In the past couple months, I've received two diagnoses related to pelvic pain. Pelvic pain can have a number of different causes for those with vulvas: endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, sexual trauma — to name just a few. And while it's quite common, it's not something often discussed. Never soak your dilators in alcohol or sterilising solutions containing alcohol. Intimate Rose dilators may be wiped with an alcohol-based solution but be sure to rinse off any residue before storing. They attach to the coccyx at the base of the spine and to the pubic bone at the front of the pelvis, and like other muscles in the body they are made up of fast- and slow-twitch fibres,' she adds. 'This allows the pelvic floor to respond to different demands, for example increased pressure when coughing, and holding in a wee when we are not near a bathroom.' Kegel exercises explained Full disclosure: Bahlani is still treating me, and I interviewed her for this review.) What is Intimate Rose, and what are their products? Given the right tools, given the right education, given the right understanding of your body, and you can absolutely regain your life from this."

Bahlani wants those going through pelvic pain to know it's absolutely possible to manage. "Given the right tools, given the right education, given the right understanding of your body, and you can absolutely regain your life from this," she said. Most women will begin with the largest size silicone dilator that feels comfortable and gradually increase size over time. This allows you to gain confidence and helps to avoid painful intercourse. Progressive vaginal dilation therapy works to gently stretch the vaginal walls. It can help manage the pain and symptoms associated with: The material makes a difference, according to Bahlani. When placing something into the vagina and pelvic floor, one has to be cognizant of what’s comfortable and what’s not going to alter the pH because either can cause other problems, like recurring bacterial vaginosis or yeast. My experience with Intimate Rose What's more is that, if you're experiencing any amount of pelvic pain, you're not alone. Olson said Intimate Rose is working hard to show that, and said she's also begun seeing social media accounts showing personal journeys. Online communities can further help break the stigma around pelvic pain, she said.Each dilator comes with a complete guide to help you along the way, and www.IntimateRose.com features hundreds of helpful videos, blog articles, and guides to support you on your journey. When Bahlani compared Intimate Rose’s medical-grade silicone to other companies’ products, she believed the soft material could help her patients. "When I felt that medical grade silicone, and compared it to other products, I [said], 'This is really good for my patients who have things like vulvodynia, or pain with initial penetration, because the texture is not so irritating as certain dilators can be,'" she said in an interview with Mashable. It’s almost like as clinicians, we’ve made it seem like it's okay to have pain as long as it's not cancer," Bahlani said. “And that’s not okay." Thing is, though, this reality is not widely known. Indeed, research from women’s wellness brand Elvie found that only 31% of women aged 18-34 recognise the importance of pelvic floor health – and only 40% of women would seek help if they experienced an issue in this department.

Intimate Rose silicone vaginal dilators were created for women undergoing progressive vaginal dilation therapy. What I noticed immediately is that the guide book uses gender neutral pronouns, which is a plus — not everyone with a vagina is a woman, thus not everyone who experiences pelvic pain is one, either. Not only that, but the products can be used for rectal pain as well.Does something feel amiss? 'If you cannot feel any contraction at all I do advise seeing a physiotherapist to confirm whether this is down to pelvic floor tension or not,' advises Bourne. 'If it is not a tension problem then a stimulation device could be helpful. There are lots of different settings depending on what symptoms you need help with.' The best pelvic floor trainers to shop now Your pelvic floor is formed of muscles and ligaments that support your bladder, vagina and bowel. 'It is made up of a number of little muscles that work together,' explains Clare Bourne, a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist and founder of All About Mum, a series of webinars, ebooks and education cards to support women during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

If you are confident that a pelvic floor trainer is the best route for you to take, try the following steps to get started: Choose the right pelvic floor trainer Electrical stimulation: These also include a probe with two metal pads. 'When the device is turned on the probe stimulates your pelvic floor to contract,' explains Bourne. 'This type of device is really for those who have little or no activation from consciously trying to do their pelvic floor contractions. It would be used in the short term to help a woman to connect and strengthen the muscles so she can then do them herself.' None of those statements are true, of course. But in the beginning of my pelvic pain journey, I didn't know that. After my doctor dismissed my pain, my ambivalence soon led to a late-night doomscrolling of a different kind: Doomscrolling about my vulva, vagina, pelvic health. As one does once in a WebMD wormhole, I was terrified about what afflictions I may have been saddled with.

My experience with Intimate Rose

That's when I found Dr. Sonia Bahlani, a pelvic pain specialist in New York City. In our consultation I received my diagnoses, several prescriptions — including for pelvic floor physical therapy — and a recommendation for Intimate Rose products. Not only that, but Bahlani gave me the assurance that my pain was real, and the hope that it's manageable. Make sure you're sitting comfortably and not likely to be disturbed. 'Ensure the probe is in the correct position and follow the manufacturer guidelines closely.' Don't be afraid to ask for help It’s super easy, simply wash your dilator with warm water and mild soap. Pat dry and allow to fully air dry before storing. We recommend that you store your silicone dilator by wrapping it in a clean cotton cloth.