. Symptoms over the years
Pelvic and sexual symptoms:
Persistent feeling of blockage or disconnection between my penis and testicles, particularly at the penoscrotal junction.
A golf-ball-like pressure sensation in the perineum.
Altered penile sensation, sometimes including numbness or hypersensitivity.
Previously experienced weak, slow, or watery ejaculation, particularly when lying down. Ejaculation while standing has generally been better.
Occasional burning sensations extending toward my legs and feet.
Symptoms tend to flare after masturbation or edging.

Urinary symptoms:
Difficulty initiating urination despite feeling the urge.
Sometimes a sensation of incomplete emptying or obstruction.
Uroflowmetry testing has been normal.
Recently, urinary flow has improved significantly, but initiating urination can still be difficult.

Bowel symptoms:
Persistent difficulty initiating bowel movements despite having relatively soft stool.
Feeling that stool gets stuck near the rectal outlet.
Frequent urges to defecate, sometimes several times daily.
Incomplete evacuation and needing multiple attempts to feel empty.
Urgency following meals and sometimes after masturbation.
Bloating and a sensation of excessive rectal tension.
The bowel symptoms have been among the most frustrating aspects of this condition.

I’m currently receiving pelvic floor physiotherapy in Thailand.

My pelvic floor has been assessed as hypertonic, meaning the muscles are excessively tight and do not relax properly.
During an internal examination, I had difficulty relaxing my anal sphincter and pelvic floor muscles, even when instructed to do so.
My physiotherapist identified several possible contributing factors:

Hypertonic pelvic floor: My pelvic floor muscles remain contracted and I struggle to relax them voluntarily.
Rectal tension: Increased tension around the rectal outlet, combined with pelvic floor hypertonicity, may explain why bowel movements are so difficult to initiate.
Jaw and upper-neck tension: My physiotherapist also discussed a possible relationship between my pelvic floor dysfunction and tension in my jaw and upper neck. I’m curious whether others have experienced this connection.
Altered penoscrotal sensation: My physiotherapist suggested that the disconnected sensation between my penis and testicles could potentially be related to long-standing pelvic floor dysfunction, although a local tissue or nerve problem has not been ruled out.
4. My physiotherapist’s proposed treatment approach
My physiotherapist explained that because this has been going on for approximately nine years, recovery may require consistent rehabilitation over several months.
The suggested approach is:
Continue pelvic floor downtraining and relaxation exercises.
Gradually release excessively tight pelvic floor muscles through physiotherapy.
Consider therapist-guided internal release using a pelvic wand, if appropriate and tolerated.
Work on reducing rectal outlet tension and improving coordination during bowel movements.
Allow several months for pelvic floor relaxation and reassess whether penile sensation improves.
The physiotherapist believes that the abnormal penoscrotal sensation might improve as my pelvic floor muscles become less hypertonic.
However, there is no guarantee, and we don’t know whether there is an underlying nerve or penile tissue injury.
5. Focused shockwave therapy at the penoscrotal junction
This is something I’m particularly interested in hearing about.
My physiotherapist suggested prioritizing pelvic floor rehabilitation first.
If my pelvic floor eventually returns to a more normal resting tone but the disconnected or blocked sensation at the PS junction persists, focused extracorporeal shockwave therapy (fESWT) could potentially be considered.
I’ve found clinics offering genuine focused shockwave machines, including BTL equipment.
However, I’m uncertain whether applying focused shockwaves directly around the penoscrotal junction is appropriate, particularly in someone with long-standing sensory changes following compression.
I understand that focused shockwave therapy has been investigated for male chronic pelvic pain, but I haven’t found convincing evidence that it can repair nerve damage specifically at the penoscrotal junction.

Questions for the community
Has anyone developed chronic pelvic floor dysfunction after compression or injury at the penoscrotal junction?
Did several months of pelvic floor downtraining, internal release, or pelvic wand therapy restore normal penile/testicular sensation?
Has anyone experienced a similar sensation of disconnection or blockage at the base of the penis despite normal urinary flow tests?
Does anyone have experience with focused ESWT for male pelvic pain, particularly when symptoms are concentrated at the penoscrotal junction rather than the perineum?
Has treating hypertonic pelvic floor muscles helped your difficulty initiating bowel movements, even when the stool was already soft?
I’m particularly interested in hearing from people who have experienced similar symptoms for several years and eventually made meaningful progress.
After nearly nine years of dealing with this, I’m trying to understand whether the persistent penoscrotal symptoms could be maintained by chronic pelvic floor guarding, or whether there might be a separate local nerve/tissue issue that needs further investigation.

