Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy

Pelvic Floor Physiotherapists see people with:

• Urinary control issues such as stress leakage, i.e. leakage with physical stresses like cough, sneeze, run, jump, lift, bend etc.; and urge leakage, i.e. leakage with the urge to go, on the way to the toilet or at the cubicle trying to get your buttons and zip undone. Pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFME) and functional bracing and bladder retraining may be helpful

• Voiding issues, i.e. difficulties with bladder emptying

• Prolapse i.e. an issue with the pelvic tissues, where the support of the organs is not adequate enough to stop them bulging down into the vagina

• Post natal bladder and bowel issues

• Pre and post gynaecological surgery such as hysterectomy, vaginal repair, incontinence surgery

• Pre and post prostate surgery

• Bowel management strategies for constipation and straining, bowel urgency, decreased bowel and wind control
• Bed wetting and day time wetting and bowel issues in children

• Perineal pain conditions such as pudendal neuralgia; vulvodynia and vestibulodynia (pain in the vulva and entry area of the vagina); vulval dermatological conditions such as lichen sclerosus, dermatitis and eczema

• Pelvic and abdominal pain associated irritable bowel syndrome, endometriosis and other conditions. Women can experience painful periods, pain with sex , pain with bowel opening and non-menstrual pelvic pain

• Vaginismus: the inability to tolerate any form of vaginal penetration due to spasm or involuntary contraction of the muscles at the vaginal entry and the pelvic floor muscles due to fear of pain

Qualifications and Training

In Australia, Physiotherapists are government registered practitioners with AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) and have completed four years of full time University training obtaining a Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy). Sherin Jarvis and Donna Namdaram our WHRIA Physiotherapists also have post-graduate qualifications in Continence & Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and Urodynamics.

Physiotherapists are primary health care practitioners and are trained to recognize conditions that may require medical referral.

What to expect on your first consultation

• A thorough and detailed history will be taken including information about your symptoms; how much your symptoms affect your quality of life and what they stop you from being able to do; gynaecological, obstetric and surgical events; medications; fluid and caffeine intake; bowel habits; lifestyle factors which may be impacting on your symptoms eg heavy lifting, excessive squats and lunges at the gym; psycho-social stressors
• Adults will have an internal pelvic floor muscle assessment performed, in men it will be a rectal examination, in women it is usually a vaginal examination and occasionally, depending on symptoms, a rectal examination may also be needed
• Based on your symptoms and assessment findings you will treated appropriately and given a home programme
• See our FORMS section on the bottom of this page if you would like to complete the Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy form and bring it to your appointment. For bladder and continence issues please complete the WHRIA Urge-relater Bladder Diary over two days and bring to your first appointment.

Do I need a referral to see a Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist?

No, you do not need a referral to make an appointment.

Medicare rebates are available if you are eligible for Chronic Disease Management (CDM) assistance. If you have been diagnosed with a chronic medical condition and require complex care your GP can provide you with a special referral form.

Physiotherapy treatment rebates are available through most private health insurance funds.

Further information

If you’d like more information you can view the health information fact sheets below or browse our Health Information page.