10 things you should know about your Pelvic floor appointment

1.  Same as during any physiotherapy session, you are free to stop the appointment at any moment. In case anything makes you feel uncomfortable, please advise your physiotherapist so she can be aware of how you are feeling. Ultimately, you are the one in control! We can guarantee that your physiotherapist won’t mind your decision, she will respect your opinion and above all, your feelings towards treatment. Please feel no pressure to please your physiotherapist. She knows that women’s and men’s health conditions have a much deeper level of impact in our lives than a normal ankle sprain or other musculoskeletal conditions.

2.  Don’t be surprised if your Physiotherapist asks you to fill a food and bladder diary. In order to understand why your Pelvic floor is symptomatic, both you and your physiotherapist will need to understand how your habits and what you eat may be affecting your pelvic health. There are many bladder and bowel irritants as well as habits that can be in the source of your pelvic floor dysfunction.

3.  A pelvic floor internal assessment is not supposed to hurt. In case it does, please let your physiotherapist know. Know you can always opt out if you feel uncomfortable with the idea.

4. Treatment can progress as quickly or as slowly as our patients want/ require. Everyone has a different timing and in case you feel your physiotherapist is progressing you or explaining things too fast please let her know. Physiotherapists know how time and money are valuable for our patients therefore, often we focus on having quick results however, every one of us has a different timing and particularities and your physiotherapist should be informed about how you intend your sessions to be.

5. We care about how you feel! If you feel that there is something we can do to make you feel more comfortable let us know, don’t keep it to yourself.

6. No speculums are used in a regular internal assessment. This assessment is performed with the therapist’s fingers and a wooden tongue depressor only.

7. Your pelvic floor physiotherapist is there to listen to you and to help you guiding you towards your rehab. Feel free to open yourself of any worries you may have. Occasionally something as “fear” can be in the origin of your pelvic floor dysfunction. As mentioned, you are always free to choose to disclose information however, if you feel that you would like to talk about it and it could perhaps be related, please let your physiotherapist know.

8. Sex and pleasure is one of the many Pelvic floor functions. Your Pelvic Floor physiotherapist can help you with many conditions but particularly with sexual dysfunction post physical or emotional trauma, the therapeutic results may be enhanced in conjunction with other health professionals such as sexual therapists or psychologists.

9. Still in regards to sex and pleasure, your goals in regards to sex as well as the positions and types of sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal, etc) should ideally be shared with your Physiotherapist. This can help your Physiotherapist understand more quickly how she can help you. Hint: The muscles surrounding your vagina and your anus are not the same.

10. Have I mentioned that your Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist cares about how you feel, think and what your ultimate goals are? Pelvic Floor Physiotherapists often came to the area because they have a personal story and something they want to see changed. I am a firm believer that if you open yourself to your pelvic floor physiotherapist, you will find a strongly emphatic person that will try her best to help you.