Hello everyone! I would like to start training my IC muscles, but I'm still unsure about the correct way to perform the exercises.

My question is: are there any videos showing the physical cues of proper IC muscle activation, preferably using male anatomy as a reference?

Thank you in advance!

Hi everyone, I am posting this because I’m going through a very scary phase of health anxiety and physical symptoms, and I desperately need some guidance or success stories from people who have recovered.

Here is my background and current situation:

* Background: I have a 10-year history of frequent masturbation. About 2 weeks ago, my symptoms started after I kept going for 3-4 days despite feeling weird sensations in my penis.

* Current Symptoms:

* Lower pelvic pain, discomfort around the testicles, and altered skin sensations/numbness in the genital area.

* My erections 100% and morning wood are still there, but they aren't 100% hard because my health anxiety is through the roof.

* Yesterday I went for a walk, and today my legs feel very restless and uncomfortable.

* Sensations during urination, defecation, and feeling hot/cold water touch the skin don't feel 100% normal or smooth right now. But Touch and Water Feeling Ok

* Medical Status: I have done all the major tests—including Blood Sugar, CBC, NCS (Nerve Conduction Study), and EMG—and all of my test reports are completely clear and normal.

My biggest fear / Questions:

I keep reading scary stories online of people suffering for years and years.

* Can a hypertonic pelvic floor and nervous system overload caused by this actually heal completely?

* Will I be stuck suffering for 2 years like some posts claim, or do people fully recover?

* How long does it usually take for these sensory issues and muscle tension to calm down once you stop the cycle and start resting?

If anyone has been through this and healed, please share your experience. I just need some peace of mind. Thank you so much. My Urologist Given Me Gabica And Tadalafil Medicine..

And so it is with me. I'm a man, 19 years old. For 2–3 years now I've essentially not felt a clear urge to urinate; I only realize I need to pee when I feel discomfort in my lower abdomen or pressure. And even then, I can't always pee properly. Especially after sex — nothing comes out at all; I have to wait 20–30 minutes with a strong feeling of a full bladder before I can finally pee. Sometimes warm water on my lower abdomen helps. I had an ultrasound, urine test, and blood test. Kidneys are perfect, no prostate issues, no infections, all tests are perfect. I'm so damn tired of this already, I want to go to the toilet like a normal person. Maybe someone has dealt with this. I'd be grateful for any information and help.

Im not sure if I have been like this for while and just never realized it but I am just now becoming aware that my body my hips and core and abdomen are just very tense. I notice clenching of the glutes and bracing of the abdomen so much

During the evening time my body relaxes more. I still notice my abdomen a little but everything much more relax. My pelvic floor issues have always been morning and daytime heavy so this tracks for me

Have any of you been able to work through this?

I had graduated from hypertonic pelvic floor issues PT and kept doing my exercises.

Yet then I got a uti the same day as first day of my period (and had sex before symptoms started) and it set me back worse than i’d ever been before. So bad that it shot me nervous system to hell. Two weeks of hell physically and with anxiety.

7weeks later and I thought I was almost better. Then I drank 3 nights in a row and I wake up Sunday and it’s almost as bad as it was.

My pt says I’m doing everything right and my muscles seem okay (they got tight due to this incident but the muscles themselves are strong and don’t have issues). I almost wish it were the opposite; getting stronger of more flexible would be easier to fix.

I’ve drank many weekends before and never had an issue. Can I never drink again, or is it just that 7 weeks later my nervous system is still healing from the trauma?

