Using the Cervu Tool for Internal Self-Massage: The Whys and Hows
Pelvic health recovery after cancer is complicated. Depending on the treatments you’ve had, you may be living with scar tissue, muscle tightness, chronic pelvic pain, and other unpleasant symptoms. You need tools that can help you address all of these concerns.
If you’ve discovered you have tight, tender pelvic floor muscles—or if a provider has told you have them—you’re probably wondering how the heck to address them. We’ve got you: we designed the Cervu system specifically to help people release tension and pain in the pelvic muscles.
Let’s jump in and discuss your options for targeting pelvic floor trigger points, including how the Cervu tool can help.
What Is a Pelvic Massage Wand?
If you’ve done any searching to learn more about pelvic floor muscle problems, you may have come across pelvic massage wands.
A pelvic massage wand is a self-massage tool designed to help you access and address tight or tender areas, or trigger points, in your pelvic floor muscles. It’s useful for people living with muscular trigger points that cause pain or tenderness during sex, pelvic exams, tampon use, or even just at rest.
Most commonly, people use wands intravaginally, but it can also be used rectally depending on your symptoms and goals. The wand’s curved shape allows you to reach areas that are difficult or impossible to get to with your fingers or a straight tool.
However, this S-shaped curve of most wands can make them look a bit intimidating. If you’ve seen or held a pelvic wand and found yourself thinking, How do I use this thing?, you’re not alone.
That’s why we designed the Cervu tool the way we did. It gives you the length and angles you’ll need to access hard-to-reach muscle groups, all in a less complicated, less intimidating package.
Why Should I Use the Cervu Tool for Internal Self-massage?
If you’ve already used the Cervu tool as a vaginal trainer, you might be wondering why you should bother to learn to use it like this, too. In short, the two approaches have different intentions and outcomes.
The vaginal training component of the Cervu tool focuses on helping you gently stretch and expand tight vaginal tissues. For female cancer survivors dealing with scar tissue and tension after pelvic surgeries or radiation, this is a critical part of your post-operative self-care.
Pelvic wands, on the other hand, are curved and designed specifically to help you locate and work on sensitive or tight muscle areas inside the pelvis. By releasing tender points in your pelvic tissues, you can reduce pressure sensitivity and the pain these tender points can cause.
If you’ve found vaginal trainers helpful, there’s a good chance you’ll benefit from a pelvic wand, too…but who wants another tool cluttering up their personal space? It’s another step in your routine, another thing to clean and store, another potential headache.
This is exactly the problem we wanted to solve with the Cervu system.
Unlike some other vaginal trainers on the market, the Cervu trainer tips are slightly curved. This is a deliberate design feature: it allows you to use the tip of each trainer like a targeted massage tool. The Cervu tool lets you perform vaginal training and trigger point release with just one tool, in one session.
What’s not to like about simplicity?
Setting Yourself Up for a Good First Experience
If you’ve already used the Cervu tool for vaginal training stretches, this step will be familiar. It can be tempting to rush into a session, but taking the time to settle yourself is perhaps the most important step of any pelvic self-care routine.
Before you begin, always wash your hands and the Cervu trainer tips with warm water and a gentle, unscented soap. Even if it’s your first time using the Cervu tool right out of the package, give it a good rinse.
You’ll also want to have a good quality lubricant on hand. This helps minimize friction and makes the whole process more comfortable. (Check out our lube recommendations in our Getting Started article!)
Start in a private, quiet space where you feel calm and unhurried. This might be your bedroom, or even a cozy spot on the floor with a yoga mat and some pillows. If you’ve used the Cervu tool before, the setup is very similar: support under your head, your knees propped if needed, and your pelvis within reach.
Take a few minutes to settle into your body. Get your pillows arranged so you’re comfortable, and take some deep, slow breaths. Give yourself time to settle into your body.
Starting Slowly and Simply
Attach one trainer tip to the Cervu handle. There’s no right or wrong size to use, though many people find that the middle two tip sizes are the easiest to use for trigger point work.
Before you rush into inserting it, get comfortable with how the Cervu tool feels in your hand. Hold the white handle in several different positions to find what feels most natural.
Allow your body time to get comfortable with the tool, too. Lightly touch the trainer tip to your pubic bone and the outer edges of your vulva. This helps your nervous system start to associate the wand with safe, gentle touch.
