The Hidden Cause of Testicular Pain: How Men’s Pelvic Floor Therapy in Texas Can Help

Katie Beckham • July 3, 2025

A Silent Struggle Many Men Don’t Talk About

If you’ve been dealing with nagging testicular, groin, penile, or rectal pain and you’ve seen doctors, done the tests, and taken the antibiotics, and still don’t have improvement or have a clear answer, you’re not alone. Many men go through months or even years of discomfort without real relief. It’s frustrating. It’s exhausting and depressing; it can feel like no one is listening or hearing.

At my clinic in Spring Branch, I work with men every week who’ve had similar experiences. What most of them have in common is this: the discomfort is most often generated from dysfunction of the muscles and nerves of the pelvic floor. That’s why I offer a focused approach to testicular and penis pain treatment in Spring Branch Area through men’s pelvic floor physical therapy.


What Is Testicular Pain — and Why Is It So Often Misunderstood?

Testicular pain, or orchialgia, is defined as discomfort that lasts longer than three months. It can come and go, stay in one spot, or move around. Some men feel it directly in the testicle, while others feel it in the groin, lower abdomen, or inner thigh. It might feel sharp, aching, or like a pulling sensation.

The challenge? Most standard medical tests — like ultrasounds or bloodwork — don’t show a clear problem. That’s because chronic testicular pain often isn’t caused by the testicle itself. It’s caused by muscle tension, nerve irritation, or perhaps scar tissue, especially in the pelvic region.

This is where Men’s Pelvic Floor PT specialists in Houston, Texas, like me, come in. Pelvic floor dysfunction is still underdiagnosed in men, but it’s one of the most common contributors to this kind of pain.


What Really Causes Testicular Pain?

Testicular pain can be driven by a number of underlying issues, many of which are treatable with the right approach:


  • Pelvic floor muscle tension – The muscles in your pelvic region can become overly tight, leading to nerve compression or restricted blood flow.
  • Nerve entrapment – Nerves like the ilioinguinal, genitofemoral, and pudendal travel near or through the pelvic floor and can become irritated or compressed.
  • Referred pain – Issues in the lower back, hip, or abdomen often send pain signals to the testicle, even when there’s nothing wrong with the testicle itself.
  • Post-surgical scarring – Hernia and hemorrhoid repairs, vasectomies, or abdominal surgeries can leave behind scar tissue that tugs on nearby fascia and nerves.
  • Prolonged sitting or straining – Long hours at a desk, chronic constipation, or overtraining the core can all overload the pelvic area.

These are the kinds of patterns I look for during a men's pelvic floor physical therapy evaluation in Texas.


What Men’s Pelvic Floor Therapy Looks Like

When you come to see me, we start with a detailed conversation about your symptoms, lifestyle, surgeries, and history. I examine how your spine, hips, pelvis, and core move. With your consent, this includes a gentle internal pelvic floor assessment.


Here’s what treatment may involve:


  • Manual therapy – To release tension in the pelvic floor, abdominal wall, hips, and groin
  • Myofascial and nerve release – Techniques to mobilize restricted fascia and reduce nerve sensitivity
  • Nerve gliding exercises – To help irritated nerves move more freely and reduce symptoms
  • Scar tissue work – Especially important if you’ve had a hernia or pelvic surgery
  • Breath training – Diaphragmatic breathing can reduce pelvic floor tension and calm the nervous system
  • Movement and posture coaching – So your body supports healing rather than re-aggravating sensitive areas.

Sessions are private, quiet, and always tailored to you. No busy clinics. No rushed appointments. Just one-on-one care at my Houston-based pelvic floor clinic.


What You Might Be Feeling — and What That Tells Me

Some men describe a low, constant ache. Others feel sharp twinges during or after sitting, intimacy, or working out. Many tell me their pain moves — one day it’s near the testicle, the next it’s in the groin or lower abdomen. Some feel pressure or tightness, or a strange “pulling” they can’t explain. Sometimes a sense of sitting on a golf ball.


These patterns matter. They tell me how your nerves and muscles may be contributing to your symptoms. Most of the time, they align with known pelvic floor dysfunction — the kind I treat every day through men’s pelvic floor physical therapy in Texas.

By listening closely to your experience and doing a hands-on assessment, I can help identify what’s driving your pain and start to treat it at the source.


