Up to one third of women will experience a problem with their pelvic floor at some point in their lives. Some common symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction are: leaking with cough, sneeze and exercise, wiping three or more times after a poo, pain with intercourse or inserting period products, feelings of heaviness, bulging or dragging in the vagina, difficulty emptying the bladder or bowels, and lower back, hip and tummy pain. Sometimes, these issues can surface around pregnancy and childbirth – however can occur at any stage of a woman’s life, due to a multitude of different reasons.

Understandably, many women feel hesitant about seeking support for such intimate issues. Our mission is to normalise the discussion of our pelvic floor with family, friends and in the community so that more women can seek treatment early and improve their quality of life and wellbeing.

Haley Dillon (Osteopath) and Shivani Ahuja (Physiotherapist) specialise in musculoskeletal pelvic health. They are trained and certified to perform internal examinations, should they be necessary. Both Haley and Shivani can provide ACC subsidised treatment for approved birth injury claims as well as private or ACC treatment for general musculoskeletal complaints and injuries that have a pelvic floor presentation. You do not need a referral to see an osteopath or physiotherapist.

What to expect at a ‘Pelvic Warrant of Fitness’ appointment.

A pelvic floor or post-natal WOF is 60 mins long initially. It involves a comprehensive consultation; examination (with or without internal assessment), followed by treatment, exercise and aftercare advice. The consent process is robust, and you can stop the appointment at any point in time.

Of utmost importance is your comfort and consent throughout the process. An internal assessment of the pelvic floor allows your practitioner to determine whether your pelvic floor requires strengthening, or stretching and relaxing, and allows her to correctly teach
you how to contract, control and relax your pelvic floor muscles properly. Whilst an internal examination is the gold standard for pelvic floor treatment, it is entirely your choice, and your practitioner can utilise external examination techniques and treatments if you prefer.

If you are having a post-natal check, it is recommended to wait at least six weeks after giving birth.

Please email us if you have any further questions about how we can help with Pelvic Floor Health.