The Pelvic Pain Clinic

13/04/2026

"Doctors Said Take Antibiotics. A Year Later I Was in A&E." | Avi's Recovery Story

Avi was 29, physically fit, and working from home during the COVID pandemic when chronic pelvic pain turned his life upside down.
What started as tingling and bladder urgency spiralled into months of failed antibiotics, urologist visits, and desperate late-night research — until he found a different path.
In this honest, wide-ranging conversation, Karl sits down with Avi to unpack his full recovery journey:the symptoms,the dead ends,the lowest points,and the realisations that finally moved the needle.
What Avi covers in this video:How his symptoms began and why sitting at home during COVID likely made things worse.
The cycle of hope and despair that comes with trying treatment after treatmentWhy the "chronic prostatitis = antibiotics" approach failed him (and why it fails most men)
The role of internal physiotherapy in finally releasing his pelvic floorThree powerful mindset shifts that changed everything
A flare-up two and a half years later — and how he handled it differently

20/03/2026

In this video, my patient Oday shares his full recovery journey — from first experiencing symptoms abroad in Colombia, through months of frustrating tests (cystoscopy, blood tests, antibiotics, alpha blockers), to eventually becoming virtually pain-free.
In this video you'll discover:

Why tests coming back "negative" doesn't mean nothing is wrong
The physical and mental techniques that made the biggest difference in Oday's recovery
How pelvic floor exercises, lifestyle changes, and mindset shifts work together
Why the fear-pain cycle is one of the biggest barriers to healing
The book that helped rewire Aday's nervous system (The Way Out by Alan Gordon)
How exercise — including paddle tennis — played a key role in recovery
Why post-traumatic growth is real and what it looks like on the other side

Ad's key message to anyone suffering right now: this WILL pass.

🌐 Ready to start your recovery journey?
Visit us at 👉thepelvicpainclinic.co.uk
Book a consultation, explore free resources, and watch more recovery stories from real patients.
📩 Get in touch: Contact Karl directly through the website — just as Oday did when he found the clinic online. karl@thepelvicpainclinic.co.uk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGKEelrvEdQ

Are you suffering from chronic pelvic pain, chronic prostatitis, or pelvic pain syndrome and wondering if recovery is possible? In this video, Oday shares hi...

09/02/2026

“Can I go back to how I was before this started?” If you’re living with male pelvic pain, you’ve probably asked that question a hundred times. In this episode of Pelvic Pain Matters, Karl Monahan begins a mini-series on time — and why the desire to “go back” can quietly keep you stuck ...

27/01/2026

I suffered and overcame acute bacterial and chronic prostatitis.

I was hospitalised and placed on IV antibiotics for 4 days.

I was 26 at the time.

I haven't had a flare up in 10 years now.

I know much of what you are going through.

I've been a clinician and educator for over 25 years.

As isolating as it may feel, there is hope. You can be guided to a better place.

Let me be your guide.

Save this for when you need it.
Or, pass it on to someone who might need it now.

Link to website in bio - www.thepelvicpainclinic.co.uk

26/01/2026

What are your needs right now?
What kind of help would you benefit from in navigating male pelvic pain?

I've been there. I know how this feels.
You don't have to do this alone.
Let someone steady the pace for you.
Save this message.
DM sherpa when you need to.

09/01/2026

Latest podcast: Is the juice worth the squeeze?

This episode is based on patient wisdom — the real-life insights my patients share in clinic that can genuinely shift recovery.

If you’re living with male pelvic pain, it’s incredibly common to start avoiding activities: sitting, cycling, exercise, socialising, intimacy… and slowly, life shrinks. In this podcast, we explore how to run a simple cost–benefit analysis (in a way that actually makes sense), and how to rebuild evidence of safety through small, realistic steps.

I’m Karl Monahan from Pelvic Pain Matters. These are short, practical 15-minute episodes built from clinical experience, patient stories, and what works in real recovery.
What you’ll learn in this episode:

✅ Why avoidance makes life smaller (and often keeps symptoms louder)
✅ The question that reframes fear: “Is the juice worth the squeeze?”
✅ How to build evidence of safety (instead of evidence of danger)
✅ Real examples from “Jake”: sitting pain, gym bench, chair triggers, lap pressure, sauna/steam
✅ How to use graded exposure (small, paced, achievable steps) to reclaim meaningful activities
✅ Why “dosage” matters: doing the right thing in the right amount

Is the juice worth the squeeze?This episode is based on patient wisdom — the real-life insights my patients share in clinic that can genuinely shift recovery...

09/01/2026

Is the juice worth the squeeze? This episode is based on patient wisdom — the real-life insights my patients share in clinic that can genuinely shift recovery. If you’re living with male pelvic pain, it’s incredibly common to start avoiding activities: sitting, cycling, exercise, socialising, ...

19/12/2025

We often think dopamine is the “feel-good” chemical — but there are other sides to Dopamine that plays a powerful role in male pelvic pain. In this episode of my Friday Takeaway series, we look beyond the pelvic floor again… this time diving even deeper into dopamine and its role in this com...

19/12/2025

Here is todays Friday Takeaway Episode of the pelvic pain natters podcast. Part 3 of the deep dive into dopamine and its role in male pelvic pain and prostatitis.
I would love to know your thoughts and reflections on this episode.

We often think dopamine is the “feel-good” chemical — but there are other sides to Dopamine that plays a powerful role in male pelvic pain.In this episode of...

15/12/2025

Next episode of the pelvic pain natters podcast. This is the 2nd dose of Dopamine - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGIljNxHQnc&t=3s

We often think dopamine is the “feel-good” chemical — but there’s a darker side that plays a powerful role in male pelvic pain.
In this episode of my Friday Takeaway series, we look beyond the pelvic floor again… this time diving into how anticipation, fear, scanning, and craving for relief can reinforce pain cycles and keep your system stuck in protection mode.
I’m Karl Monahan, founder of Pelvic Pain Matters, clinical director of The Pelvic Pain Clinic… and someone who has lived through chronic pelvic pain myself. I get how consuming and frightening these patterns can become.
🔍 In this episode, we explore:
✔ Why dopamine drives anticipation and pain prediction
✔ “Scanning” behaviours: checking symptoms on waking
✔ Fear before sitting, s*x, or activity — and how that fuels pain
✔ Why hope can become stressful when it hangs on outcomes
✔ Understanding pain as a processing problem, not “in your head”
✔ Practical strategies to dial down urgency and create space to recover
✔ How to replace fear-driven habits with safety-driven curiosity
When we begin to understand the brain–body cycle, everything starts to make more sense — and recovery becomes more possible.

💬 Chat to Me
Do you recognise these patterns?
How does anticipation or scanning show up in your day?
Share in the comments — your insight might help someone else.

We often think dopamine is the “feel-good” chemical — but there’s a darker side that plays a powerful role in male pelvic pain.In this episode of my Friday T...

12/12/2025

We often think dopamine is the “feel-good” chemical — but there’s a darker side that plays a powerful role in male pelvic pain. In this episode of my Friday Takeaway series, we look beyond the pelvic floor again… this time diving into how anticipation, fear, scanning, and craving for relie...

02/12/2025

We have a new podcast episode available for you to listen to right here. Listen all the way to the end to hear of a new and exciting project for Pelvic Pain Matters too

Dopamine, male pelvic pain, and why “it ain’t what you do – it’s the way that you do it.”In this Friday Takeaway episode, I explore the darker side of dopami...