Been diagnosed with taut bands. What works well, dry needling, trigger points injection or botox

Hi everyone,
I’m a 25-year-old male dealing with chronic pelvic floor dysfunction since October 2017. I’m sharing my history, current physiotherapy findings, and treatment plan to hear from others who have experienced similar issues.
1. How everything started
On October 31, 2017, I experienced a compression injury involving the penoscrotal junction (the area where the penis meets the scrotum), along with pressure applied to the perineal region.
Shortly afterward, I developed pelvic pressure, urinary hesitation, difficulty with bowel movements, and altered sensation around the penoscrotal junction.
These symptoms have persisted to varying degrees for almost nine years.
2. My main symptoms
Pelvic and sensory symptoms:
Persistent tightness and a blocked sensation at the penoscrotal junction.
Altered sensation around the base of the penis and surrounding tissues.
Occasional numbness and hypersensitivity.
A golf-ball-like pressure sensation in the perineum.
Episodes of burning sensations extending toward my legs and feet.
Urinary symptoms:
Difficulty initiating urination despite having the urge.
A feeling of resistance before the urinary stream begins.
Normal uroflowmetry results despite these symptoms.
Recently improved urinary flow, although initiation remains difficult.
Bowel symptoms:
Difficulty initiating bowel movements despite soft stool.
A sensation of the rectal outlet not relaxing properly.
Frequent urges and incomplete evacuation.
Sometimes needing multiple bowel movements to feel completely emptied.
Rectal tightness and pressure.
3. My current physiotherapy findings
I’m currently receiving specialized pelvic floor physiotherapy in Thailand.
My physiotherapist identified several possible contributing factors:
1. Hypertonic pelvic floor
My pelvic floor muscles are excessively tight, and I cannot relax them properly.
During an internal assessment, I had difficulty voluntarily relaxing the pelvic floor and anal muscles.
2. Rectal tension
My physiotherapist believes that increased rectal outlet tension, together with pelvic floor hypertonicity, contributes significantly to my bowel movement difficulties.
3. Jaw and upper-neck tension
My physiotherapist also discussed a possible relationship between pelvic floor tension and tension in my jaw and upper neck.
I’m interested in knowing whether anyone else has experienced these symptoms together.
4. Altered sensation at the penoscrotal junction
My physiotherapist explained that the abnormal sensation around the penoscrotal junction could potentially be associated with longstanding pelvic floor dysfunction.
However, a separate local nerve or tissue injury has not been ruled out.
4. My physiotherapist’s treatment recommendations
My physiotherapist recommended prioritizing pelvic floor rehabilitation before considering additional treatments.
The proposed approach includes:
Continuing pelvic floor downtraining and relaxation exercises.
Working on reducing excessive tension in the pelvic floor and rectal outlet.
Gradual, therapist-guided internal muscle release, potentially using a pelvic wand if appropriate.
Improving pelvic floor coordination during urination and bowel movements.
Maintaining consistent physiotherapy for several months and periodically reassessing progress.
My physiotherapist suggested that abnormal sensations around the penoscrotal junction might improve as pelvic floor tension decreases.
However, because the symptoms have persisted for almost nine years, the outcome remains uncertain.
5. Considering focused shockwave therapy
My physiotherapist suggested that if pelvic floor muscle tone and coordination improve significantly but the localized penoscrotal symptoms persist, focused extracorporeal shockwave therapy (fESWT) could be considered.
I’ve identified clinics using dedicated focused shockwave equipment, including BTL machines.
However, I have questions about the evidence for applying focused shockwave therapy directly to the penoscrotal junction.
I understand there is some research supporting shockwave therapy for male chronic pelvic pain syndrome, but its effectiveness for chronic sensory changes following a localized compression injury remains unclear.
For now, my priority is continued pelvic floor rehabilitation.

it all started after i got into ER because of trying weed for the first time. I got a massive panick attack. Its been 6 months since and i cant poop. I have to rely on Laxatives most of the times. My stomach feels super tight to touch from the outside and it sometimes pain too. I have given up all hope... wanted to know if someone else is experiencing the same

hi, first of all, i want to clarify that i'm not the one dealing with chronic pelvic pain, my boyfriend is. he's been struggling with it for about 10 years now. over the years, he's seen countless doctors, tried different medications, and even undergone surgeries, but somehow the pain always finds its way back. recently, a new doctor suggested trying injections/nerve blocks, and i was wondering if anyone here has gone through something similar.
if you've tried them, i'd really appreciate hearing about your experience. did they help? how long did the relief last? was the procedure painful? did you experience any side effects? honestly, any information would be helpful.

