Pelvic Pain Natters

About Pelvic Pain Natters

Chronic pelvic pain doesn't exist in isolation. It lives in the body, the nervous system, and the stories we carry — and understanding that connection is where recovery begins. I'm Karl Monahan — male pelvic health specialist with over 20 years of clinical experience, founder of The Pelvic Pain Clinic in London, and someone who has recovered from chronic pelvic pain myself. Each episode I speak directly on the topics that matter most to men living with CPPS, chronic prostatitis and Hard Flaccid Syndrome — the latest research, patient wisdom, practical tips for navigating flare-ups, and honest conversations about trauma, the nervous system and the road to recovery. This podcast is for men searching for answers. For partners and families trying to understand. And for clinicians who want to do better for their patients. New episodes released regularly. 🌐 www.thepelvicpainclinic.co.uk (http://www.thepelvicpainclinic.co.uk/) 📧 info@thepelvicpainclinic.co.uk (mailto:info@thepelvicpainclinic.co.uk)

Publisher

Karl Monahan & Tim Beames

Category

education · health & fitness · science

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

16 May 2022

Latest episode

9 Feb 2026

Latest episodes

60 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   9 Feb 2026

   "I Just Want My Old Life Back” — The Hard Truth About Pelvic Pain Recovery.

   “Can I go back to how I was before this started?” If you’re living with male pelvic pain, you’ve probably asked that question a hundred times. In this episode of Pelvic Pain Matters, Karl Monahan begins a mini-series on time — and why the desire to “go back” can quietly keep you stuck in blame, fear, and constant comparison to the old you. Karl shares his own story (including a serious infection and long-term fear about relationships, sex, fertility, and identity), then brings in real examples from recent calls with younger men dealing with distressing changes and the same burning question: “Will this ever go back to normal?” This is an honest, compassionate conversation about: why we can’t turn back time what that means emotionally (guilt, shame, regret, fear) and how acceptance (not resignation) can become the first real shift toward recovery. You’re not broken. You’re not alone. And even if things don’t return exactly to “before,” you can move forward and reclaim your life. In this episode, we cover: ✅ Why “I just want my old life back” is so common (and so heavy) ✅ The role of guilt, shame, and regret in pelvic pain loops ✅ A crucial distinction: Acceptance vs Resignation ✅ Why waiting to feel “100% better” can keep life on pause ✅ How to take the smallest step forward when everything feels impossible ✅ The invitation: growth, adaptation, self-compassion, and momentum Chapters / Timestamps 00:00 – Intro: Pelvic Pain Matters + why this topic matters 00:52 – The “Time” mini-series: how long will this take? 01:31 – Today’s question: “Can I go back to how it was?” 03:54 – The first truth: we can’t turn back time 05:06 – Blame, shame, guilt: the “if only I hadn’t…” loop 06:07 – Karl’s story: what happened + why it shaped everything 08:29 – Fast forward: life after pelvic pain fear 10:00 – Real examples: young men asking “will it go back?” 11:54 – Perspective: we can’t undo life events, but we can learn 12:52 – The shift: Acceptance (and why it’s misunderstood) 15:09 – Acceptance vs resignation: an invitation to change 16:01 – Small steps toward big life goals 17:33 – CTA: connect, share, review + what’s next in the series Comment below: What are you wishing you could “go back” to? What’s one tiny step forward you could take this week? Share this with someone who’s stuck in regret or fear right now. Subscribe for the rest of the Time mini-series and weekly episodes. ✨ JOIN THE PELVIC PAIN MATTERS CIRCLE — OUR PRIVATE ONLINE COMMUNITY If you’re ready for support, structure, guidance, and community — this is where your next step begins. Click here for more information - https://pelvic-pain-matters-community.circle.so/checkout/ppm-entry-fee?utm_campaign=button_list_ThePelvicPainMattersCommunityCircle&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=later-linkinbio If you’re tired of going through pelvic pain alone, endlessly researching, or trying to piece everything together yourself, the Circle is where your recovery gets supported properly. This is a private, off-social-media community for men who want: ✔ Real guidance (not random forum advice) ✔ A place to ask questions without embarrassment ✔ Consistent support during flare-ups and setbacks ✔ A structured way to learn, grow, and actually move forward ✔ Connection with men who get it — because they’re living it too Inside the Circle, you’ll get: 🔹 Monthly success stories 🔹 Movement + mobility videos 🔹 Breathwork sessions 🔹 Pain understanding & recovery education 🔹 Tools to help you regulate your system, reduce uncertainty, and find steadier recovery It’s the space I wish I had when I was in the darkest parts of pelvic pain. If you’re ready for support, structure, guidance, and community — this is where your next step begins. Click here for more information - https://pelvic-pain-matters-community.circle.so/checkout/ppm-entry-fee?utm_campaign=button_list_ThePelvicPainMattersCommunityCircle&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=later-linkinbio male pelvic pain, pelvic pa

