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Pelvic Health Physiotherapy
Contact Us
Useful Information
About our service
Living with a pelvic health issue can be challenging and stressful, and many people become embarrassed when their symptoms suddenly appear. However, there are supports and services available to you which can improve your health and help rebuild your confidence. At Mater Private Network in Dublin, we offer a specialised pelvic health physiotherapy service, which includes comprehensive assessment and treatment of a wide range of conditions related to the pelvic area.
Physiotherapy forms part of a holistic approach to managing your symptoms. Your care will be based on the goals you wish to achieve and on improving your quality of life. Our consultants and specialist healthcare professionals work together in our Pelvic Health Clinic, which provides a clear care pathway to ensure you are in the right place at the right time in your health journey.
Pelvic health physiotherapy has been proven to improve the following:
- Bladder symptoms
- Bowel symptoms
- Menopause symptoms
- Pregnancy and postnatal changes
- Prolapse
- Pelvic pain
- Men's health
When the muscles that surround your bladder become weakened it can lead to symptoms or conditions which may be difficult to manage. Physiotherapy can be effective in treating conditions such as:
- Stress urinary incontinence: leaking when you sneeze, cough, or laugh
- Urge urinary incontinence: strong urges to urinate followed by involuntary leaking
- Overactive bladder: increased frequency or need to empty your bladder
- Bladder pain syndrome
- Post-prostatectomy incontinence
Weakening of the pelvic floor muscles can also affect your bowel’s ability to function correctly. Strengthening these muscles can improve symptoms including:
- Faecal incontinence
- Flatus/wind incontinence
- Faecal urgency
- Staining of underwear
- Constipation or incomplete emptying of bowel
- Pain during or after emptying of bowel
Hormonal changes during menopause can cause pelvic floor issues. Physiotherapists cannot prescribe medications to improve these symptoms, but they can guide you and educate you through your treatment and management of symptoms. These symptoms may include:
- Bladder and bowel incontinence
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Pelvic pain
- Poor quality sleep and low mood
- Pelvic organ prolapse symptoms
- Reduced energy and libido
During pregnancy, your body has the incredible ability to transform and allow your baby to grow. These changes can last for 12 months or longer after childbirth and can affect your pelvic health. Physiotherapists can guide you through these changes and offer a thorough assessment programme pre- and post-natal. Symptoms of pelvic health issues related to pregnancy can include:
- Development of pelvic girdle pain: pain at the front of your pelvis, hip pain, lower back pain, coccyx (tailbone) pain, and sacroiliac (pelvis/spine) joint pain
- Postural changes which may cause pain or discomfort
- Hormonal changes that may affect your joint control
- Reduced bladder or bowel control
- Pelvic floor muscle dysfunction
- Changes of abdominal muscular control
Prolapse is the descent or lowering of the bladder, bowel or uterus, and can present through signs and symptoms such as:
- Heaviness or dragging in your vagina
- A feeling of something coming down into or a lump in your vagina
- A feeling of incomplete emptying of bladder or bowel
- Pain during sexual intercourse
Pelvic pain can present for many reasons and can have a negative impact on your life. Physiotherapy aims to improve your understanding of your condition, educate you about managing your symptoms, and improve your quality of life. Some of these conditions may cause pelvic pain:
- Endometriosis
- Adenomyosis
- Fibroids
- Bladder pain syndrome
- High tone pelvic floor muscles
- Vulvodynia
- Vaginismus
Men’s health physiotherapy encompasses a wide range of conditions. These can occur over time due to stress, habits that have developed, or through changes to the pelvic floor muscles from radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or surgery. Symptoms of pelvic health issues in men can include:
- Bladder or bowel dysfunction
- Overactive bladder
- Pelvic pain
- Erectile or sexual dysfunction
What to expect from your appointment
Your physiotherapist will take a detailed history of the symptoms you are experiencing. As part of your physical assessment, you may be offered an internal pelvic floor examination. This is not compulsory but may be useful as part of your assessment.
Once your assessment is complete, treatments may include:
- Specialist pelvic floor rehabilitation.
- A pelvic health exercise programme based on the assessment findings.
- Clinical advice on exercise and lifestyle, taking your hormonal balance, diet, and sleep hygiene into consideration.
Should you require onward referral, we have a network of specialist healthcare professionals in Mater Private Network that we can refer you to.
How do I book an appointment?
If you wish to be seen for any of the symptoms or issues mentioned above, please send your appointment request through our form.
You will be contacted by a member of our scheduling team who will offer you an appointment.
Please note that a GP referral is not required for this service, but if you have been seen by a medical professional regarding your symptoms, please bring any documents or reports to your appointment.