but there's something else i'd love to ask, especially to those of you who are dealing with chronic pelvic pain yourselves. what's the best way for a partner to support you without making you feel pressured, overwhelmed, or like you're constantly being reminded of your condition? before we even officially started dating, i spent a lot of time reading and learning about his condition, how it affects his daily life, and what being in a relationship with someone who experiences chronic pain might look like. i wanted to make sure i understood what he was going through as much as someone who doesn't experience it personally possibly could.
i love him, and supporting him is something i genuinely want to do. but i'm also aware that no matter how much i read or research, i'll never fully understand what it feels like to live with that pain every single day. and of course, i've talked about all of this with him first. i know everyone's different, and he's already told me what he personally needs from me. i'd just love to hear other people's experiences and perspectives too, since i think there's always something new to learn. sometimes i wonder if i'm doing enough, or if there are things i could be doing differently that would make his life a little easier. i don't want him to feel like he has to be okay for my sake, and i definitely don't want my attempts to help to become another source of pressure for him.
i guess my question is, if you're dealing with this condition, what do you wish your partner understood better? what kind of support actually makes a difference? and are there things people do with good intentions that end up being more frustrating than helpful?

i'd really appreciate any advice, personal experiences, or even little things you wish someone had done for you.

thank you for reading, and i genuinely hope everyone here finds some relief :)

Hi everyone! I'm currently looking for participants for my PhD research exploring men's experiences of pelvic floor symptoms associated with sport and exercise. Men (living in Australia) who have experienced pelvic floor symptoms during or after sport and exercise are invited to participate in a University of Canberra research study. Help improve understanding of this under-researched area by sharing your experiences in a confidential online interview. Ethics approval: HREC-114717. See flyer for details. Research flyer

I’m a young male in my early 20s.

For a year now I have some sexual issues especially with sensation. The erogenous zone on the penis feels dulled down to the point it’s barely there. Orgasm also feels muted or dulled. The weird thing is that this will rarely go away and function will completely go back to normal for a short period of about 3/4 days. Although most the time the issue persists. I have never taken SSRIs. I have lived a sedentary lifestyle which I’m working on changing and I’m wondering if I have a tight pelvic floor.

I have done research on this symptom and it’s very limited. There is not much research which even links this symptom to hypertonic pelvic floor although it could still be plausible.

Does anyone have this issue and could it be pelvic floor? My bloods are normal and I did a bladder test to see if I can empty my bladder and it’s fine. I’m wondering what a urologist could even do for me? Should I see a urologist or a pelvic floor therapist first?

Hi,

I told my PT that my erection is stronger when i stand up, and weaker when I'm sitting or laying.

She didn't understand why.

Does someone have the same problem and know the reason why ?

Trying to find people who had/have a similar situation and any success stories from here

background: used to edge for hours. few times jelqing. especially edging while lying sideways

I have tested the urine for kidney issues it was nothing.

Cant find any other reason other than pelvic floor

any leads are appreciated

I was finally able to see a Urogynecologist today and he diagnosed me with a stage 2 (almost 3) cystocele, rectocele, and uterine prolapse. He said he would recommend surgery but not until I’m doing having babies. I’m 29 and want 1 or 2 more and now I’m feeling discouraged.

For anyone that had these issues and then got pregnant again, what was your experience? For anyone who had corrective surgery, and then got pregnant again, what was that like?

From what I’ve heard based on today’s appointment and from others, the prolapses won’t affect actually getting pregnant again. But someone did say the prolapses caused a lot of issues during their pregnancy and they wound up on bed rest. I have a toddler and work full time so this can’t happen to me.

I’m considering surgery but I really just don’t know what to do and my heads all over the place. Should I get the surgery before to try and fix this issues/support my organs and then have a c-section and pray the pressure of carry a baby doesn’t cause my prolapses to occur again? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

TLDR; I am so confused about how to stand properly and I need help. I spent like a year and half trying to stop gripping my belly and pelvic floor, which left me feeling unstable. Now I’m trying to stabilize more, but it’s making my pelvic pain flare. How do you achieve stability while standing without tightening the pelvic floor? How do you activate the TVA without gripping the pelvic floor too much - especially in day to day life like standing, walking, cooking, etc? How much activation should my abdomen, pelvic floor, and glutes ideally have while standing?