2. 

   9 Jan 2026

   Friday Take Away - Is the Juice Worth the Squeeze? | Patient Wisdom for Male Pelvic Pain Recovery

   Is the juice worth the squeeze? This episode is based on patient wisdom — the real-life insights my patients share in clinic that can genuinely shift recovery. If you’re living with male pelvic pain, it’s incredibly common to start avoiding activities: sitting, cycling, exercise, socialising, intimacy… and slowly, life shrinks. In this podcast, we explore how to run a simple cost–benefit analysis (in a way that actually makes sense), and how to rebuild evidence of safety through small, realistic steps. I’m Karl Monahan from Pelvic Pain Matters. These are short, practical 15-minute episodes built from clinical experience, patient stories, and what works in real recovery. What you’ll learn in this episode: ✅ Why avoidance makes life smaller (and often keeps symptoms louder) ✅ The question that reframes fear: “Is the juice worth the squeeze?” ✅ How to build evidence of safety (instead of evidence of danger) ✅ Real examples from “Jake”: sitting pain, gym bench, chair triggers, lap pressure, sauna/steam ✅ How to use graded exposure (small, paced, achievable steps) to reclaim meaningful activities ✅ Why “dosage” matters: doing the right thing in the right amount Chapters / Timestamps 00:10 – Intro: patient wisdom & why it matters 01:15 – Avoidance: how small has your life become? 02:25 – “Is the juice worth the squeeze?” (Jake’s phrase) 02:57 – Sitting pain + building evidence of safety 03:58 – Cost–benefit analysis (without the boring language) 04:39 – How avoidance steals exercise, social life & identity 05:18 – Jake’s breakthrough: choosing “yes” despite discomfort 06:14 – Predictive processing: expectation can amplify pain 07:17 – Example 1: the gym bench (benefit outweighs threat) 08:55 – Example 2: “the chair” at mum’s house (and the dog factor) 09:34 – Girlfriend vs dog: meaning changes the body’s response 10:27 – Example 3: sauna/steam + rebuilding tolerance 12:35 – What are you avoiding — and is it worth it? 12:57 – Graded exposure: small steps, pacing, realistic goals 13:28 – Your turn: what “juice” is worth your squeeze? 14:15 – Outro + how to reach us 14:38 – Circle community (optional extra support) Comment below: What have you been avoiding? And what’s one meaningful thing you want back in your life — even if you start small? If you found this useful, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs it. ✨ JOIN THE PELVIC PAIN MATTERS CIRCLE — OUR PRIVATE ONLINE COMMUNITY If you’re ready for support, structure, guidance, and community — this is where your next step begins. Click here for more information - https://pelvic-pain-matters-community.circle.so/checkout/ppm-entry-fee?utm_campaign=button_list_ThePelvicPainMattersCommunityCircle&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=later-linkinbio If you’re tired of going through pelvic pain alone, endlessly researching, or trying to piece everything together yourself, the Circle is where your recovery gets supported properly. This is a private, off-social-media community for men who want: ✔ Real guidance (not random forum advice) ✔ A place to ask questions without embarrassment ✔ Consistent support during flare-ups and setbacks ✔ A structured way to learn, grow, and actually move forward ✔ Connection with men who get it — because they’re living it too Inside the Circle, you’ll get: 🔹 Monthly success stories 🔹 Movement + mobility videos 🔹 Breathwork sessions 🔹 Pain understanding & recovery education 🔹 Tools to help you regulate your system, reduce uncertainty, and find steadier recovery It’s the space I wish I had when I was in the darkest parts of pelvic pain. If you’re ready for support, structure, guidance, and community — this is where your next step begins. Click here for more information - https://pelvic-pain-matters-community... #PelvicPainMatters #MalePelvicPain #CPPS #PelvicPainRecovery #ChronicPain #PainScience #MensHealth #GradedExposure #SittingPain #PatientWisdom

