Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy

Your first visit begins with a detailed conversation about your health history. This is a safe, open space to talk through things like bowel and bladder function, pain or discomfort with intercourse, pregnancy and delivery history, activity and exercise habits, sleep, diet, hydration, and your overall goals for treatment.

I'll take time to explain how Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy works, what the assessment involves, and how a treatment plan comes together from the findings — so you always know what to expect before we move forward.

From there, a physical assessment will follow, including a look at general movement patterns, core function, and the low back, hips, and pelvis.

With your informed consent, an internal pelvic floor assessment may also be performed. This can involve gentle vaginal and/or rectal palpation to evaluate pelvic organ position, muscle function, and pelvic floor coordination.

Finally, we'll go over the findings together and I'll put together a personalized treatment plan — including exercises to help you move toward your goals.

Not at all — and please don't let this be the thing that holds you back from booking!

An internal exam is optional. Your care always happens with your consent, and the decision is entirely yours.

The reason an internal exam is recommended is that many pelvic floor muscles sit internally and can't be fully assessed from the outside. When helpful, an exam may be done vaginally or rectally to better understand how those muscles are functioning.

If it's not something you're comfortable with or ready for, we'll talk through other options together. 

Absolutely — there's no need to reschedule. Pelvic floor assessment and treatment can absolutely be performed during menstruation, and hormonal changes around this time can actually make an assessment quite useful.

If you'd prefer to skip the internal portion while menstruating, that's completely fine — we can focus on external work and movement instead. And if you'd rather reschedule altogether, just give at least 48 hours' notice and we'll find a time that works better for you.

If you're experiencing any symptoms, it's best to come in as soon as possible. Things to watch for include pain with intercourse, waking more than three times per night to urinate, concerns about diastasis, or any urinary leakage.

If you're symptom-free, the recommended window for your first prenatal visit is between weeks 12-14. This gives us a chance to establish a baseline for your pelvic floor, catch anything you may not have noticed, and begin labour preparation exercises to support a smoother delivery.

Internal assessment and treatment are safe during a healthy pregnancy. For high-risk pregnancies or those with medical restrictions, internal assessment may be deferred — though external physiotherapy is always still an option.

As soon as possible is generally best — though timing does depend on your specific concerns and the type of delivery you had.

After a vaginal delivery or episiotomy, a little time may be needed for healing before internal work can begin. After a Caesarean, waiting around 4–6 weeks for incision healing is usually recommended before abdominal or scar work.

That said, even during that early window, there's plenty we can do to help relieve pain and restore function safely — so don't wait to reach out.

Never. Whether you're a few weeks, several months, or even years postpartum, it's never too late to start — the body continues to respond to rehabilitation at any stage.

Treatment can help with incontinence, pain, prolapse, and core weakness, supporting healing, restoring function, and helping you feel stronger and more confident in your body.

Pelvic floor physiotherapy is not meant to be painful. Depending on the sensitivity of your tissues, you may notice some mild discomfort at times — but gentle techniques are always used, and your comfort is the priority.

Communication is continuous throughout your session, so you're never left wondering, and adjustments are always made the moment you need them.

Everybody is different — the number of sessions depends on the severity and duration of your condition, as well as how your body responds to treatment. Each session is typically one hour long, and appointments are spaced to give you time to practice and integrate your exercises before the next visit.

Most people begin to notice improvement within 4–6 weeks of starting treatment, though progress can be faster or slower depending on the person. As you move forward, we’ll track your progress and adapt your plan along the way to make sure it continues to meet your needs and goals.