One of the best people to see regarding your pelvic floor muscles is a pelvic health physiotherapist. They are experts in assessing and treating pelvic floor muscle dysfunction.

What happens with a pelvic health physiotherapist? 

During an appointment with a pelvic health physiotherapist they will ask you questions about any symptoms you have and also questions about your pelvic floor function. This means they will ask you about your bladder, bowel and sexual function. If you consent, they can also do an examination of your pelvic floor muscles because of the anatomy of the pelvic floor, it requires an internal check (vaginally). This can be invaluable to ensure that you are definitely activating the right muscles in the right way when doing your squeezes and holds. They can then also help you to figure out exactly how long the muscle is able to hold on and let you know which position is best to be doing your pelvic floor muscle training in. They will also be able to assess for any prolapse or pelvic floor muscle injury, as well as co-ordination and timing of the pelvic floor.  

After the pelvic floor examination and listening to your story, the physiotherapist will be able to provide tailor made advice to your situation and make a plan on how to improve your symptoms. They can also refer you to other health professionals if required, e.g., gynaecologist, pharmacist, GP, urologist, dietician etc.  

To find your nearest pelvic health physiotherapist you can use the search function below.

You are able to self refer to a pelvic health physiotherapist if you are able to pay privately, or else some NHS trusts also have self-referral. This varies from region to region. If you are unable to self-refer via the NHS, then your GP will be able to refer you to one. Your GP can also be a good point of contact if you are having any pelvic floor dysfunction. Sometimes they will prescribe medications to help your symptoms that can be taken alongside doing pelvic floor muscle training. Your GP can also refer you to a more specialist doctor, e.g., urologist or gynaecologist, if required.  

Pelvic floor muscle training and lifestyle modification (e.g., stress reduction and management, constipation prevention, fluid intake management) is the first line treatment for pelvic floor muscle dysfunction as it has been proven to be so effective. Physiotherapy should be offered before any medication or more invasive intervention.