Why My Approach Is Different

My practice isn’t a general PT clinic or a busy medical office. I’ve spent over 15 years focused on pelvic health and have seen firsthand that hundreds of men are overlooked or misdiagnosed. At Beckham Physical Therapy and Wellness, you’ll get care that is respectful, thorough, and grounded in evidence.

Whether you’re navigating life after a hernia repair, living with unexplained groin pain, or trying to get back to normal after months of discomfort, I’m here to help.

This isn’t just about managing symptoms — it’s about getting to the root cause, correcting the issue, and restoring normal function of the pelvic floor, returning you to comfort and quality of life through expert-guided men’s pelvic floor physical therapy in Texas, Houston.


Ready to Talk About What’s Really Going On?

If you’ve been told “everything looks fine” but you still feel pain, it’s time to look deeper. Pelvic floor physical therapy may be the missing piece.

I offer testicular pain treatment in the Spring Branch Area for men who are ready to understand what’s happening in their bodies and start working toward real relief. If you’re unsure whether this type of therapy is right for you, I’m happy to answer your questions.

You don’t have to live with discomfort. Contact me today. 



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Pelvic Floor Dysfunction in Women: Causes, Symptoms.
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Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) is more common than most women realize. It shows up in different ways, sometimes subtle, sometimes loud, but always disruptive. Beckham Physical Therapy & Wellness specializes in helping women get real answers — and real relief — through one-on-one, holistic pelvic floor care in a private home setting.
By Katie Beckham May 28, 2025
Most men rarely think about their pelvic floor—until something starts to feel off. Whether it's persistent groin pain, frequent trips to the bathroom, discomfort during intimacy, or unexplained lower back or hip pain, these issues are often silently endured and misunderstood. What many don’t realize is that these symptoms may be tied to a condition called pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) . This condition is more common than most people—and many healthcare providers—realize. Thankfully, with the right care, it’s also highly treatable. What Is Male Pelvic Floor Dysfunction? The pelvic floor is a group of muscles, ligaments, and connective tissue at the base of your pelvis. In men, these muscles support important organs, including the bladder, rectum, and prostate, and are critical for bowel and bladder control, sexual function, and core stability. Pelvic floor dysfunction occurs when these muscles are too tight, too weak, or poorly coordinated . Instead of relaxing properly to allow urination or bowel movements, the muscles stay tense, leading to a wide range of symptoms that may affect everyday life. Common Symptoms in Men Pelvic floor dysfunction can show up differently for each person, but most symptoms fall into one or more of the following categories: Urinary Issues Frequent urge to urinate with little output Hesitation or difficulty starting the urine stream A sensation of incomplete bladder emptying Pain or burning during or after urination Dribbling after urination Bowel Dysfunction Constipation or straining during bowel movements A feeling of incomplete evacuation Pain before, during, or after bowel movements Gas or stool leakage Sexual Dysfunction Pain with arousal or ejaculation Erectile dysfunction or trouble maintaining erections Testicular, penile, or perineal pain Numbness or decreased sensation during sex Musculoskeletal Pain Pain in the perineum, tailbone, or sit bones Lower abdominal or groin pain Hip, lower back, or sacroiliac joint discomfort Tightness in the inner thighs or pelvic muscles These symptoms can be confusing and deeply personal, often leading men to delay seeking help. At Beckham Physical Therapy and Wellness, I frequently work with individuals who have struggled in silence for months or even years. Why the Condition Often Goes Undiagnosed One of the most frustrating realities of male pelvic floor dysfunction is how often it’s misdiagnosed . Many men are treated repeatedly for prostatitis , often with rounds of antibiotics—even when there’s no infection present. Unfortunately, most urologists receive little or no training in pelvic floor disorders during medical school, which means they may not recognize when muscle dysfunction, not infection, is the root cause. In fact, studies show that men with pelvic pain often spend up to seven years seeking an accurate diagnosis. During this time, symptoms may worsen, and quality of life may decline. This is why finding a knowledgeable pelvic floor therapist for men in Bellaire, Texas, is so crucial. What Causes Male Pelvic Floor Dysfunction? The causes of pelvic floor dysfunction can vary. Often, multiple contributing factors are at play. Some of the most common include: Post-surgical trauma (such as prostatectomy or vasectomy) Orthopedic injuries (spine, hip, or pelvic injuries) Excessive exercise or poor lifting mechanics Chronic