When you’re ready, apply a small amount of lubricant to the trainer tip. Gently insert just the very first portion of the trainer tip—no more than half a centimeter. Pause here. Breathe.
Notice how your body is responding. If there’s pain or significant discomfort, don’t force it. This isn’t a “no pain, no gain” situation. Forcing or pushing through pain can actually make your pelvic floor more reactive or tense.
If things feel okay, you can slowly glide the trainer tip in another centimeter or two. Most people find that starting with the tip angled toward the front of the body (toward the pubic bone) is a good way to begin.
If you feel a sudden urge to pee, it might be because the tip is pressing on your urethra (the tube that empties your bladder). Just shift the angle of the tip slightly—maybe 5 degrees to the left or right—and that sensation usually goes away.
Exploring Movement and Pressure
Once you’ve inserted the wand a centimeter or two and your body feels settled, you can start to explore different angles. Try:
Angling the wand slightly left or right.
Tilting it up toward the ceiling or down toward the floor.
Rotating the handle slowly clockwise or counterclockwise.
This isn’t about “doing it right” so much as it is about being curious. You’ll probably be able to feel what direction the tip is moving just by tuning in to your body—there’s no need to overthink it.
As you explore, you may come across spots that feel more sensitive or tender. These are often the exact areas where the muscles are holding tension.
When you find a tender point, pause there and apply steady, gentle pressure. Think of it like using a Q-tip—you’re not jabbing, just making contact and letting the area respond.
It’s common for it to take 30, 60, even 90 seconds for that tenderness to change. This feeling of “release” can be a helpful outcome of trigger point work, so be patient: stay with it, keep breathing, and notice if the discomfort starts to ease.
If the pressure becomes too intense, back off slightly. You’re looking for that just right amount of pressure that allows your body to soften into it, not brace against it.
How Deep Should I Go?
There’s no rush to insert the trainer tip as far as you can. In fact, the outermost pelvic floor muscles—those you access with just a centimeter or so of insertion—are often plenty for a first session.
Deeper isn’t necessarily better. As you become more comfortable, you can gradually explore further into the pelvis. Just be sure to adjust your angle as needed; you’ll probably find that tilting more steeply or rotating differently helps you reach deeper areas with less effort.
If you’re noticing that everything feels tender, know that this is common, especially in the beginning. You might want to set a time limit, such as five minutes of internal work, so you don’t overwhelm your tissues.
Over-working tender areas can sometimes cause irritation or soreness later. As you become more accustomed to trigger point work, you’ll be able to self-massage for longer.
Wrapping Up Your Session
When you’re done, remove the Cervu tool slowly and gently. Try not to yank it out—you just spent time helping your tissues relax, and sudden movements can undo some of that good work.
Remove the trainer tip from the handle. Head to the sink and wash the trainer tip again with warm water and unscented soap. If there’s lubricant on the handle, you can wipe it off with a damp cloth or alcohol wipe.
We also recommend urinating after your session to flush the urethra and help prevent irritation. If you have excess lubricant on your vulva, gently wipe it off with a soft cloth or toilet paper. Avoid scrubbing or using anything harsh, especially if your tissues are already sensitive.
Then, if you can, take a few minutes to just rest quietly. Let your body fully absorb the work you’ve just done. Even a few breaths of stillness can help you reintegrate and get the most out of your session.
A Few Gentle Reminders
Performing trigger point work at home isn’t about doing it perfectly. It’s about listening to your body, being patient, and treating yourself with care.
The first few times might feel a little awkward, but it gets easier. The relief many people feel when they find and tackle those tight, tender tissues can be hugely impactful.
Pelvic health support shouldn’t be one-size-fits-all. At Cervu Health, we believe that knowledge, support, and the right tools can make all the difference.
This guide is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice. If you have a history of pelvic surgery, radiation, or other complex medical conditions, please consult your provider or a pelvic physical therapist before using the Cervu system or any other internal tool.
About the Author
Caitlyn Tivy, PT, DPT, OCS
Dr. Caitlyn Tivy is a pelvic health physical therapist, clinical consultant, and medical writer. As Chief Clinical Officer of Cervu Health, she’s focused on helping Cervu users regain their health and wellbeing after cancer.
Caitlyn believes that all survivors deserve compassionate, inclusive care and access to the most effective recovery tools. She specializes in smashing taboos, centering science, and making complex medical topics easy to understand.