3. 

   19 Dec 2025

   Dopamine, Prediction & Pelvic Pain | Break the Anticipation Loop (Part 3)

   In this episode of my Friday Takeaway series, we look beyond the pelvic floor again… this time diving even deeper into dopamine and its role in this complex condition. I’m Karl Monahan, founder of Pelvic Pain Matters, clinical director of The Pelvic Pain Clinic… and someone who has lived through chronic pelvic pain myself. I get how consuming and frightening these patterns can become. In male pelvic pain, it’s not just what’s happening in the pelvic floor — it’s what your whole system predicts is about to happen. In this Friday Takeaway, I continue our dopamine series by exploring prediction, anticipation, and “scanning” behaviours — the loops that can quietly fuel symptoms, flare-ups, urgency, and fear. I’m Karl Monahan, founder of Pelvic Pain Matters, clinical director of The Pelvic Pain Clinic, and a former pelvic pain sufferer myself. These episodes are short, practical snippets to help: patients navigate pelvic pain more successfully clinicians broaden assessment beyond the pelvic floor partners/loved ones better understand what someone is going through In this episode you’ll learn: ✅ Why the brain is less a “receiver” and more a predictor ✅ How pelvic pain can become a self-fulfilling prophecy (without being “in your head”) ✅ Why morning symptom-checking and body scanning ramps up threat ✅ How dopamine fuels urgency, catastrophising, and anticipation loops ✅ A simple 90-second breathing “firebreak” to interrupt the cycle ✅ How to re-train prediction using mismatch journaling (“what I feared” vs “what happened”) ✅ How to shift your system from threat → trust, one small degree at a time Recovery isn’t about flipping an off-switch. It’s about changing your relationship with sensations, thoughts, and uncertainty — and teaching your system that not every signal equals danger. Do you notice yourself scanning for symptoms in the morning, before sitting, travel, or sex? Drop a comment — what pattern traps you most, and what helps you shift it? OIN THE PELVIC PAIN MATTERS CIRCLE — OUR PRIVATE ONLINE COMMUNITY If you’re ready for support, structure, guidance, and community — this is where your next step begins. Click here for more information - https://pelvic-pain-matters-community... If you’re tired of going through pelvic pain alone, endlessly researching, or trying to piece everything together yourself, the Circle is where your recovery gets supported properly. This is a private, off-social-media community for men who want: ✔ Real guidance (not random forum advice) ✔ A place to ask questions without embarrassment ✔ Consistent support during flare-ups and setbacks ✔ A structured way to learn, grow, and actually move forward ✔ Connection with men who get it — because they’re living it too Inside the Circle, you’ll get: 🔹 Monthly success stories 🔹 Movement + mobility videos 🔹 Breathwork sessions 🔹 Pain understanding & recovery education 🔹 Tools to help you regulate your system, reduce uncertainty, and find steadier recovery It’s the space I wish I had when I was in the darkest parts of pelvic pain. If you’re ready for support, structure, guidance, and community — this is where your next step begins. Click here for more information - https://pelvic-pain-matters-community... #PelvicPainMatters #MalePelvicPain #CPPS #PelvicPainRecovery #DopamineDetox #PainScience #MindBodyConnection #ChronicPainSupport #PelvicHealthForMen #PelvicFloorDysfunction #MenWithPelvicPain #PelvicPainHelp

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

13 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 38 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

45

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

77

Contact Pelvic Pain Natters

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.