Pelvic Floor Symptom
Vaginal Pain
By Dr. Anthony J. Gordon, Doctor of Acupuncture | Last reviewed September 2026
Intercourse hurts, tampons or exams are hard to tolerate, or there is a burning, raw feeling that no cream has fixed. Your cultures are negative and you have been told everything looks normal. In many cases the source is not infection or skin. It is a pelvic floor that stays braced, nerves that have become sensitive, and tissue that has learned to expect pain.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (516) 597-5400. Most new patients are seen within one to two weeks.
Overview
Understanding Vaginal Pain
Vaginal pain covers a range of experiences: pain at the opening with penetration, deep pain during intercourse, burning or rawness at the vulva, or constant pressure and tightness. You may have heard terms like dyspareunia, vulvodynia, vestibulodynia or vaginismus. These names describe where and when it hurts, but they do not always explain why.
Your gynecologist's first job is to check for infections, skin conditions such as lichen sclerosus, hormonal tissue changes, endometriosis and other medical causes. Those need their own treatment. When they have been addressed or ruled out and the pain continues, the pelvic floor is often the reason. After a painful experience, whether an infection, childbirth tear, surgery or simply painful intercourse, the muscles around the vaginal opening learn to brace in advance. Bracing makes the next contact hurt more, which teaches the muscles to brace harder.
Dr. Gordon's role is to find and calm the muscle, nerve and scar tissue contributors that keep this cycle going, at a pace you are comfortable with, while your gynecologist continues to manage any medical or hormonal factors.
Vaginal Pain at a Glance
Also called
Dyspareunia, vulvodynia, vestibulodynia, vaginismus, pelvic floor tension
Who it affects
Women of all ages, including after childbirth, after pelvic surgery and around menopause
Common triggers
Recurrent yeast or urinary infections, childbirth tearing or episiotomy, pelvic surgery, hormonal changes, past painful intercourse
Typical workup results
Negative cultures, normal ultrasound, little lasting change with antifungals, antibiotics or topical creams
Main drivers
Pelvic floor guarding, sensitive pudendal nerve branches, scar tissue, hip and inner thigh tension
The Gap in Care
Why Vaginal Pain Often Goes Unresolved
A thorough medical workup is essential and should come first. The challenge is that a standard gynecologic exam is built to find disease, not to measure how the muscles and nerves around the vagina are behaving.
What a routine exam is looking for
- Yeast, bacterial or sexually transmitted infections
- Skin conditions such as lichen sclerosus
- Hormonal changes to the vaginal tissue
- Cysts, fibroids or other findings on ultrasound
What often keeps the pain going
- Pelvic floor muscles at the vaginal opening that stay braced
- Trigger points that refer pain to the vulva, clitoris or deep pelvis
- Sensitive scar tissue from tearing, episiotomy or surgery
- Irritated branches of the pudendal nerve
- Tension in the inner thighs, hips and lower abdomen
These factors are found by gentle, hands-on assessment of how the tissue responds to touch and pressure.
Signs & Symptoms
Does This Sound Like You?
Vaginal pain shows up differently for everyone. These are the patterns Dr. Gordon sees most often.
Pain with penetration
Pain at the opening when intercourse begins, or a deeper ache with thrusting that can linger for hours or into the next day.
Burning or rawness at the vulva
A stinging, raw or irritated feeling at the vaginal opening, sometimes constant and sometimes only with touch or pressure.
Trouble with tampons or exams
Tampons are painful or impossible to insert, and speculum exams are difficult to get through.
Pain with sitting or tight clothing
Discomfort that builds in a chair, on a bike or in snug pants, and eases when you stand or lie down.
Flares after activity
Symptoms that spike after intimacy, exercise, long days or stress, then take a while to settle.
Pressure or tightness
A feeling of fullness, pressure or a blockage in the vagina, or muscles that seem to clamp down on their own.
Root Causes
The Four Drivers Dr. Gordon Looks For
Most people have more than one of these in play. Finding the main one makes treatment more efficient.
Pelvic floor tension at the opening
The bulbospongiosus, superficial perineal muscles and levator ani can hold a protective contraction. Trigger points in these muscles refer burning and aching to the vulva and vaginal entrance.
Pudendal nerve sensitivity
Branches of the pudendal nerve supply the vulva, clitoris and perineum. When these branches are irritated by tight tissue or pressure, they produce burning, stinging and sensitivity to light touch.
