Pelvic wands are tools you can use to stretch your own pelvic floor muscles and help relax the muscles when they are too tight. Pelvic wands are generally “S” shaped to help reach those hard-to-reach muscles inside the pelvis. Pelvic wands are often recommended when your pelvic floor muscles are too tight and are commonly given to patients to help with symptoms of pelvic pain, urinary leakage, constipation, and sexual dysfunction.
The thought of using any device internally can be daunting. The good news is pelvic wands are fairly simple to use once you get the hang of it and are safe for most people to use independently. Ask your provider before starting use of a pelvic wand to make sure it is right for you.
Pelvic wands can be used both vaginally and rectally and are not gender specific. The ways in which you use the wand and the areas your target can vary depending on the unique qualities and concerns of your pelvic floor. Speak with your provider about the best strategies for you. However, there are general guidelines that apply to most everyone.
- Make sure your hands and the wand have been cleaned and are free from any soap residue. Find a comfortable position and environment in which to use the pelvic wand. If you will be working vaginally, sitting or lying in a hook-lying position (lying on your back with your knees bent and feet planted) are often the easiest positions to work in. If you are working rectally, lying on your side is generally best. Lying on a towel to avoid fear of any mess and using pillows to support your back and legs can be great options. Make sure you feel secure and comfortable in your chosen area. You want your body to be able to relax.
- Use plenty of lubricant and start slow. Most pelvic wands have one narrow, straight end and one wider, tapered end. For these first steps, start with the wider, tapered end. Especially if you are new to using the pelvic wand, move more slowly and gently than you think is required to see how your body responds. Focus on deep breathing throughout this process and slow down if you notice your body clinching around the wand.
- Start towards the outside of either the vaginal or rectal opening and search for any tender spots. If you find a tender spot, gently press and hold until you feel the tenderness ease and the tension in the muscle decrease. This will typically take about 60-90sec per spot. If you are not feeling any specific tender spot, gently and slowly sweep across the muscle keeping gentle pressure as you move.
- Once you feel like you have successfully targeted the outer muscles, it’s time to target the ones the pelvic wand is the best at reaching – those tricky hard-to-reach deeper pelvic floor muscles. Follow the natural curve of the vaginal canal out towards the side of the hips and repeat the same steps you used for the outer muscles. Start by searching for tender spots and press and hold when you find one. Next switch to the sweeping strategy going from the front and side of your pelvis towards the tailbone on each side. There is more area to cover here so the deeper steps often take more time to work on. If working rectally, the same steps generally apply, but you will find you have less room to open out towards the side. You will often have to roll to your other side when switching the side of the pelvic floor you are targeting.
- If your pelvic wand has a narrow end on the other side, this end can be perfect for reaching tricky muscles far off towards the side of the pelvic floor. Insert the narrow end of the wand and point it towards the bony area on the side of your hip. If you rotate your leg slightly in and out you should feel the wand move. Gently press and hold here for about 60-90sec with the goal of feeling the pressure or any tenderness lessen.
- When you are done with the wand, wash with gentle soap and water and let it air dry.
- The amount of time you spend and frequency of which you use your pelvic wand will depend on your own goals, your schedule, and the individual pelvic floor dysfunction you are experiencing. Talk with your provider about setting goals for pelvic wand use for your individual situation.
There are also things you should avoid with the wand. For most people, you should try and keep any pain under 3-4/10 severity. It should not be so painful that you find yourself holding your breath beyond your control or squeezing around the wand. This is NOT a “no pain, no gain” situation! Ease into it and be gentle with your own body. Also, avoid applying strong pressure into the urethra at the top of the vaginal opening. Brushing across that area, when there is no pain, is fine, but we don’t want you to keep consistent, strong pressure here. Notify your provider if you notice any bleeding or have any concerns at any point in your pelvic wand journey.
There are many varieties of pelvic wands on the market today. They generally come in either hard plastic or silicone varieties. Knowing which material your pelvic wand is made of is important for selecting a lubricant to use with it. Hard plastic wands can generally be used with any lubricant unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer, but silicone wands must be used with a water-based lubricant as using silicone on a silicone product will degrade the product over time. There are also bendable, vibrating, heating, and cooling options of wands available which may be beneficial but are most often not necessary. Ask your pelvic provider if any of these other options may be helpful options for you and your own pelvic floor.
Lastly, keep in mind that starting to use a pelvic wand is tricky for most everyone. You can’t see the area you are working on and awareness of your own pelvic floor is often not as good as it should be when you are experiencing pelvic floor dysfunction. Be patient with yourself and start slow. You will find that using a wand gets much easier with practice!