The root cause of my pain in perimenopause. A dysregulated nervous system.
For over a decade while unknowingly in perimenopause, I searched for answers. I lived with a constellation of symptoms—IBS, pelvic pain, and bladder irritation and lower back seizures—that quietly dictated how I moved through life. Every decision was shadowed by discomfort, unpredictability, and constant vigilance. Was this meal safe? Could I sit through that meeting? Will this pain ever go away?
I consulted dozens of medical specialists across gastroenterology, gynecology, urology, physiotherapy and pelvic health—searching for clarity, reassurance, and relief. I underwent countless tests to rule out structural abnormalities in all the organs within my pelvis. While I’m deeply grateful for the expertise and care I received, nothing fully explained the symptoms. And no one treatment truly worked.
Then I discovered breathwork.
Not a quick fix. Not a miracle. But slowly—through daily, intentional practice—I began regulating my nervous system. My digestion softened. My pelvic floor relaxed. My bladder stopped sending false alarms. For the first time in years, I felt like I had agency over my body instead of being controlled by it.
Why Breath Matters
The symptoms weren’t just physical, they were expressions of a dysregulated nervous system. The gut, bladder, and pelvic organs are all intimately connected to the brain through the vagus nerve and autonomic pathways. When we’re locked into chronic stress responses, these systems become hypersensitive and reactive.
Breathwork activates the parasympathetic “rest-and-digest” system, helping restore calm and coherence throughout the body.
Research confirms this:
Slow, deep breathing has been shown to improve autonomic function and microvascular health in people with IBS (Jurek et al., 2020).
A pilot study found that breathwork altered rectal sensitivity and improved symptoms in those with constipation-predominant IBS (Liu et al., 2022).
Relaxation training significantly reduced IBS symptom severity and improved quality of life over both short and long terms (Van der Veek et al., 2007).
Pelvic pain and bladder urgency are often linked to nervous system dysregulation, with neuromodulation offering promising relief (Roberts et al., 2023).
Polyvagal Theory offers a framework for understanding how breath and safety cues can support pelvic healing (Porges, 2011).
Breathwork Became My Medicine
Breathwork gave me:
A way to soothe flare-ups—whether digestive, pelvic, or bladder-related
A tool to support my body without constant monitoring or control
A deeper self-trust—the ability to meet my body with compassion instead of fear
This practice didn’t just restore comfort, it restored connection. I stopped feeling like my body was a battleground and began treating it as an ally. Breathwork helped me reclaim something precious: safety.
If you live with chronic gut issues, pelvic discomfort, or bladder irritation—and nothing seems to “fix” it—I hope this story reminds you: healing isn’t always about finding what’s wrong. Sometimes, it’s about helping your body feel safe enough to release what it’s been holding.
And sometimes, it begins with the gentlest act—a single breath.
You can find more about my story here.
References
Jurek, M.K., et al. (2020). The Effects of Slow Deep Breathing on Measures of Microvascular and Autonomic Function in an Irritable Bowel Syndrome Population. International Journal of Exercise Science
Van der Veek, P.P.J., et al. (2007). Clinical trial: short- and long-term benefit of relaxation training for irritable bowel syndrome. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics
Asiri MD et al. (2019) – Central Nervous System Changes in Pelvic Inflammation/Pain Patients. Current Bladder Dysfunction Reports.
SportsMAP Network (2025) – Changing the Way We Think and Treat Pelvic Pain: An Evidence-Based, Nervous System-Informed Approach.