Scar and tissue sensitivity
Tears, episiotomy repairs and surgical scars can stay tender and stiff, tugging on nearby muscles and nerves every time the area is stretched.
Hip and inner thigh mechanics
Tight adductors, obturator internus and deep hip muscles pull on the pelvic floor and keep it from relaxing, especially with sitting and exercise.
Your First Visit
How Dr. Gordon Evaluates Vaginal Pain
The initial evaluation runs 60 to 75 minutes. Dr. Gordon knows exams may be the hardest part for you, so every step is explained first and you decide what happens. You leave with a clear plan and, in most cases, your first treatment.
Records and history review
Dr. Gordon reviews your gynecologic findings, hormonal factors, childbirth and surgical history, and what has and has not helped.
External muscle and nerve mapping
Gentle assessment of the abdomen, hips, inner thighs, buttocks and perineum to find tender points and nerve sensitivity that reproduce your pain.
External pelvic floor assessment
The pelvic floor muscles are examined from the outside, with no internal exam. With you draped for comfort, gentle pressure around the perineum, sit bones, tailbone and inner thighs checks tone, tenderness and trigger points. You can pause or stop at any time.
Movement and sitting screen
Dr. Gordon looks at how your hips, breathing and posture load the pelvic floor during sitting, exercise and daily tasks.
Plan and coordination
A clear plan, plus communication with your gynecologist or pelvic floor PT when that helps your care.
When to see a physician first
- Fever or chills with pelvic pain
- Unusual discharge, sores or lesions
- Bleeding after menopause or between periods
- Sudden, severe pelvic or abdominal pain
- Possible pregnancy with new pelvic pain
- New numbness in the saddle area or loss of bladder or bowel control
If you have any of these, contact your doctor or go to the nearest emergency department.
Bring to your first visit
Records
Recent lab results, imaging reports and specialist notes. These can also be faxed ahead.
Treatment history
A short list of what you have tried and what did or did not help.
Clothing
Something comfortable and loose fitting.
Treatment
How Dr. Gordon Treats It
Every plan is built from your exam findings and moves at your pace. These are the tools Dr. Gordon combines most often for vaginal pain.
Primary approach
Intrapelvic & Extrapelvic Dry Needling
Dr. Gordon holds ASE certification in both intrapelvic and extrapelvic dry needling. Needling can release trigger points in the pelvic floor, inner thighs and hips, and treatment moves at your pace. The needles go in through the skin of the buttock, perineum or inner thigh, never through the vagina or rectum.
Learn about pelvic floor treatmentNerve focus
Neuro-Functional Acupuncture
Gentle electro-acupuncture along the sacral and pudendal nerve pathways to calm burning, stinging and touch sensitivity.
See servicesBetween visits
Pacing & Team Coordination
Guidance on flare control, sitting and daily comfort, plus shared goals with your gynecologist or pelvic floor PT, including any dilator program they have prescribed.
Referring provider? Contact the clinicWhat to Expect
A Typical Recovery Arc
Visits 1 to 3
Settle the guarding
Dr. Gordon identifies the main drivers and starts calming the most sensitive areas. Many people notice less burning or tension between visits.
Visits 4 to 8
Expand comfort
Sitting, exercise and daily activities become easier, and flares settle faster. Many patients start to tolerate exams or tampons with less pain.
Visits 9 to 12 and beyond
Build confidence
Visits are spaced out as comfort holds. You leave with a plan for flare control and continued progress with your care team.
Most patients are seen weekly or every other week during active care. Individual results vary with how long symptoms have been present and how sensitive the tissue is. Progress is reassessed at every visit.
Not sure how to describe it? Put your pain or discomfort into words before your visit
"Dr. Gordon is thoughtful, thorough and incredibly knowledgeable. He has significantly helped me with pain management and pelvic floor issues. I am grateful to have his expertise in my corner."
Dina Isola, Google Review
Vaginal Pain Questions
Answers About Vaginal Pain
Still unsure whether this is the right fit? Reach out before you book and Dr. Gordon will talk through your history with you.
A normal exam means infection, skin disease and structural problems were not found, which is important. It does not measure muscle tension, trigger points or nerve sensitivity. Those can cause very real pain and are exactly what Dr. Gordon assesses and treats.