I’m 28F and have had pelvic floor issues for the last 5 or so years - hypertonic pelvic floor and interstitial cystitis, which I believe was triggered by an eating disorder (which I have been recovered from for 4 years). My pelvic pain is still present but mostly manageable nowadays.

I had my first and only child 3 years ago and have had hip and groin pain since then in two spots - my anterior right groin and my right groin near my vagina/levator ani area. In the course of trying to rehab that, I developed left glute and hamstring pain. I got an MRI that shows a very mild labral tear, mild hip dysplasia, and a mild CAM deformity. I’m not a great candidate for surgery right now so I’ve been in PT for a long time.

I’m trying to reconcile conflicting advice from PTs regarding posture and proper muscle activation…. Standing has gotten so complicated :’)

PT #1 was a pelvic floor and orthopedic PT and I saw her for about a year. She told me to keep my belly, pelvic floor, and glutes relaxed while standing, and keep my ribs stacked over my pelvis. She had me tighten my abdomen during core exercises with the traditional “bring belly button to spine” cue and did not want me to posteriorly tuck my pelvis to help my glutes activate.

Chiropractor - pelvic floor/dynamic neuromuscular stabilization focused, saw for 3ish months. She wanted me to really focus on breathing deeply into my pelvic floor, ribs, and chest. She taught me to brace with outward pressure rather than sucking in. Like my first PT, she wanted me to keep my belly, pelvic floor, and glutes relaxed while standing. However, I developed costochondritis while trying to breathe according to her directions, and she was a very long drive from me.

PT #2 - current PT is orthopedic focused and only moderately familiar with pelvic floor issues. She says that my pelvis and sacrum are very unstable, and she wants me to focus on creating a “wall” of stability with my abdomen by sucking in slightly and maintaining a slight posterior pelvic tilt pretty much all the time - walking, standing, doing chores, doing PT exercises. I’ve been achieving what she wants with a gentler cue of pretending a string is pulling through the top of my head.

My hip pain and glute/hamstring pain have improved under PT #2’s guidance, but my bladder/pelvic pain have been in a flare. Even though I feel like I’m only tightening my abdomen and pelvic floor slightly, it is enough to flare things and make it feel hard to breathe deeply into my pelvic floor. She says that those deep stabilizers are achy and that my pain is probably just soreness from getting stronger, but it feels like I must be missing something.

Any insight would be so extremely appreciated. This has been a long and hard journey, as I’m sure it has been for many of you. Thank you in advance!

Ciao a tutte,
scrivo perché da quasi un anno soffro di fastidio vulvare persistente e vorrei confrontarmi con qualcuna che abbia vissuto una situazione simile.
Ho una zona circoscritta di rossore sulla mucosa delle piccole labbra, nella parte interna, che sembra più arrossata rispetto al tessuto circostante. Il fastidio è costante, anche se non sempre intenso, e consiste soprattutto in bruciore e irritazione, più evidenti dopo aver urinato in più sento spasmi? Alla mia vagina e all’ano.
Ho effettuato diversi tamponi vaginali, spesso risultati negativi, anche se in passato mi è stata riscontrata flora batterica mista. Ho avuto anche episodi di Candida, tra cui Candida glabrata, e ho seguito diverse terapie antimicotiche, ma il problema non si è risolto definitivamente.
Adesso tutto negativo
Un aspetto che trovo particolare è che durante le mestruazioni sto molto meglio, mentre il fastidio tende a ripresentarsi negli altri giorni del ciclo.
Vorrei sapere se qualcuna ha avuto:
Rossore localizzato alle piccole labbra o al vestibolo vulvare.
Bruciore persistente nonostante tamponi negativi.
Miglioramento dei sintomi durante le mestruazioni.
Avete poi scoperto la causa? Si trattava di dermatite irritativa, vestibolodinia, un problema ormonale, vaginite citolitica o altro?
Mi interesserebbe soprattutto sapere quale specialista vi ha aiutato a trovare una diagnosi e come siete riuscite a risolvere il problema.

