For pelvic pain that's improved, but not enough.

Pelvic Floor Dry Needling

Dry needling, a form of acupuncture, built around how your pelvic floor is actually working, alongside the physical therapy you're already doing.

The pelvic floor dry needling specialist in NYC

If you're reading this, you've probably already seen a urologist or gynecologist and worked with a pelvic floor physical therapist. Things may have gotten better. But some of the ache, urgency or tension is still there, and it isn't moving.

That plateau is common, and it doesn't mean your PT missed something or that you did the work wrong. Muscles that have been guarding for a long time sometimes need a different kind of input to let go. That's the work I specialize in. I don't replace your physical therapist, and many of my patients keep seeing theirs while we work together.

I'm the only practitioner in New York City whose practice centers on pelvic floor dry needling, and I've published peer-reviewed research on the conditions it treats.

pelvic floor dry needling

Conditions I Treat With This Protocol

I most often see these conditions when progress has leveled off:

For Males

  • Post-Prostatectomy Pain: Pelvic pain or muscle tension following prostate surgery.
  • Chronic Prostatitis: Pelvic, perineal or genital pain that feels like a prostate infection, with cultures that come back negative.
  • Hard Flaccid Syndrome: Tension in the perineum and at the base of the penis that changes how things look and feel at rest.
  • Post-Ejaculatory Pain: Pain during or after ejaculation, often tied to spasm in the bulbospongiosus and nearby muscles.

For Females

  • Vaginismus & Vulvodynia (including vestibulodynia and clitorodynia): Involuntary guarding and nerve sensitivity that make sex, exams or sitting painful.
  • Endometriosis: Pelvic pain and muscle tension associated with endometriosis and related surgery.

For Everyone

Pelvic floor dry needling treatment in NYC

Needling is my discipline, not an add-on.

Pelvic floor physical therapy is the gold standard for rehab, and it should be. What I do is different work. Here, dry needling isn't a tool added at the end of a session. It is the treatment, and it's guided by how your pelvis, hips and low back are actually working together.

I assess which muscles and nerves are keeping the pattern going, then needle those specifically. With electroacupuncture I can also work on the nerves that keep those muscles on guard. The aim is to change the mechanics behind your symptoms, not just release a tight spot.

This is the focus of my clinical work. I hold a Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, advanced certification in pelvic floor dry needling, and I've published peer-reviewed research on pelvic floor muscle dysfunction.

Had dry needling before and it didn't seem to do much? How it's assessed and applied makes a real difference, and it's worth a conversation.

Dr. Jordan Barber, DAOM, pelvic floor dry needling specialist in NYC
Clinical Leadership

Dr. Jordan Barber

Pelvic floor work is about 80% of my practice. Most of my patients come to me after years of care that didn't fully resolve things, and those are the cases I see every day.

Pelvic floor specialist

Advanced certification in pelvic floor dry needling, with more than 20 years of clinical experience.

Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

Doctoral training that includes an understanding of Western medicine, so your urology, gynecology and PT reports shape the plan.

Published researcher and author

Three peer-reviewed papers, including one on how pelvic floor muscles and nerves drive bladder symptoms, and two books, Realigning Medicine and Thinking in Chinese Medicine.

Trusted by referring providers

Physical therapists, urologists and gynecologists refer patients to me when they want to add dry needling to an existing treatment plan.

Many of my patients have been told everything looks normal. Muscle and nerve problems often don't show up on scans, so that's where I start looking.

— Dr. Jordan Barber

The Experience: What to Expect

We understand this sounds intimidating. Most patients tell me it was easier than they expected.

The Setup

The procedure is performed in a private, clinical setting. It is dignified and respectful.

The Sensation

You'll feel a small tap as the needle enters, often painless. When I reach a tight band of muscle, you may feel a deep ache or a quick twitch.

The Relief

Some patients notice a change right after a session. For others it builds over the first few weeks.

The Protocol

I often add electroacupuncture, using an approach called Neuropuncture, to calm the nerves after the muscles let go.

Got Questions?

Most people feel a quick twitch or a brief cramp when the needle reaches a tight band of muscle, then a dull ache that fades. We go at your pace, and you can pause at any time.

Depending on the muscles being treated, you may need to undress, and you'll always be draped. We always work with your consent and at your comfort level. I don't perform internal exams or internal treatment.

They won't be to me. Pelvic floor problems are most of what I see, and I've heard it all. There's no judgment here, just a plain conversation about what's going on so we can treat it.

Yes, in trained hands. I use sterile, single-use needles, and I review your health history first, including blood thinners or anything that affects healing. In New York, dry needling can only be performed by licensed acupuncturists, MDs and DOs. Physical therapists and chiropractors aren't licensed to perform it here, so it's worth checking who is doing your treatment.

You don't need one, but it helps. This work is most useful once you've already tried standard care with a doctor or pelvic floor physical therapist, so I can build on what's been done. Bring any diagnosis, notes or imaging you have.

Yes, and I encourage it. Many of my patients see their PT and me during the same weeks, and I'm happy to coordinate with your PT or doctor. If I think something needs to go back to your urologist, gynecologist or PT, I'll tell you.

Most plans run 4 to 6 weeks. We track how your symptoms change, adjust as we go, then space visits out so the changes hold. Everyone is different, so I'll set your plan at the first visit.

We go over your history and what you've already tried. I assess how your pelvis, hips and low back are working, and you're treated that same day.

I'm out of network. You pay at your visit, and I submit the claim for you, so any reimbursement goes straight to you. I can check your out-of-network benefits for free before your first visit (verification form). HSA and FSA are accepted. I don't participate with Medicare or Medicaid, but some Medicare Advantage plans do reimburse out-of-network visits, so it's worth checking yours. More on insurance

Yes, I treat adults of all genders and identities. If you've had gender-affirming surgery involving the pelvis, bring your surgical notes so we can decide together what's appropriate.

Yes. Book a free discovery call and ask whatever you need to.

Still holding tension after all that work?

Care no one else in New York City focuses on.
You've tried the breathing. You've tried the stretches. If the muscle is still holding on, it may need a more direct release.

House calls and after-hours visits are available by arrangement.

Private Access & House Calls →

Ready when you are.

Limited spots each week — book now to reserve yours.

118 W. 72nd St, Rear Lobby, New York, NY 10023

Evidence-based acupuncture and dry needling on the Upper West Side. From chronic pain and headaches to pelvic floor dysfunction, Dr. Jordan Barber pairs the highest level of training with care that actually listens.

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