Dr. Gordon treats the muscle, nerve and scar tissue patterns that commonly drive these diagnoses. Your gynecologist or dermatologist manages the medical side, such as hormones, skin conditions and medications, and Dr. Gordon coordinates with them when helpful.
No. The pelvic floor is examined externally, with no internal exam. Every step is explained before it happens, and you can pause or stop at any time.
Some people feel mild soreness or a brief increase in sensitivity for a day or two, especially at first. Dr. Gordon starts gently and adjusts to how your body responds.
Long-standing vaginal pain usually needs a course of eight to twelve sessions with reassessment along the way, typically weekly at first and then spaced out. Dr. Gordon gives you an estimate at your first evaluation.
Yes. Your gynecologist manages medical and hormonal factors, and pelvic floor PT is excellent for coordination, relaxation training and dilator work. Dr. Gordon's treatment adds direct release of trigger points and irritated nerves so all three approaches support each other.
Before You Book
General Questions
The clinic is an out-of-network practice. The initial evaluation is $300 and follow-up visits are $250. After each visit you receive a detailed superbill to submit to your PPO plan for possible reimbursement. FSA and HSA cards are accepted, and the clinic can run a complimentary benefits check before your first appointment. The check is a courtesy, so please confirm your coverage with your plan. See Insurance & Fees for details.
The first evaluation is 60 to 75 minutes and usually includes treatment. Follow-up visits run 45 to 60 minutes.
Yes. Call (516) 597-5400 or send a message through the contact page. This is especially helpful if your case is complex and you want to understand the approach before committing to a full evaluation.
1508 Union Turnpike, Suite 133, North New Hyde Park, NY 11040, with free parking on site. The clinic is an easy drive from Manhasset, Great Neck, Garden City, Lake Success, Floral Park and Mineola. Early morning, evening and weekend hours are available.
Most people feel a quick muscle twitch or a deep ache that lasts a few seconds. That twitch is a normal sign the trigger point is releasing. Mild soreness for 24 to 48 hours afterward, similar to a hard workout, is common. Depth, angle and stimulation are adjusted to your comfort.
Both use the same fine, sterile, single-use needles. Dry needling targets specific trigger points and tight bands in muscle based on your exam. Neuro-functional acupuncture targets nerve pathways, often with gentle electrical stimulation, to calm nerve sensitivity. For vaginal pain, Dr. Gordon commonly uses both.
When performed by a trained, licensed provider with detailed knowledge of anatomy, it has a strong safety record. Tell Dr. Gordon if you take blood thinners, have a bleeding disorder, are pregnant or have a weakened immune system so he can plan accordingly.
It is a technique that reaches the deep pelvic floor muscles, including the levator ani, obturator internus and coccygeus, to release trigger points and restore normal muscle function. The needles go in through the skin of the buttock, perineum or inner thigh, never through the vagina or rectum. Dr. Gordon holds ASE certification in this technique, which few practitioners in New York have.
Yes. Your privacy and comfort come first. When undressing is needed for the area being treated, you are fully draped. Needles are placed through the skin only, and nothing is ever inserted into the vagina or rectum. You can pause or stop at any time.
Yes. Many of Dr. Gordon's pelvic floor patients come in after difficult or painful exams elsewhere. He explains every step before he does it, you set the pace, and he treats adults of all genders and identities in a respectful, welcoming setting.
It helps to have had a medical workup so serious causes have been checked. If you have not seen a gynecologist for your symptoms yet, call the clinic to talk through the best order of steps.
About Dr. Anthony J. Gordon
Dr. Anthony J. Gordon is a Doctor of Acupuncture licensed in New York and board certified. He holds ASE certification in intrapelvic and extrapelvic dry needling, along with advanced certifications in Functional Dry Needling and Neuro-Functional Acupuncture. With more than 18 years of clinical experience and over 3,000 complex cases treated, he focuses on pelvic, spinal and orthopedic conditions that have not responded to standard care, and works closely with each patient's physicians and physical therapists.
Read Dr. Gordon's full bioBook an Evaluation for Vaginal Pain
Book a full evaluation with Dr. Gordon and get a clear explanation of what is driving your pain, and a plan you are comfortable with.
Early morning, evening and weekend appointments available. Free on-site parking.
Further Reading
Pelvic Pain in Perimenopause and Menopause: What Changes
From the blog: Falling estrogen thins and dries vaginal and urinary tissue, and the pelvic floor muscles often react. What changes in menopause, and who to see first.
Keep Reading