Tight Jaw, Painful Pelvis?

The Hidden Link You Need to Know About

Most people wouldn’t think twice about a tight jaw or grinding their teeth at night. But what if your jaw tension is silently contributing to pelvic pain?

This isn't something you'll often hear about in mainstream care, but it's very real. We’ve helped hundreds of women who had “tried everything” finally find answers once we explored these overlooked connections.

Our goal with this blog is to educate, empower, and help you feel seen, especially if your symptoms have been dismissed or misunderstood. At Ova, we don’t just treat the obvious. We investigate every detail, every pattern, and every signal your body gives, because the root of pain is often where no one else is looking.

Let’s explore how something as common as jaw tension may be affecting your pelvic floor.

How the Jaw and Pelvis Are Connected

1. Shared Fascial and Muscular Pathways

Your body is connected through a continuous network of fascia, like a three-dimensional web of connective tissue. The jaw (specifically the temporomandibular joint or TMJ) and the pelvic floor are part of a fascial line that runs head to toe. When one area is tight or overactive, tension can ripple down to other areas, yes, including your pelvis.

2. Neurological Links via the Vagus Nerve

The vagus nerve plays a major role in regulating the nervous system, digestion, bladder function, and more. It travels from the brainstem through the jaw, neck, thorax, and abdomen, affecting pelvic organs and the pelvic floor. Chronic jaw clenching can lead to sympathetic nervous system overactivation (aka fight-or-flight mode), which has been shown to exacerbate pelvic floor tightness and pain.

3. Postural and Musculoskeletal Compensation

Chronic jaw tension often affects head and neck posture, which influences spinal alignment and pelvic stability. Your body may compensate by tightening the pelvic floor, hips, and lower back, especially during stress.

What Are the Symptoms of Jaw-Related Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?

You may experience:

• Chronic pelvic pain without a clear gynecological cause

• Tightness, heaviness, or burning in the pelvic area

• Pain with intercourse (dyspareunia)

• Constipation or difficulty fully emptying your bladder

• TMJ symptoms: jaw clenching, clicking, headaches, neck pain

How Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy Can Help

At Ova, we assess:

• Jaw and facial tension

• Breathing patterns and stress response

• Spinal and postural alignment

• Pelvic floor tone and coordination

We use gentle, evidence-informed techniques like manual therapy, biofeedback, neuromuscular retraining, and nervous system regulation to help your body release tension and restore balance.

Realistic Healing Expectations

If jaw tension has been contributing to your pelvic symptoms, relief is possible, but healing takes time. Addressing the root cause rather than just the symptoms leads to longer-lasting results. Many clients begin noticing improvements within a few sessions, especially when they also engage in home exercises and stress-reduction strategies.

When Should You Seek Help?

If you’re dealing with unexplained pelvic pain, tightness, or discomfort, especially if you also experience jaw tension or TMJ issues, it may be time to consult a pelvic floor physiotherapist who understands the whole-body connection.

Why Choose Ova Women’s Health in Burnaby?

We’re not just pelvic floor physiotherapists, we’re international experts in complex pelvic health.

At Ova Women’s Health, our clinical approach is founded on a unique blend of global experience, cultural insight, and advanced, evidence-based care. Having worked across three continents, we bring together traditional healing perspectives with the most up-to-date, research-backed methods in pelvic floor physiotherapy.

This combination of scientific knowledge and traditional practices, along with our extensive hands-on experience in treating thousands of complex cases, allows us to identify issues that others may overlook. Whether you are experiencing unresolved pelvic pain, sexual dysfunction, or recovering from surgery, you can trust us to provide care with unparalleled depth and understanding.

Our clinic is a trusted destination for women across Burnaby, Vancouver, and the Lower Mainland, and we’re honoured to walk this healing journey with you.

Want to Learn More? Explore Our Exclusive Videos and Resources

At Ova Women’s Health, we’re not just here to treat, we’re here to educate. If you’re looking for real answers to complex pelvic health concerns, our content goes beyond what you’ll typically find online.

📲 On our Instagram, we share bite-sized, expert-led videos on everything from pelvic pain and sexual health to topics rarely discussed, like vulvar hygiene, Oral Sex Safety, and jaw-pelvic floor connections.

📺 Our YouTube channel dives even deeper, with practical guidance and empowering education designed to help you understand your body and feel more in control of your health.

We cover the topics that are often ignored or misunderstood, because women deserve better.
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