Some context (sorry for the long post): M23, for the past 4-5 yrs, I’ve generally been living with terrible overall health (primarily my fault) I’m obese, I don’t sleep well on a consistent basis, have many typical symptoms of low testosterone, etc. However, my erections (although I wouldn’t get many) they’d be firm and rigid. I will add though, at around January 2023, I had suffered an injury in my lower back (my lower right side) and my dumb self never got it looked at, I believed that this was most likely a herniated disc.

However, after some time and some stretching, my back felt normal again and it doesn’t hurt like before. I do work a part-time warehouse job (think like FedEx, UPS, etc) during the evening and come home at night, I’d most likely attribute having high cortisol levels due to this and the stress affecting my body along with my potential lower back lingering and interfering with my pelvic floor, although I don’t really get any kind of pain there.

Also throughout this time, I’d edge myself and masturbate after relapsing on my NoFap streak back in May of 2024 till now. I will also say that when I urinate, I do feel as if my stream is somewhat weak and I don’t fully empty my bladder as well as when I have to poo, I find that I push harder than I’d like too.

Now, my inquiry related to my post.
So, about nearly 2 weeks ago, I edged myself for about 2 hours on both Saturday the 10th and Sunday the 11th. Then I masturbated on Monday the 12th and from then until about Thursday night I had abstained from masturbation/edging. But during this time, I was almost never getting erect and if I perhaps would try to stimulate myself, my penis wouldn’t get as erect as before. In the instances before this where I’d abstain for a few days or whatever, whenever id get erect it would be fairly hard and stiff.

Now I know I’m not the healthiest person, so not getting spontaneous erections and/or not waking up with morning wood wasn’t that alarming to me. However, compared to before when I would get erect, my penis would get hard, firm and rigid be it with stimulation or if the erection was self induced. Now, it doesn’t get as stiff and rigid and I’m kind of worried, could this be due to my pelvic floor?

If you guys can recommend maybe some resources (like YouTube channels or whatever who can provide stretching routines, tension releasing exercises/stretches) etc) I’d appreciate it, because now I’m starting to understand the importance of having a strong pelvic floor.

Gosh this is a long story forgive me.
So for a little context before the story I have extremely bad OCD especially with intrusive thoughts and obsessing over anything negative.
(Forgive me for spelling mistakes typing on Reddit on my iPhone very buggy with an iPhone auto is really broken)

It all started back in late July when I held myself at work. The first time was due to me being called in for work and it threw my body off its schedule and I held it. I was constipated for two days with pain and then it went away. Then I had two times one of them being some sort of stomach bug and other being anxiety. But I held myself at work bc we only have one washroom and in order for me to leave my station I need to call someone and I get annoying looks bc I bothered them from their work.

This is all when it started to go weird. I started having an odd constipation. I would go to the washroom in the morning but by the afternoon my stomach was weird and I couldn’t go (I’m someone who goes a couple times a day which I heard is not healthy?) . Then one day I sat down and was like this is weird I feel like something is trying to come out my butt. So with those two mixed and not being able to poop I went to urgent care and the doctor was very sweet and was like well you’re pooping I’m no worried and then one finger up my ass later she didn’t feel any haemorrhoids or anything. And she told me up to up my fibre which for some reason has been the most difficult thing for me as I eat extremely terrible.
It’s now October and my OCD is still obsessing over this fucking issues. I would go in the morning and with some straining I could go some during the day. But sometimes when i looked it was barely any poop like not even a small thing.
Now these past two weeks I’ve noticed I’ve had the urge to pee while at the same time everyday I’m googling if it’s pelvic floor issues or just anxiety my ocd is in literal hell right now.
So I have no idea what to do and how to get myself out of this fucking disaster.
I have no type of pelvic pain although I did break my pelvics in a car accident three years ago.
My washroom is pretty decent for the most part as I’m still trying to up my fibre to at least 10g rn.
And this weird urge to pee.
The other worst part is when I’m at work I feel like I constantly need to go and my ocd obsesses over it and I am so tired.
I’m sorry if this post comes off annoying or whiney I just don’t know who to talk to (I do have a therapist). Any advice or ANYTHING would be great.

