Pain with penetration or deeper pressure
Often depends on position and feels like tightness, burning or a blocked feeling.
Postpartum sexual difficulty is a symptom with more than one possible source. It may feel like tightness, burning or a blocked feeling with penetration. Some people notice muted arousal, pulling near a scar or a flare the next day.
After pregnancy and birth, the pelvic floor often stays braced to protect itself. Tight muscle and trigger points, sore knots that refer pain elsewhere, make stretch and pressure feel threatening. Perineal or cesarean scars can stiffen and pull. Tight muscle around the pudendal and obturator nerves can also change sensation.
Dry needling, a form of acupuncture, is what I use on the pelvic floor, hip and abdominal muscles. After birth, a tight levator ani and obturator internus can crowd the pudendal nerve, so I needle those muscles to give it room. I pace treatment around your sleep, breastfeeding and recovery.
Postpartum care rightly focuses on healing and medical screening. It usually doesn’t include a detailed hands-on check of pelvic floor tone, trigger points or how a scar moves. Medication can ease symptoms, and surgery is not indicated for most postpartum intimacy symptoms. Neither one changes muscle guarding. Pelvic floor PT is often recommended after birth. Needling is a separate tool, since PTs and chiropractors in New York are not allowed to dry needle.
I start by asking about your delivery, timeline, breastfeeding, sleep, return to exercise and what brings symptoms on. Then the exam:
I work alongside your OB and pelvic floor PT. If something I notice suggests checking back with either of them, I’ll let you know and share my findings.
Intimacy symptoms after birth are common, but bring them up with your OB. See a doctor promptly for worsening symptoms, unusual discharge, fever, significant bleeding, new neurological symptoms or severe pain. I work on the muscle, scar and nerve side alongside your medical care.
Yes, often. If you’re already seeing a pelvic floor PT, dry needling can complement their plan by easing irritable tissue so exercises feel more comfortable. If you aren’t, I can suggest one when it fits your goals.
I don’t do internal work. My treatment is external, using dry needling on the pelvic floor, hip and core muscles along with guidance on pacing. Relaxing the levator ani after birth also lets the pudendal nerve sit with less pressure. If internal work would help, I’ll refer you to a pelvic floor physical therapist.
It depends on how long symptoms have lasted, how sensitive the scar is and how many triggers are involved. I reassess often and adjust.
It may. A normal exam is reassuring for healing and safety, but it doesn’t always look at trigger points, muscle tone or how a scar glides. These can cause symptoms even when routine exams look fine.
I take sleep, recovery and breastfeeding-related tissue changes into account when pacing treatment. The plan starts gently so your body isn’t overwhelmed.
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.
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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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