Pelvic health is part of the whole picture
Bladder, bowel and pelvic floor health at every stage of life
Pelvic health refers to how well your bladder, bowel and pelvic floor are functioning together. When something changes, it can affect comfort, confidence, movement, exercise, intimacy and everyday life.
Pelvic health concerns can affect people of all genders and at any stage of life. They may develop gradually or follow changes such as illness, injury, surgery, pregnancy, birth or ageing.
People often live with symptoms for a long time, either because they’re difficult to talk about or because they assume they simply have to put up with them. You don’t need to know exactly what’s going on before you come — understanding the wider picture is part of your assessment.
What might bring you here?
Pelvic health concerns can show up in many different ways
People seek pelvic health care for many different reasons. These may include:
- bladder urgency, frequency or urinary leakage
- constipation, difficulty emptying the bowels or other bowel concerns
- pelvic pain
- pelvic heaviness or symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse
- pain or changes in comfort during intimacy
- persistent abdominal, pelvic, hip or lower back symptoms where the pelvic floor may be contributing
- recovery following hysterectomy, prostate surgery, gender-affirming surgery or other abdominal and pelvic procedures
- scar-related symptoms affecting movement, comfort or function
- questions about pelvic floor function, breathing, core rehabilitation or returning to exercise and everyday activities
Looking beyond the pelvic floor
An osteopathic approach to pelvic health
Your appointment begins with a detailed discussion about your symptoms, medical history, lifestyle and goals. Your assessment may then consider your posture, breathing, movement, abdomen, pelvis and pelvic floor, alongside the way these areas relate to one another and to your wider musculoskeletal system.
Where relevant, assessment may also consider the mobility and relationships of the tissues and organs within the abdomen and pelvis. This is where visceral osteopathic approaches may form part of the wider assessment and treatment, rather than looking at the pelvic floor in isolation.
An internal pelvic floor assessment may be offered where clinically appropriate. This is always optional, will be explained and discussed with you beforehand, and will only take place with your informed consent.
Specialist pelvic health care
Bringing osteopathy and pelvic health together
Michelle has undertaken extensive postgraduate training relevant to pelvic health, including a two-year specialist postgraduate Diploma in Women’s Health, alongside training in internal pelvic floor assessment, visceral osteopathy and rehabilitation.
This specialist training sits alongside her osteopathic assessment and clinical reasoning, allowing pelvic health to be considered as part of the wider body rather than as an isolated problem.
Pelvic health concerns can be complex, and sometimes the right care involves more than one healthcare professional. Where appropriate, Michelle works alongside GPs, consultants, physiotherapists and other clinicians, and will discuss referral or further medical assessment with you if needed.
You don’t need to have all the answers before you come. Your assessment is designed to help make sense of your symptoms and the wider picture.
Ready to book?
Need an appointment within 24 hours? Online booking isn’t available at short notice, so please WhatsApp us and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
