If you are reading this blog your journey with Sydney Women’s Physiotherapy is just beginning and we want to make you as comfortable as possible and that starts with knowing what to expect at your first pelvic health physiotherapy appointment.
When you arrive, check in with our friendly reception staff who will ensure you have filled out our intake form. A referral isn’t necessary to see us but if you have one please bring it with you as well as any other paperwork like reports or letters from specialists that are relevant to your visit. At the time of your appointment your pelvic health physiotherapist will welcome you from the waiting room and take you into a private treatment space where you can talk openly and confidentially.
1. Getting to Know You
Your initial consultation is approximately one hour long. We will discuss what has brought you in, how your symptoms are affecting your daily life, what you’d like to achieve from treatment and answer any questions you may have.
Depending on your concerns, we may ask further about:
- Bladder and bowel function
- Pelvic organ prolapse symptoms
- Sexual health concerns
- Pregnancy, birth and postpartum history
- Pelvic, back or hip pain
- Exercise, sleep and other lifestyle factors
- Menstrual cycle and gynaecological history
- Your general health and any medications you take
We know these topics can feel personal, particularly during a first appointment. We’ll only ask questions that are relevant to your care, and you’re always in control of what you choose to share. If there’s something you’d rather not discuss, that’s okay. At SWP, our physiotherapists are highly trained in managing women’s and men’s pelvic health concerns and are used to hearing all the details. The more you tell us the more we can help you.
2. Assessment
Once we’ve talked through your history, we’ll explain what we think may be contributing to your symptoms. We often use diagrams or anatomical models to help make everything easier to understand.
Depending on your symptoms, your physiotherapist may recommend a physical assessment. This may include an internal vaginal or rectal examination, although this isn’t always necessary and may not be recommended during your first visit.
Because the pelvic floor muscles sit inside the pelvis, an internal examination is often the most accurate way to assess their strength, coordination and function. However, it is always your choice.
Before any assessment, we will:
- Explain exactly what the assessment involves
- Discuss why it may be helpful
- Obtain your consent before and throughout the examination and ask if it’s okay to proceed
- Respect your decision if you choose not to proceed
Declining an internal examination does not mean treatment can’t begin. There are several alternative assessment options, including real-time ultrasound, which allows us to assess your pelvic floor externally using a small probe placed on your lower abdomen or perineum. You’ll be able to see your muscles working on a screen as we guide you through the assessment.
3. Developing Your Treatment Plan
After your assessment, we’ll explain our findings in clear, easy-to-understand language and work with you to develop an individualised treatment plan.
Education is a key part of every consultation, and all recommendations are based on current evidence and best practice.
Your treatment plan may include:
- Advice on lifestyle changes, including fluid and fibre intake
- A personalised home exercise program which may include stretching, strengthening and/or pelvic floor muscle exercises
- Manual therapy, such as soft tissue massage or joint mobilisation
- Pelvic floor education
- Pessary fitting, where appropriate
- Demonstration of correct bowel and bladder emptying positions and technique
- Pain education
- Bladder re-training
- Tibial Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TTENS) therapy for treatment of an overactive bladder
By the end of your first appointment, you should have a clear understanding of your symptoms, what may be contributing to them, and a personalised plan for moving forward. You may have practical strategies to begin with straight away at home which we will write down for you in a treatment plan. In some cases, we may also ask you to complete a bladder or bowel diary before your next appointment to help us better understand your symptoms.
4. Follow-up sessions
Some people benefit from a review within one to two weeks, while others may require a longer interval.
Follow-up appointments usually last 30 to 45 minutes and focus on reviewing your progress, answering questions, and progressing your treatment plan.
The number of sessions required varies for everyone. If you’re managing a longer-term condition, such as persistent pelvic pain, our aim is to give you the knowledge, skills and confidence to manage your symptoms independently over time.
With your permission, we can also communicate with your GP or other members of your healthcare team to ensure everyone is working together towards the same goals.
We’re Here to Help
We hope this overview has answered some of your questions and helped you feel more comfortable about your first pelvic health physiotherapy appointment at Sydney Women’s Physiotherapy. Please refer to the FAQ section on our website for further information or feel free to call us and speak to one of our friendly reception staff who will be happy to answer your questions.
Phone: (02) 8883 5360
Email: info@sydneywomensphysiotherapy.com.au
Joanne