Deep pelvic ache or heaviness
Often worse after long sitting, travel or a long workday.
You may feel deep pelvic pressure, burning at the vulva, pain with sex, or urgency without infection. The pain can move around and flare with stress or poor sleep, even when scans are normal.
Hormone changes during menopause can make pelvic tissue more reactive. The pelvic floor often responds by staying tight and not relaxing fully during urination, bowel movements or sex. That tightness can develop tender spots and irritate nearby nerves. Stress and broken sleep tend to lower the threshold for pain.
I work alongside your gynecologist, who manages menopause care and any hormone therapy. To treat the pain and its muscle and nerve sources, I use dry needling, a form of acupuncture. The pudendal nerve, which serves the vulva, can be pressed on by a tight levator ani and obturator internus. Releasing those muscles gives it room. I also use electroacupuncture, a gentle current through fine needles, to help influence how the brain and nervous system regulate hormones and pelvic sensation. Custom herbal formulas can support hormones and circulation.
Most people have tried hormone or topical treatment, imaging, and sometimes general PT or strengthening. Topical treatment can improve tissue quality but doesn’t relax a tight pelvic floor. Imaging doesn’t show tender muscle or nerve sensitivity, and strengthening can miss that the pelvic floor is often too tight rather than weak. In New York, dry needling isn’t available through pelvic floor PT, because PTs and chiropractors aren’t allowed to do it.
I ask when the pain began relative to menopause, any changes in hormone treatment, and what sets it off. Then the exam:
Your gynecologist and pelvic floor PT remain central to your care. If what I find suggests revisiting something with them, I’ll mention it and share my notes.
If symptoms are new, changing or severe, a gynecologic evaluation makes sense. Bleeding after menopause, signs of infection, or a feeling of something bulging should be checked by your gynecologist promptly.
Imaging and routine exams rule out many structural problems. They don’t measure pelvic floor tone, tender spots in muscle, or nerve sensitivity. Pain can be very real even when structure looks normal.
Tissue changes can contribute, but pelvic pain in menopause usually has more than one source. A tight pelvic floor and sensitive nerves are common additions. Alongside your gynecologist’s care, I use electroacupuncture to help influence hormonal signaling and herbal formulas to support hormones and circulation.
I needle the pelvic floor, hip, abdominal and low back muscles that reproduce your pain. Freeing the levator ani and obturator internus also eases pressure on the pudendal nerve. Electroacupuncture and custom herbal formulas round out the plan, since more than one factor is usually at work.
Dry needling uses thin, sterile needles to release tender spots and ease tight muscle. It is never internal; I work externally on the pelvic floor and nearby hip, abdominal and low back muscles. If internal work would help, I’ll point you to a pelvic floor physical therapist.
Yes. Poor sleep and ongoing stress make the body more reactive to pain and slow recovery after activity. I treat the muscles and nerves, and I track how stress and sleep shift your flares.
Adults with pelvic floor, nerve and orthopedic pain, along with neurological conditions. Most of my patients come to me after other care hasn't fully settled things. If you're looking for general wellness acupuncture, I'm not the right fit.
We review your history and what you've already tried. I assess the muscles and nerves involved, and you're treated the same day.
It depends on the condition. Pelvic and orthopedic plans usually run 4 to 6 weeks. Neurological plans are usually 2 visits a week for 6 weeks or 3 a week for 4. After that, visits space out so the changes hold. These are typical timelines, not promises.
Yes. I work alongside doctors, physical therapists and specialists. If something I find needs a closer look from one of them, I'll tell you.
I'm an out-of-network provider. You pay at the time of your visit, and my office submits the claim so any reimbursement comes to you. Free benefit checks are available before your first visit through the verification form, and HSA and FSA cards work. I don't take Medicare or Medicaid, though some Medicare Advantage plans reimburse out-of-network care. Full insurance details
Yes. I treat adults, teens and children, though I don't specialize in infants or toddlers.
Yes. Book a free discovery call to ask your questions and see whether we're a good fit.
Dry needling is a form of acupuncture. Fine needles go into tight bands of muscle and trigger points to lower muscle tension and change how the area is signaling.
You may feel a brief twitch or a deep ache as the needle reaches tight muscle. It passes quickly, and any soreness afterward usually fades within a day or two.
It's generally safe with a properly trained practitioner. Needles are sterile and single-use, and I check your health history first, including blood thinners. In New York, dry needling can only be performed by licensed acupuncturists, MDs and DOs. Physical therapists and chiropractors aren't permitted to perform it.
Eat something light beforehand and wear loose clothing that lets me reach the area being treated.
Usually not. Ultrasound helps in a few specific cases, but it hasn't been shown to improve results for common trigger points. A careful hands-on exam is what guides the needle. More on ultrasound-guided dry needling
Dry needling aimed at the pelvic floor and the hip and abdominal muscles around it, for pain, tension and urinary symptoms driven by those muscles and their nerves. More on pelvic floor dry needling
Sometimes, depending on the muscles involved, and you'll be draped throughout. Treatment always follows your consent and comfort. I don't do internal exams or internal treatment.
No, though it helps if you've already seen a doctor or pelvic floor physical therapist. Bring any notes or imaging you have.
Completely. I've heard it all, and there's no judgment here, just a straightforward conversation so we can treat what's going on.
Yes, I treat adults of every gender and identity. After gender-affirming surgery involving the pelvis, bring your surgical notes and we'll decide together what fits.
We also offer house calls and after-hours appointments by arrangement.
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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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