“Is This Right for Me?”: How to Know If Pelvic Support Tools Can Help You Feel More Like You

It’s one of the most common questions we hear: 

“How do I know if a pelvic support garment is right for me?”

Whether you're dealing with prolapse, navigating postpartum recovery, or just feeling unsure about what your body needs: you're not alone. It’s completely normal to have questions at this stage, because this isn’t about buying a product. It’s about understanding your body, your options, and feeling confident in your next step.

For some, that next step might be a support garment: an external tool you can try right away to ease discomfort or pressure. For others, a pessary may be part of the conversation, especially in partnership with a provider. Both tools can offer meaningful support, just in different ways: pessaries work internally, typically requiring a fitting, while garments provide external reinforcement and targeted support. Some people use both, depending on the day or the activity.

So, we asked the experts. These pelvic health professionals have guided hundreds of patients through the same uncertainty, and they’ve shared their wisdom to help you decide what tools might help you feel supported, comfortable, and confident.

It's Okay to Start With Symptoms, Not Labels

You don’t need a formal diagnosis to start seeking relief. In fact, for many women, the journey toward pelvic health begins with a hunch, a whisper from the body, or a sense that something just feels...off. That might look like pelvic pressure during errands, a dull ache in your lower back, or a feeling of heaviness after lifting your toddler. These aren’t just random annoyances—they're signals. And they matter.

Dr. Ashley Castellanos sees this often: “I would have a lot of women with chronic back pain, chronic hip pain...and [pelvic health] ended up being the missing piece.” You don’t need a specialist’s stamp of approval to explore what makes you feel better. Starting with curiosity is powerful.

Support garments can be one of the first tools you reach for, not because they fix everything, but because they offer feedback. Does your body feel better when you wear one? Do certain activities feel easier? More supported? That information is valuable. It helps you build body awareness and reconnect with a part of yourself that might have been ignored, dismissed, or misunderstood.

Too often, our medical system prioritizes clear-cut diagnoses over lived experience. But your symptoms are real, even if they don’t fit neatly into a clinical category. And you deserve relief now—not months down the line, not after another referral, not after you're “sure” what it is. (Plus, we make it easy to use your HSA or FSA to purchase a garment, even without a diagnosis!)

By tuning into your symptoms and exploring gentle solutions like support garments, you’re doing something incredibly wise: you’re honoring your body’s messages without waiting for permission.

There’s No One-Size-Fits-All—And That’s a Good Thing

Support looks different for everyone. Some people need a little extra lift during workouts, others want day-to-day relief from heaviness or discomfort. Dr. Beth Olson knows this firsthand. “I had no idea what pelvic organ prolapse was before I had it myself. I had never heard of it,” she shared. Like many, she started with a Google search and ended up finding her way through trial, error, and expert help.

Eventually, she discovered a combination that worked: a pessary for certain days, a support garment on others. "I could go to the gym. I could run. I wasn’t terrified my insides were going to fall out anymore." Her advice? Use what helps you feel strong—and don’t let shame hold you back.

Think of Support as a Bridge, Not a Fix

We often think something has to be permanent to be worth trying. But support tools can be a bridge, helping you move through hard seasons while your body adapts.

Dr. Anna McMaster put it beautifully: “It's about meeting people where they are, even if that’s five minutes between feeding a newborn and folding laundry.”

From a clinical perspective, Dr. Chelsea Tetreault explains why garments work so well: “When you add an external support like a belt or garment, you’re helping to lift and reduce that pressure. It’s essentially giving the ligaments and muscles a break from the downward force they’re constantly managing.”

That relief isn’t just emotional; it’s biomechanical.

Tools Can Be Empowering, Not a Sign of Defeat

For some, using a support garment can feel like admitting something's wrong. But our experts see it differently.

Dr. April Morrison hears it often: "People feel broken when they need support. But the right tool can give them their life back."

Dr. Beth Henigan likens it to having a gym spotter: “The muscles are trying to do their job holding everything up, but when they’re fatigued or stretched or just recovering, tools like a pessary or garment can act like a spotter. They’re not doing the work for you, but they’re backing you up while you rebuild.”

In other words, this is a form of strength, not surrender.

You Don’t Have to Figure This Out Alone

You are not meant to navigate this alone. Tools exist, but so do people who understand your journey. (In fact, we have a whole directory of pelvic floor physical therapists, books, podcasts, and more you can explore if you’re feeling unsure where to start.) Whether you’re newly postpartum, living with prolapse, or simply noticing that your core doesn’t feel like it used to, you’re not the only one asking questions. And you don’t have to wait for a crisis before reaching out.

Dr. Ally Loupe reminds us: “You don’t have to wait for things to get bad before you reach out. There’s support for every stage, and every body.”

And Dr. Caitlin Oliveros offers a physiological reason why garments help: “Everything from the way you breathe to how you hold your core affects your pelvic floor. If your system is off... support garments can help redistribute some of that force until your body catches up.”

Sometimes the smartest move is using a simple tool to help your system reset.

Final Thoughts

There’s no universal answer to the question, “Is this right for me?” But there are ways to listen to your body, experiment safely, and find support—both physical and emotional.

A support garment might not be the whole solution, but if it helps you move more freely, feel more confident, or simply breathe easier—that’s a powerful step forward.

What You Can Do Next

• Tune into your body with our pelvic health symptom tracker: Notice when and where you feel heaviness, discomfort, or hesitation.
• Try low-risk tools: Support garments like Hem’s are non-invasive and customizable.
• Talk to a pelvic floor PT: Even one session can offer insights you didn’t expect.
• Know it’s okay to change: What helps you today might shift in a few months. That’s part of healing.

About the Hem Support Wear Team

Meet Cristin, Lauren, and Alexa: a small, mission-driven team passionate about helping women feel supported, seen, and strong—especially when it comes to pelvic health. Hem was founded by Lauren Fleming, whose personal journey with prolapse sparked a mission to make healing feel less lonely and a whole lot more empowering.