Homerton: Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Service

GP information

GP information

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Service

We are a team of specialist nurses and physiotherapists who treat women with bladder, bowel, prolapse or sexual problems related to the pelvic floor.

Problems we treat
What do we do?
Pelvic floor exercises:
Bladder diary
Contact details
Useful links
Useful links

Problems we treat

Stress urinary incontinence
Leaking urine when you laugh, cough, sneeze or with exertion e.g. walking or running Leaflet

Urgency
The feeling of urgently wanting to go to the toilet that is difficult to put off

Urge urinary incontinence
Urgently wanting to go to the toilet and then leaking urine before you get there

Overactive Bladder (OAB) syndrome
Needing to go to the toilet more than 6-8 times over a 24 hour period.

For the above conditions please see bladder diary below .

Prolapse
The dropping down of one of your pelvic organs causing a feeling of heaviness or a bulge from your vagina or back passage.

Chronic faecal urgency
Long standing problem of needing to open your bowels without much warning

Faecal incontinence
An inability to control wind or stool resulting in leakage. This can also be associated with urgency.

Obstructive defecation
Chronic constipation, the feeling of straining, and sometimes feeling like you can’t completely empty your bowels. Leaflet

Sometimes the above problems can also impact on your sex life – we can discuss this when we assess you.

Often people present with more than one of these problems as often they are closely related.

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What do we do?

It has been shown that treating the above conditions conservatively first (i.e. not with surgery) can be very effective.

We will perform a thorough assessment to establish the causes of your problems. We can assess your pelvic floor to see if you need to strengthen it or change the way you exercise it (if you have not been shown how to do this properly you may well be doing it wrong).

There are various types of treatments available including pelvic floor exercises, biofeedback and muscle stimulation. We then tailor an exercise program to your needs and give you advice on your problem.

We can assess your bladder and bowel function and commence a training program. We also advise you on things you can do to stop your problems getting any worse.

Group sessions

It has been shown that women with pelvic floor problems often get a lot of benefit from attending a group session. It provides you with more information than you can get in a one to one session, perhaps gives you a different perspective on your problem, and it is positive to be around other women with the same difficulties.

Women’s Health Physiotherapy and the Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Service run four different groups:

Overactive bladder group: if you feel like you wee too often and you may or may not leak before you get to the toilet
Pelvic Floor Group: an overview of the pelvic floor, things that can go wrong and hints and tips on improving the situation
Bowel group: covering normal bowel function and reasons for problems with your bowels, including constipation or leaking from your back passage (this may be wind or stool) and ways to improve it
Turkish-language bladder and bowel group: this is a monthly group for Turkish-speaking women with bladder or bowel problems run with a therapist and an advocate
Core and Floor group: an exercise group aiming to improve activation of your pelvic floor and ‘core stability’ muscles. Patients are invited to attend for up to 8 sessions as an adjunct to treatment. Referral is through your nurse/therapist.

Speak to your clinician if you would like to attend one of these groups. They are available to anyone being seen for these problems at Homerton.

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Pelvic floor exercises:

Read this leaflet for more information

It has been shown that performing pelvic floor exercises properly and frequently enough can significantly reduce many of the above symptoms, and in some cases get rid of symptoms completely.

They are free, and once you know what you are doing, they are not difficult. Bear in mind that ALL women should be aware of these muscles and should be exercising them regularly, but in particular if you are showing signs of some weakness.

If you are not sure what to do, get a referral to see us through your GP so we can assess and guide you.

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Bladder diary

This can be useful to fill out to find out how much you are drinking and how often you pass urine. If you have an appointment fill this out before you get there and bring it with you. It is suggested you complete 3 days to get the most accurate information, ideally a mix of home and work days.

Tip: Buy a plastic measuring jug and urinate into this to get an accurate measure of how much your bladder can hold. Record this on the diary.

Frequency volume chart

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Contact details

tel: 020 8510 5914
email: CommunityPFDservice@homerton.nhs.uk

To change an appointment time please call the central appointment office on: 0800 072 3320. If possible please book in with the same therapist you have been seeing.

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