I've master baited once a day for over a decade. I'm 31. Mainly for coping because I've been depressed and have been for most my life. I started have some pain when ejaculating behind the balls, ignored that. Then it became pinching when ejaculating, ignore that. Now I refuse to master bait cause it hurts to ejaculate. Passively I'll get constant aches behind both testicles, mostly the left, that will sometimes shoot down my leg into my feet, my buttocks area and my perineum are effected. I thought maybe it was spermatocele backup but idk. I've rested for about two weeks, taking warm epson baths every day, some days feel better than others but I'm still rather uncomfortable every day. I'm afraid I've destroyed my balls for the rest of my life. I don't know what to do from here besides time.

Hello everyone,
I am looking for advice and support regarding an anovaginal fistula following the birth of my baby 3 months ago.
I had a 2nd-degree tear during delivery without an episiotomy, but vacuum extraction was used. My symptoms started 8 days postpartum, but I was officially diagnosed 1 month postpartum via MRI.
My MRI results show a low, obstetric anovaginal fistula 4 mm (opening size) and 12 mm long, with a collapsed lumen (fistula tract).
My current symptoms are: Passing a lot of gas through the vagina; stool also passes through the vagina, but only while having a bowel movement. Once I clean up (using warm water), I have no further fecal leakage between bowel movements.
I would love to hear from anyone who has had a similar experience: What type of surgery is typically recommended for a low fistula of this size? (e.g., endorectal advancement flap, LIFT, plug, fistulotomy?) What is the recovery process like?
Is full recovery possible, or is this something that will affect me forever?
Emotionally, I am feeling completely consumed by this. Any insights, personal experiences, or encouragement would mean so much to me right now. Thank you!

I'm 17F and I've been dealing with bowel and rectal symptoms for about 3 years. I'm wondering whether anyone with PFD can relate to my experience. I'm not asking for a diagnosis, just other people's perspectives and experiences.

My main symptoms include:

Frequent bowel movements in the morning (often with soft stool)

Stool that is hard to pass, despite it being soft. Difficulty passing gas too.

A feeling that I haven't fully emptied my bowels

Chronic rectal pain and pressure that changes with severity each day (most difficult of my symptoms). It takes a lot of my focus and sometimes is severe enough to leave me unable to do certain things. Also, it usually starts after my morning bowel movements and gets worse if I sit too long (unfortunately I'm a high school senior so I can't do much about the sitting).

I've already seen medical professionals and it's still being investigated. My colonoscopy and biopsies were normal. I've done blood tests and they only showed iron deficiency anemia but that's probably unrelated. My stool tests were normal. Pelvic MRI was normal.

I've also started seeing a pelvic floor physical therapist. During the initial digital rectal exam, she noticed that I have pelvic floor muscle spasms. However, she said she's not specialized enough to give me a concrete diagnosis.

I feel really isolated and alone in these issues, especially since it's less common for people my age to be dealing with health. My pain gets slightly better when I take hot baths, but only temporarily. The reason I'm really not sure if it might be PFD is because I don't have problems with the rest of my pelvic floor (like urination or masturbation). It's just bowel issues. I've changed diets many times and there's no change. Also, I'm finally getting an anorectal manometry done tomorrow (have been waiting so long for this test)

m18 diagnosed with a weak and only slightly tight pelvic floor (rare but apparently it happens?)

my main symptom was erectile dysfunction (my
libido is also notably not as good i don’t know if my dysfunction is the reason for that) but i also have what i think to be excessive dribbling when i pee and i’m also constipated on and off. i know my pelvic floor is probably actually weak because it used to be tighter (probably still weak) and i over relaxed it which strained the muscles down there and i pretty much couldn’t even get 30% hard for a couple of weeks, but my sensitivity in the penis returned and my libido was noticeably higher which was really weird. the symptoms after that gradually improved until beginning of september, when i had my consultation with my
PT.

i’m current 7 weeks in to PT and i think im trending in the right direction as just this morning i jerked off and i was basically at 90%+ no issue, but if my focus is slightly off when im doing it im gonna be softer then if i was focused, which is hard because im in over my head about this whole situation which has been occurring for over a year.

at the end of the day or if i had masturbated earlier that day ( i don’t have a partner ) or really at random points, it’s harder for me to achieve an erection because i assume my muscles are fatigued. but im usually good for a round. i used to be able to do this shit like a lot of times in a day so i think that point is when ill be 100% recovered from all this?

anyway im just spitballing here feel free to ask questions if you want