I Have Pelvic Pain That Greatly Impacts My Life, And These Products Have Helped

Pelvic pain is incredibly common and not fun at all to deal with! Some of these products may help.

Pelvic pain is incredibly common and not fun at all to deal with! While it's historically been somewhat of a hush-hush topic because of stigma and shame around this part of the body and the pain associated with it, in the last few years, some incredible products have hit the market designed specifically for people with various forms of pelvic pain. And as someone who lives with some pretty shitty pelvic pain, I couldn't be more excited to round up some of the ones I've seen in the last few years into a handy list. I'm sure I've missed some, so feel free to let me know which ones in the comments. In the meantime, let's get started!

Janelle Monáe / Via youtube.com

1. Private Packs are wearable hot and cold packs that are marketed as a "modern solution for feminine pain." And let me tell you, as someone whose vulva loves to burn for no damn good reason, these have certainly come in handy. The packaging is also very cute!

Lara Parker for BuzzFeed

The hot and cold packs come with washable, reusable coverings so you can easily insert them into your underwear or pants whenever you need a little extra comfort. You can get a three-pack plus two reusable sleeves for $34.

2. Sometimes, penetrative sex is painful! Designed with renowned clinicians, the Ohnut is a soft, compressible buffer made from four rings — that can be used together or individually — to adjust when penetration feels too deep, without sacrificing sensation for you or your partner(s). Designed by someone who experienced painful sex, it's a pretty damn cool invention, if I do say so myself.

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According to their website, Ohnut is "worn externally at the base of a penetrating partner (e.g. on their shaft or on a toy), the tool compresses down to act as a soft buffer during sex. Each set comes with four linking rings that allow you to make simple adjustments, so you and your partner can not only discover comfort but also what depths feel really good — for both of you. Ohnut is designed to feel just like skin." The tool is BPA-, phthalate-, and latex-free, and it's made from FDA-approved body-safe material. ‍You can get the original set of four buffer rings from Ohnut for $65.

3. Holy shit is pelvic floor physical therapy expensive. And depending on where you live, it can be incredibly hard to access! But nearly *everyone* could benefit from access to pelvic floor PT. Enter Pelvic Gym — an online team of specialists dedicated to pelvic health, all accessible from your living room. Brought to you by the Ohnut team, the site has three core beliefs: Education. Affirmation. Accessibility.

Pelvic Gym Co / Via pelvicgym.co

By the time most folks finally get a referral to a pelvic specialist, it's usually overdue. Years of dismissal and isolation could have been avoided, invasive treatment options forgone, the fear of pain that fundamentally changes the way we exist in the world — could be gone by now. And yet Pelvic Physical Therapy is a mystery for most people. Or it's too far away. Or it's too expensive. But with Pelvic Gym, they are aiming to fix all that. And because we can, we chatted with the team and created a special link for any BuzzFeed readers (yes, you!) to get a whole month free to try for yourself. Just use this link! After that, it costs just $10 a month. 

4. You know those days where your pelvic floor is just freaking the fuck out for no reason? Me too. That's when I reach for my Foria suppositories — each suppository has 100mg of CBD and it goes directly to the spot that may need it the most.

Lara Parker for BuzzFeed

Years ago, when these first hit the market, I got to meet with the founder of Foria, who told me that he created this product for the market after making homemade ones for his wife who, you guessed it, lives with pelvic pain! Watching them help her made him realize they could help others, too. You can get a pack of eight for $50.

5. Or you can go with the Mello Bottoms CBD suppositories — they come in a pack of five, and each one has 75mg of CBD.

Lara Parker for BuzzFeed

These suppositories were created by a woman who struggled with vulvodynia for eight years, and I've definitely found that they help me manage my pelvic pain. They are pricey, but I definitely recommend trying if you have the means. You can get a pack of five for $60.

6. Orrrr, you can reach for some CBD suppositories from Simple Solace CBD, where a pack of 10 costs $50.

Simple Solace CBD / Via simplesolacecbd.com

According to Simple Solace CBD's website, the creator decided to venture into their own CBD product line "after being diagnosed with endometriosis in 2018." They continued, "I turned to CBD to help with my quality of life. After seeing what it could do for endometriosis symptoms, I decided to share the love with everyone else who has endometriosis that I could reach. This is how Simple Solace CBD was born." You can get a pack of 10 suppositories that have 100mg of CBD each for $50.

7. For days when loose sweatpants aren't an option or you need even more support, Nyssa leggings and underwear have an insertable hot or cold pack that can help placate some of the burning you may feel in your abdomen.

