Pelvic floor assessment

Your pelvic floor does a remarkable amount of work. When it's not functioning well, it can affect far more than most people realise. This assessment is for anyone experiencing pelvic floor symptoms — not just those who have had children.

About the pelvic floor

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and connective tissue that sits at the base of the pelvis. It supports the bladder, bowel, and uterus, plays a role in bladder and bowel control, contributes to core stability, and affects sexual function. It works constantly, often without us thinking about it.

Pelvic floor dysfunction can affect people at any stage of life and for many different reasons — not just pregnancy and childbirth. Hormonal changes, high-impact exercise, surgery, chronic pain, stress, and simply getting older can all affect how well the pelvic floor functions.

And dysfunction doesn't always mean weakness. An overactive or tight pelvic floor can cause just as many problems as one that isn't strong enough — including pelvic pain, difficulty with penetration, urinary urgency, and lower back or hip pain.

Who is it for

This assessment is suitable for anyone experiencing pelvic floor symptoms, regardless of age or whether they have had children. Some of the most common reasons people come:

What the assessment involves

We begin with a detailed case history — your symptoms, health history, lifestyle, and what you'd like to get out of the assessment. We'll then carry out an external assessment of posture, movement, and the muscles around the pelvis and lower back.

With your consent, we'll also carry out an internal vaginal examination. This allows us to directly assess the strength, tone, coordination, and endurance of your pelvic floor muscles, and gives a much more accurate picture than external assessment alone. It will always be fully explained beforehand and is entirely your choice.

You'll leave with a clear understanding of how your pelvic floor is functioning and a personalised plan for improving it — whether that's exercises, lifestyle changes, hands-on treatment, or a combination.

Postnatal assessment

A thorough, specialist check-up for women following childbirth. Whether you gave birth six weeks ago or six years ago, this assessment looks at how your body is recovering and gives you a clear, honest picture of where you are and what will help.

Why it matters

Pregnancy and birth place significant demands on the body. Muscles stretch, posture changes, ligaments soften, and the pelvic floor and abdominal wall work harder than at almost any other point in your life. And yet most women receive very little support beyond the standard six week GP check, which rarely assesses any of this in any depth.

Many women experience weakness, pain, bladder or bowel changes, or reduced confidence in their bodies after having a baby. These things are common but they are not something you simply have to accept. With the right assessment and support, most can be significantly improved.

It is never too late to be assessed. We see women who gave birth recently and women who gave birth years ago and are still experiencing symptoms they assumed were just part of life after children.

What the assessment includes

Who is it for

This assessment is for any woman who has given birth, at any point. You do not need to be experiencing symptoms to benefit. Many women find it enormously reassuring to know where they are and what their body needs, even when things feel broadly okay.

It is particularly helpful if you are experiencing any of the following: leaking when you cough, sneeze, laugh or exercise; pelvic or lower back pain; heaviness or pressure in the pelvis; changes to bladder or bowel function; pain during sex; abdominal separation; or uncertainty about returning to exercise.