Pelvic Health Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy consultation

Meet the Team

Grete Drewett
Advanced/Principal Physiotherapist

Debbie Cocker
Advanced Physiotherapist

Natalie Chapman
Senior Physiotherapist

Michelle Neal
Senior Physiotherapist

Laura Pugh
Senior Physiotherapist

Beth Flory
Senior Therapy Assistant

Gurpreet Flora
Receptionist/Admin support

What is pelvic health physiotherapy?

Pelvic health physiotherapy is a specialist area of physiotherapy involving the assessment and treatment of disorders affecting the pelvis and pelvic floor muscles.

These disorders may include:

  • Stress incontinence - leakage of urine on coughing, sneezing, running or jumping
  • Urinary urgency – having to rush to the toilet to avoid leaking
  • Urinary urge incontinence – leaking on the way to the toilet
  • Urinary frequency – going to the toilet to pass urine very frequently
  • Bowel urgency and incontinence
  • Pelvic organ prolapse – a sensation of something dragging down below or feeling heavy, the sensation of a bulge, heaviness
  • Vulval and pelvic floor pain disorders – vulvodynia, vaginismus, pain with sexual activity
  • OASI – postnatal third and fourth-degree perineal tears

We do not accept referrals for postnatal muscular skeletal pain including diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) or pelvic girdle pain.

Physiotherapy can be a very effective treatment for these symptoms and in many cases is the first line of treatment recommended before exploring other more invasive options.

Referrals are made through your GP, a hospital consultant, a midwife or another physiotherapist.

The team work collaboratively within a wider pelvic floor multi-disciplinary team.

Treatment is always tailored to the patient and is in accordance with current guidelines from NICE and service standards set by HCPC and CSP

Referral Process

Referrals are made through your GP, a hospital consultant, a midwife or another physiotherapist. We do not accept self-referrals. If you have any pregnancy or up to a year post-natal related issues you can self-refer via  Pelvic health support and information: Birmingham and Solihull ICS. We do not accept referrals for postnatal muscular skeletal pain including diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) or pelvic girdle pain.

Pregnancy and postnatal

Birmingham and Solihull Perinatal Pelvic Health Service use MyPathway which is a patient-facing app/website. MyPathway will automatically send an email or SMS invitation to register to anyone who is currently pregnant or has given birth within the last 12 months.

If you have any pregnancy or up to a year post-natal related issues including 

  • Pelvic girdle pain
  • Postnatal recovery 
  • Back pain
  • Pelvic floor dysfunction including any symptoms relating to bladder, bowel, or prolapse 
  • Painful sex 

 You can get support via my pathway. Or follow the link: Pelvic health support and information : Birmingham and Solihull ICS

Clinicians can also refer via my pathway portal.

What can I expect at my pelvic health physiotherapy appointment?

You will be treated by a physiotherapist with specialist training in assessing and treating your symptoms. Your physiotherapist will be female and you will see the same physiotherapist each time you come for treatment.

Your first appointment is usually a phone call and can last up to 1 hour and follow-up appointments up to 30 minutes. You will be asked a number of questions relating to your symptoms and, with your consent, your physiotherapist may do a vaginal or rectal (internal) examination. This is an important part of your assessment and is necessary to assess your pelvic floor function and establish the possible causes of your symptoms. It will ensure that your treatment is tailored specifically to you and help us to improve the outcome of your physiotherapy treatment.

If you do not wish to be examined or if you feel at all anxious please inform your physiotherapist. If you do not want to be examined that is fine, we can still give you treatment, but it may be limited.

At the end of your first appointment, the physiotherapist will discuss a treatment plan with you.

What do I need to bring to my appointment?

You may have been sent a bladder diary with your appointment letter. If so then please complete it and bring it to your appointment. It would also be useful if you can bring any medical letters or results about your problem and a list of any medications you take.

What if I can’t attend my appointment?

If you are unable to attend your appointment then please contact the physiotherapy department (0121 335 8085 or bwc.physiotherapy.department@nhs.net) as soon as possible to re-arrange to a more suitable date and time. You can still attend the appointment if you are on your period.

If you cancel three appointments with less than 48 hours notice, you will be discharged back to your GP.

We have a strict policy on failure to attend an appointment. If you do not attend an appointment, you will be discharged

Please do not attend your appointment if you are unwell.

What if I’m late to appointment

If you are running late for your appointment please contact the department to notify, if you are going to be more than 10 minutes late for your appointment you will not be seen and the appointment may be rescheduled.

Further Information and Resources

Please consult your GP if you have new symptoms or changes in symptoms that have not already been discussed with your GP including

  • pain/burning when urinating
  • blood in your urine or stool
  • changes in frequency of bladder or bowel habits
  • pelvic pain or lower back pain
  • unexplained weight loss
  • persistent tiredness or fatigue

Cauda equina syndrome 

Cauda equina syndrome is a rare and severe type of spinal stenosis where all of the nerves in the lower back suddenly become severely compressed.

  • Symptoms include:
    sciatica on both sides
  • weakness or numbness in both legs that is severe or getting worse
  • numbness around or under your genitals, or around your anus
  • finding it hard to start peeing, can't pee or can't control when you pee – and this isn't normal for you
  • you don't notice when you need to poo or can't control when you poo – and this isn't normal for you
  • Cauda equina syndrome requires emergency hospital admission and may require emergency surgery, because the longer it goes untreated, the greater the chance it will lead to permanent paralysis and incontinence. 

Please note links are for product information and may be available at different prices on alternative websites. These products may not be suitable for all and there may be risks to using. The information is to support those currently under physiotherapy treatment at Birmingham Women’s hospital.

Pelvic floor exercise

Products that may help support pelvic floor exercises:

Bladder

Stress incontinence pessaries:

Bowel

Anal Irrigation

Prolapse

OASI

Pelvic Pain

Vaginal Lube and Moisturiser

Obesity

Obesity has wide-ranging effects on the whole body. The pressure of too much weight can weaken the pelvic floor resulting in incontinence and prolapse. If your BMI is over 30, research has shown your pelvic floor is at risk and you are far more likely to have Pelvic floor dysfunction.

Menopause

Exercise

Mental Health Support

Useful links

There are a lot of apps and websites which can provide further information. 

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

Our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is an informal, free and confidential service that helps patients and families with any information, concerns, or problems they have about their care and our service.