constipation or habitual straining Long hours of sitting or a sedentary lifestyle Psychological stress, anxiety, or trauma Practices like jelqing or attempts at genital enhancement Not every case is tied to a dramatic event—sometimes, it’s the accumulation of stress, poor posture, or muscular imbalance over time. How Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Helps The good news? Pelvic floor dysfunction is highly treatable, without surgery or medication. Working with a trained pelvic floor specialist allows men to address the root of the problem, not just the symptoms. As a leading pelvic floor physical therapist in Memorial, Texas , my approach includes: Manual therapy to release tight or spastic muscles Neuromuscular retraining to improve muscle coordination Breathwork and core training to restore pelvic stability Education on bladder/bowel habits, posture, and stress management Personalized exercise programs to support recovery at home I treat each individual holistically, recognizing that the pelvic floor is interconnected with the rest of the body—and that healing often involves addressing emotional and psychological components, too. Why Choose Beckham Physical Therapy and Wellness At Beckham Physical Therapy and Wellness, I specialize in one-on-one pelvic health care for both men and women. My setting in West Memorial is private, welcoming, and designed to put patients at ease. Many of my male clients tell me it’s the first time they’ve felt truly heard and understood. I’m proud to be a trusted pelvic floor therapist for men in Bellaire, Texas , offering: Over 40 years of clinical experience More than 15 years dedicated exclusively to pelvic health Gentle, evidence-based techniques Individualized treatment plans in a relaxed home-based setting And while this blog focuses on men’s health, I also offer expert care from a pelvic floor physical therapist for women in Memorial, TX , addressing conditions such as postpartum recovery, incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, intercourse pain, endometriosis, and more. Whether you're navigating new symptoms or have been searching for answers for years, I am here to support your journey. Take the First Step Toward Relief If you’re experiencing pelvic pain, urinary urgency, bowel issues, or sexual discomfort, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to keep guessing. These are treatable conditions, and recovery is absolutely possible. Connect with a compassionate, experienced pelvic floor physical therapist in Memorial, Texas, who understands the unique challenges men face. At Beckham Physical Therapy and Wellness, I’m here to help you get back to living fully and comfortably. Relief begins with the right support. Schedule your consultation today.
By Katie Beckham February 24, 2025
HOUSTON – The pelvic floor is a set of muscles that works as a support system for the organs of the pelvis, including the bladder and the uterus. As those muscles weaken, the organs can fall south. However, new therapies allow for physical therapists to teach patients how to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and eliminate a lot of problems. During a consultation for pelvic floor physical therapy, Katie Beckham, Houston Methodist West Hospital pelvic floor physical therapist, tells women how it works. She said weakening or over-tightening of the pelvic floor can happen after having children, after cancer treatments or simply with age. “One of the biggest mistakes people make, trying to pull up and exercise the pelvic floor but they’re holding their breath,” Beckham explained. ‘Then we perform the activity like picking up our grandchild carrier seat, we have to let that pressure out somewhere or we’re going to dribble.” Lacking support in the pelvic floor can lead to lower back pain, urine urgency or difficulty emptying the bladder. “A physical therapist that specializes in this, teaches a patient how to maintain its proper pressures, how to use body mechanics properly, how to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, how to let them go, how to let things in and out,” Beckham said. Beckham teaches that by showing patients which lower ab muscles to strengthen. “Tightening two big sets of muscles, the lower abs, which I teach as skinny jeans,” she explained. “So, if you want to put on a pair of size 2 jeans and you really need a 12, you’re going to have to hollow out your belly, you’re going to have to pull your belly button towards your spine.” Showing patients with an internal exam is an option. Although maybe awkward, Beckham said it leads to fast, positive results. “Then the other big set, I teach it like an elevator, it’s the pelvic floor muscles, those are the muscles that shore up and close the opening to the urethra in the vagina and the rectum. So, we want to pull those up, it’s as if I had an exam finger in your vagina and I asked you to close the door of the elevator and pull the elevator up into your belly.” This kind of physical therapy can take anywhere from three weeks to three months. There are pelvic floor physical therapists at Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, The Woman’s Hospital of Texas and these locations for Houston Methodist.