Women’s, Men’s & Pelvic Health Physiotherapy

Pelvic health is often a very personal and somewhat intimate area to discuss. We recognise this and treat each patient with respect and dignity. We believe it is important to listen to each individual patient’s story, understand their goals and work with them to develop a comprehensive assessment and treatment plan.

Our physiotherapists can assist you with a broad range of women’s, men’s and pelvic health conditions.

pregnancy & postpartum

pregnancy

We love seeing women in pregnancy to help you navigate this exciting time! We usually recommend booking your first appointment around 16-20 weeks of pregnancy for pelvic floor assessment and advice, however we can see you sooner if you are experiencing pain.

We can assist with:

Pregnancy related musculoskeletal pain – including common conditions such as pelvic girdle pain, back, neck, rib or hip pain.
Pelvic floor education and prevention
Pelvic floor dysfunction – including the management of incontinence, sexual pain, bowel related issues, pelvic floor muscle “overactivity” and prolapse.
Exercise – providing you with up-to-date recommendations for pregnancy related exercise, safe exercise options, and ways to keep you moving!
Birth preparation – including active birth skills, pelvic floor education, perineal massage, physio-related pain management options (such as TENS).

postpartum

We believe all mums will benefit from a postnatal assessment. We recommend an appointment at around 6 weeks postpartum, however, it is never too late to book in for this – even months or years down the track! If you are experiencing pain, incontinence, vaginal heaviness, or you sustained a 3^rd or 4^th degree tear, we recommend booking in as soon as you feel up to it. It is never too early, and we are passionate about ensuring you are supported through these early postpartum weeks.

We can assist with:

Rehabilitation of your pelvic floor and abdominal muscles.
3^rd and 4^th degree tear recovery
Incontinence and other bladder or bowel concerns
Prolapse assessment and management
Painful sex (dyspareunia)
Abdominal muscle separation
Scar Management – for perineal and caesarean scars.
Recovery advice – for both vaginal and caesarean deliveries.
Exercise advice and rehabilitation.

women's & men's pelvic health

We are highly trained and experienced in treating a wide range of pelvic floor conditions. We understand the sensitivity and privacy of these conditions and place a large emphasis on helping you feel safe and comfortable to discuss your symptoms with us.

We commonly treat the following conditions, in women and men of all ages, but please note this list is not exhaustive of what we can help with.

Urinary incontinence (leakage) & bladder dysfunction (including urgency, frequency, difficulty with weeing, recurrent UTIs, bladder pain).
Bowel dysfunction, including leakage, wind control issues, constipation and rectal/anal pain.
Pre & post operative management – for advice regarding preparation and recovery from gynaecological, prostate and/or bladder and bowel surgeries
Pelvic pain including painful bladder syndrome, coccyx pain and lumbar/hip/pelvic pain that hasn’t responded to more general musculoskeletal treatment

Specifically for women, we can also assist with:

Prolapse & pessaries (including bladder, bowel and uterine prolapse), including symptoms such as vaginal heaviness and/or bulging. We are highly trained in pessary management for prolapse (insertable silicone devices that provide support to the vaginal walls).
Sexual and vulvar pain, including vaginismus, vulvodynia and pain resulting from tissue related change (i.e. scarring).
Endometriosis pain management.

Specifically for men, we can also assist with:

Preparation for and recovery from surgery and/or radiation treatment for prostate cancer, including for urinary Incontinence following surgery or radiation treatments.
Penile and/or testicular pain, including pudendal neuralgia.

our clinicians

your visit

We will email you some forms to fill out prior to your appointment, but if you have trouble accessing these, please arrive a few minutes early so you can complete them at the clinic.

Please wear comfortable clothing and bring any relevant referrals or documents you have relating to your condition. It is also useful to bring a list of your medical history and any regular medications.

appointment length

Please allow up to 60 minutes for your initial appointment. This enables us to take a comprehensive history and assessment, and to develop a treatment plan.

Your follow-up appointment length will be chosen based upon the complexity of your condition, how many areas we are treating, and your treatment plan. We will discuss this with you at each appointment; most will be 30 or 45 minutes in duration.

pelvic floor assessments

Your pelvic floor muscles are located at the base of your pelvis, and surround your bladder, bowel and vaginal openings. For this reason, your appointment may involve a perineal, vaginal and/or rectal assessment. These assessments enable us to gain the highest level of information that we can, to target your treatment specifically to you. We have undergone extensive training in this area and are highly skilled and experienced. However, there are alternative assessments if you prefer. We will take the time to explain these assessments thoroughly to you and will work with you in choosing the assessment you are most comfortable with. No special preparation is required, and you are most welcome to use our toilet prior.

faq's

Do I need a referral to see you?

At present, due to high service demand, we do require a doctor’s referral to see you. This allows us to review your clinical information and prioritise your care appropriately.

If you are DVA or eligible to claim under Medicare (EPC), we will need a specific GP referral to our clinic.

What payment methods do you take?

Payment at the time of consultation is required. Our administration staff will provide you with our current fees upon booking. For those with eligible cover, we can claim your private health insurance rebate on the spot, meaning you only pay the gap. Please check with your individual insurer for rebate amounts.

Please note, we are not registered for workcover or NDIS. Patients under these funding schemes are welcome to attend however please note that payment is due at the time of consultation and we are unable to alter our fees. You may be able to claim your appointment costs back from your insurer at your own arrangement (unfortunately, Nova cannot assist with this).

I have my period, should I cancel my appointment?

We see women at all stages of life and at all times of their menstrual cycle. It is beneficial to come even if you have your period; we can assess you in whatever way you feel most comfortable.

Can I bring my baby and/or children?

Babies and young children are welcome to come to your appointment with you. However, from experience, we do find that patients are better able to focus and get more out of their appointment if they come alone (or bring a support person to care for their child). We therefore encourage you to do this if you can! It is always a good excuse to have a solo walk, a coffee or some rare alone time afterwards!