What to expect from a Pelvic / Women’s Health Appointment? 

Our women’s health physiotherapists have undergone additional post graduate education, enabling them to treat women’s health and pelvic conditions safely and effectively. They can offer you a service tailored to support you through the unique and physical challenges that occur at all ages and stages of life. 

  • Your initial consultation will be approximately 60minutes and your follow up will be 30minutes.

  • You can expect our women’s health physiotherapist to begin by asking a lot of questions to gain an understanding of how we can help you. From this we will understand your history, specific needs, and goals.

  • A physical examination is usually done in the first or second appointment, depending on your condition and needs. This assessment may involve an external examination (core muscles) and internal examination (pelvic floor muscles), if deemed appropriate. You will have full control of your assessment and can decline any aspect of care if you wish. This assessment will help our diagnosis and ongoing treatment plan.

  • We will then discuss your individualised treatment plan and the options that are available to you.

  • If required, we can refer for appropriate scanning and to our local Waikato Specialists. 

What is a pelvic floor assessment?

A pelvic floor assessment can be external and/or internal. An external examination is of your external core muscles and pelvic muscles (outside of your clothes if required). An internal examination is the gold standard assessment of the pelvic floor, which can be done after your 6-week check with your obstetrician. An internal examination allows your women’s health physiotherapist to assess your ability to activate your pelvic floor muscles and the strength that they can contract. From this we can create a programme with pelvic floor exercises specific to you and we can ensure you are doing the exercises correctly. These exercises will reduce bladder and bowel leakage, reduce the risk of prolapse, treat prolapse, and may improve sexual function.  

WHAT WE COMMONLY TREAT

  • Pregnancy pain

  • Prolapse

  • Pelvic floor issues or incontinence

  • Abdominal separation

  • Post Natal care

  • Pre/post surgery

  • Scar management and Birth injuries

  • Sexual dysfunction

 

Contact us to discuss how physiotherapy can help you