5 Signs Your Pelvic Floor Might Be Overactive

Penny Petersson
5 days ago
2 min read

If you’ve been wondering whether your pelvic floor muscles are too tight or if you might have overactive pelvic floor dysfunction, you’re not alone. These muscles can hold tension just like your jaw or shoulders - and sometimes the signs aren’t obvious.

If you live with endometriosis, lichen sclerosus, or interstitial cystitis, you might have even asked yourself:

"Do I have overactive pelvic floor muscles? And how would I know?"

I get this question a lot over on my TikTok. The truth? The only way to know for sure is to see a pelvic floor physical therapist who can assess your body.

But… there are common signs that could be pointing you toward overactive pelvic floor dysfunction.

5 Common Overactive Pelvic Floor Symptoms

1️⃣ Pain with penetration

This could be from tampons, pelvic exams, or sex. It might feel like you’re “hitting a wall” - and your body is saying, Nope, not today. When I was younger, I used to think of Gandalf in Lord of the Rings shouting: “YOU SHALL NOT PASS.” If that’s the vibe your pelvic floor is giving, it’s worth getting checked.

2️⃣ Peeing all the time… or never feeling “done”

Whether you’re running to the bathroom constantly or feeling like you just can’t fully empty, bladder symptoms are often linked to pelvic floor tension. Many people assume bladder issues = “weak” muscles… but overly tight muscles can cause just as many problems.

3️⃣ Constipation or straining to poo

Your pelvic floor needs to relax to let things out. When you have a bowel movement, the pelvic floor needs to relax and lengthen - but if it’s holding tension, this makes the process harder than it needs to be.

signs of overactive pelvic floor dysfunction

4️⃣ Pelvic pain that flares when you’re stressed

Your pelvic floor is part of your stress response system. You’ve probably noticed that when you’re stressed, you clench your jaw, tense your shoulders, or grip your hands - and your pelvic floor can hold tension the same way. If life feels chaotic, you might notice your pelvic pain dial turning up, even without doing anything “physical” to trigger it.

5️⃣ Low back or hip pain

Your pelvic floor muscles connect to your pelvis - but so do many surrounding muscles. If your pelvic floor is tense, it can pull on nearby areas and cause hip or low back pain that doesn’t always feel “pelvic” at first.

💡 Next step: If you’re nodding along to these signs, it doesn’t automatically mean you have overactive pelvic floor dysfunction - but it does mean it’s worth talking with a pelvic floor physio.

And if you want to start releasing pelvic tension at home, that’s exactly what I teach. Inside the Pelvic Health Yoga Membership, you’ll learn: