07/05/2026
Most people don’t realise they’re holding tension in their pelvic floor until it starts affecting daily life — and even then, it’s often misattributed to something else.
Pelvic floor overactivity (sometimes described as a “too tight” or “guarded” pelvic floor) can be incredibly subtle. It doesn’t always feel like pain. In fact, it often feels like nothing obvious at all — just a sense that your body never fully switches off.
You might notice that you can’t quite let go after contracting your abdominal muscles, or that your core always feels gently braced even when you’re resting. Some people describe a constant “held in” feeling, as if they’re subtly gripping through the lower abdomen without realising it. Others find it difficult to fully relax when lying down or breathing deeply into the belly.
The challenge is that this pattern can become your “new normal”, so it goes unnoticed for months or even years.
Common but often missed symptoms of pelvic floor tension:
A persistent feeling of tightness in the lower abdomen, pelvis, or hips
Difficulty relaxing the abdomen or “letting go” after engaging your core
Pelvic discomfort or pressure without a clear cause
Pain or discomfort during in*******se
Difficulty inserting tampons or pelvic examinations feeling uncomfortable
Urinary urgency or frequency, even when there’s not much urine
A sensation of incomplete bladder emptying
Lower back, hip, or glute tightness that keeps returning
Feeling like you are constantly “holding in” your core
Importantly, these symptoms don’t always appear together — and they don’t always look severe. That’s what makes pelvic floor tension so easy to miss.
The body is very good at adapting. If it has learned to stay “switched on” for support or protection, it may continue doing so long after the original trigger has passed.
If any of this feels familiar, it may be worth exploring whether your system is holding more tension than it needs to. Working with a pelvic health physiotherapist can be a helpful step in identifying what’s going on and learning how to restore balance between strength and relaxation.
