Pelvic Health Physiotherapy

Our specialist pelvic health physiotherapists work in clinics in Bridgwater, West Mendip, Shepton Mallet, Frome, Minehead, Taunton, Wellington, South Petherton and Yeovil hospitals.

We accept referrals of any gender for people over 8 years old, who have any of the following symptoms:

• Bladder problems (Leakage of wee, urgency or frequency)
• Bowel problems (Leakage of wind or poo, constipation)
• Pelvic organ prolapse
• Pregnancy-related musculoskeletal disorders including pelvic girdle pain, back pain and hip pain
• Postnatal abdominal separation (diastasis rectus abdominus)
• Postnatal pelvic floor recovery including 3rd and 4th degree tears and bladder/bowel dysfunction
• Bladder dysfunction including incontinence, urinary frequency or urgency, overactive bladder
• Bladder pain syndrome/bladder pain
• Pelvic organ prolapse
• Bowel dysfunction including incontinence, urgency, constipation, obstructive defecation (difficulty emptying)
• Female sexual pain or dysfunction (dyspareunia)
• Pre-operative and post-operative education for prostate surgery and gynaecology surgery.

You can access the service via your GP, nurse practitioner, midwife or health visitor. If you live in Bridgwater, you can also self-refer by completing the online form.

If you are currently pregnant or up to 1 year postnatal, you can self-refer by completing the pelvic health physiotherapy self-referral form.

Your first appointment with a female pelvic health physiotherapist will be either over the telephone or in person. At your first appointment we will talk to you about your symptoms, what you may have tried so far, understand your problems, and what you want to achieve. We understand it can be tricky to talk about things which are personal and sensitive, but we are here to help you. We may also ask you to fill in a bladder diary to look at what you are drinking, how often you go the toilet and how much urine you pass, usually over a three-day period. This will allow us to tailor your treatment plan.

We may ask if you are happy to have a vaginal examination to assess your pelvic floor muscles and check their strength, coordination and function. You can ask for someone to be with you (a chaperone) if you would like. This examination will help us to create your tailored treatment plan. However, we can still provide treatment and help if you do not want to be examined.