Women throughout their lifespan can suffer from problems with their bladder, bowel and pelvic floor. Pregnancy and childbirth as well as menopause are stages of life where significant pelvic problems can arise. In fact, statistics show that 1 in 3 Australian women suffer from urinary incontinence. However, management can be simple, non-intrusive, and very successful at improving quality of life for women. Our physiotherapist is able to assess pelvic floor function and provide an individually tailored treatment program to assist you with the following conditions:
- Stress incontinence
- Urgency and overactive bladder
- Pelvic floor dysfunction
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse
- Pelvic pain
- Pregnancy related back and pelvic dysfunction
- Post caesarean rehabilitation
- Recuts diastasis (abdominal separation)
- Post gynaecological surgery
- Safe and effective exercise during and after pregnancy and childbirth
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect at my appointment?
In your first appointment, your physio will want to find out as much as they can about what you’re experiencing, so they can make an accurate diagnosis and provide the most appropriate treatment. Prior to your appointment you will be sent a questionnaire asking about various aspects of your bladder, bowel and sexual symptoms. This helps gain a thorough understanding of the extent of your problem. Some of the questions may seem unrelated to your problem, however, it is important to understand that the pelvic organs (the bladder, bowel, vagina and uterus) sit closely in the pelvis, and problems with one area can cause problems in adjacent organs as well. There are also a number of questions related to childbirth history, symptoms of prolapse, medical history and questions about your leisure activities to gain an understanding of the impact on your quality of life. When consulting a physiotherapist for pelvic dysfunction, it is likely they will need to examine your pelvic floor muscles. This can be done a number of different ways, however the gold standard assessment is via an internal vaginal and/or rectal examination. This allows the physiotherapist to determine an accurate diagnosis, assessment of pelvic floor muscle function and to develop an appropriate treatment plan. If you are not comfortable with an internal examination, or do not require one, there are other assessment tools that can be used to get an indication of pelvic floor function. Either way, expect to leave your first session armed with a lot of information and education regarding pelvic health, as well as a prescription of pelvic floor muscle exercises to be performed at home.
Will I need an Internal Vaginal Examination?
Whether you require an internal examination is dependent upon your symptoms, goals and management strategies. This would only proceed with your consent after a clear explanation of the procedure, the clinical reasoning and goals of the assessment. You are able to withdraw consent at any time. The examination involves an initial assessment of the external genital area to check for skin infection, age -related changes and prolapse. Pelvic floor function can also be assessed visually at this stage. If appropriate, an internal examination will follow. The physio will use one or two gloved fingers to check the pelvic floor muscles internally. They will assess for muscle tone, strength and endurance by asking you to contract and relax the muscles a number of times. The physio can also assess for prolapse and areas of pain or tenderness. A rectal examination may be performed in conjunction with or instead of a vaginal examination if your main symptoms are related to bowel incontinence or you have experienced a larger tear during childbirth.
What Do You Need To Bring To Your Women’s Health Appointment?
Please bring any information regarding your condition from your GP, medical specialists or other health care providers with you to your appointment.
What Do You Wear To Your Appointment?
Please wear clothing that you can move around freely in.
Will the Information That You Provide During Your Appointment Remain Confidential?
Yes. All the information you provide in your appointment will remain confidential, and your physiotherapist will only communicate with other healthcare providers involved in your care with your consent.
How Long Will Your Appointment Be?
The length of the appointment can vary depending on the condition that we treat. Your initial appointment will normally take 1-hour. This allows time to obtain a thorough history of your problem, discuss concerns, needs and primary goals. Follow-up appointments will usually be 30-45 minutes.
Can I bring my baby or child to my appointment? Yes! We understand how challenging your schedule can be and want our services to be as accessible as possible so you get the care that you need.
Can I attend my appointment if I’m menstruating?
Yes you can still attend your appointment if you have your period. It is possible to conduct an internal pelvic floor assessment or treatment while menstruating and may actually be beneficial if your symptoms vary depending on different stages of your cycle. However, if you prefer not to have an internal assessment during your period, we can conduct external assessments and provide many other treatment options. It really depends on what you are comfortable with. If you would like to reschedule your appointment, please provide no less than 24hrs notice.
How soon should I have an appointment after having a baby?
It is recommended you have a pelvic floor check at 6 weeks after having a baby. This is irrespective of whether the delivery was vaginally or via ceasarian section.
The GP/Gynaecologist/Obsetrician have already completed a pelvic examination, do I need another?
Your doctor or gynaecologist/obstetrician midwife may have completed a pelvic exam to rule out the presence of any medical conditions (ex. malignancy, infection) or assess prolapse. Your pelvic health physiotherapist will be more focused on the function of the pelvic floor as it relates to strength and recruitment, coordination, the presence of scar tissue or adhesions, and the position of the pelvic organs.
Is Your Women’s Health Physiotherapy Appointment Claimable Under Private Health Insurance?
Yes. Please bring the private health insurance card with you to your appointment to process your claim on the spot.
Is Your Appointment Covered Under An Enhanced Primary Care Plan (Medicare Referral)?
Yes, we do accept GP referrals under Enhanced Primary Care Plans. However, due to the extended time allocated by your physiotherapist, there will be a gap payment to cover the total cost of your consultation after the Medicare rebate is applied. Please call our reception staff for more information.
What if I need to reschedule or cancel my appointment?
If you need to reschedule your session, please provide 24 hours notice so another client can book the appointment spot. If the minimum of 24 hours notice is not provided, including a missed appointment, a $50 cancellation fee will be charged.