Lara Parker for BuzzFeed

I am generally a size small but I sized up to a medium in these to give my abdomen more room, and I would recommend doing the same if you're interested in trying them out. According to NyssaCare's site, these leggings are "ideal for those days when you’re living life at home or running errands but want to be wrapped in soft, sleek, comfortable loungewear that’s actually functional."

Whether you’re enduring the discomfort of fertility treatments, coming out of postpartum, dealing with period pain, endometriosis flare-ups, or generally feeling a bit blah, Nyssa’s VieWear Pelvic Comfort Live-In Leggings are the first eco-friendly leggings "specially designed to discreetly hold an ice or heat pack over the uterus and ovaries or between the legs." You can get your own pair for $88 (available in women's sizes XS-2X). They also make a singular ice or heat pack for $13.

8. You know that feeling where your bladder is telling you that you need to pee but you know you JUST peed and can't possibly have to pee again already? On those types of days, I reach for the pressure-point wizard referred to as the TheraWand.

Lara Parker

I learned about this tool from a pelvic floor therapist I saw post-excision surgery in 2020, but I still use it regularly to this day. According to their website, "the brilliant design is employed as a solution for massage by physical therapists and at home for those experiencing sexual and pelvic discomfort. The user can easily manipulate the TheraWand to gently relieve muscles that are tender, tight, or have trigger points." You can get your own (in two color options) for $34.95.

9. But if my pelvic floor is simply not cooperating whatsoever and I need to do my best to relax it — whether it's because I'm post-orgasm or my body is just revolting for unknown reasons — I reach for the (vibrating!) Intimate Rose pelvic wand.

Lara Parker

It's the same concept as the aforementioned TheraWand, except that this one vibrates. According to their website, "the vibrating pelvic wand is covered in silky smooth, medical-grade silicone and uniquely designed to reach all muscles of the pelvic floor." It was created by a pelvic physical therapist to use vibration techniques and ergonomic curves to relieve trigger points in the pelvic floor muscles — including the most deep and hard-to-reach obturator internus and puborectalis muscles! You can get your own, with 10 different soothing vibration settings, for $59.99.

10. If you're looking for a more long-term investment into your pelvic floor health and know what kegels are, the Elvie Trainer may be for you. Elvie makes it easy as a smart kegel trainer that works with your phone to help you complete pelvic floor exercises.

@elvie / Via Instagram: @elvie

According to their website, Elvie visualizes pelvic floor movements in real time using biofeedback. The device is sensitive enough to correct contractions or other movements while guiding you through each exercise so that your technique remains on point. At $199, it ain't cheap! But like I said, it may be an investment for anyone looking to commit to their pelvic floor health.

11. Sometimes, our pelvic floor region needs a little extra softness, kindness, and care. On those days, I find myself reaching for the soft, silky Chiavaye lubricant. With just six ingredients, it always leaves me feeling more soothed.

@chiavaye / Via Instagram: @chiavaye

According to Chiavaye's website, "founder Kaylyn Easton was inspired to create Chiavaye through her experience suffering from severe endometriosis. Through her personal struggle with endometriosis, multiple surgeries, learning about holistic healing, and listening to other women, Kaylyn realized that the same concepts for skincare could be applied to women's personal care — especially since women experience so many changes to their vaginal health throughout life. Each ingredient is chosen to maximize benefits." You can grab a 30mL bottle for $12.99.

12. Dubbed the "eye cream for your vagina," if I'm not reaching for the aforementioned lube, then I am certainly grabbing my Happy Clam or Smooth Operator oils from Quim.

@its.quim / Via Instagram: @its.quim

According to Quim's website, the oils were created "after years of dealing with persistent vaginal health issues on our own — yeast infections, bladder infections, difficulty climaxing, low libido, allergic reactions to commercial lube — we came together to share what we’ve learned and to bring you formulas that work for us." I simply cannot emphasize enough how soothing these serums feel on my (sometimes extremely angry) vulva. Quim offers two different options — "Smooth Operator," which is more of an intimacy serum, or "Happy Clam," which is more of an everyday oil — and both cost $48. In my experience, a little bit goes a long way.

13. Finally, let's talk about Gina App, the world's first app dedicated to sexual pain. When it comes to pain with sex — and specifically vaginismus — there is a considerable lack of research, awareness, and support for those suffering. Gina's mission is to instill a sense of hope and shine a spotlight on sexual pain.

Gina App / Via ginaapp.com

It goes without saying, but each experience with vaginismus will be different. Gina's idea, however, is that no one should have to go through it alone. The app, which costs $2.99 to download, offers information on treatment options, informational tidbits about the pelvic floor, and conversation scripts that can be utilized when trying to seek treatment from a medical professional. 

That's all I have for today! What did I miss? Let me know, and maybe there will be a Part II!