What is a pelvic floor assessment?

Have you ever had a pelvic floor assessment? Do you know why it is done and what happens?

Pelvic floor assessments are currently the gold standard (best test available) for diagnosing pelvic floor dysfunctions and issues. The assessment will help ascertain whether your pelvic floor muscles and ligaments are functioning adequately and what to do to improve any symptoms you have.

The test will typically be preceded by in-depth questions about your bladder, bowel, symptoms, pain, and sexual health - this gives your women’s health physio a good idea of what testing is suitable for you.

Typical pelvic floor assessment:

• assessment of skin tissue health

• assessment for pelvic organ prolapse

• internal pelvic floor muscle testing: can you coordinate your muscle? how strong is it? can you relax the muscle? how is your endurance? The main pelvic floor muscles are assessed via an internal vaginal assessment. If your symptoms appear to be more bowel related (ie face or wind leakage, excessive wiping after bowel motion), you may be given the option of an assessment of your anal sphincter.

Often the assessment will include your hip, abdominal, back and gluteal function testing to get a good picture of how your pelvis is being supported.

The assessment should not be painful, but sometimes the internal muscles can feel ‘tight’ or ‘tender’. Depending on your symptoms and your goals with treatment, you and your physio may decide to cease the assessment or continue on to any internal treatment you may choose to have. The assessment is important for diagnosing and planning the best treatment, but you do not have to have any internal assessment if you do not want to.

Always be informed and ask all the questions you can to understand what is the best assessment and treatment for you!

Remember most pelvic floor symptoms are common but not normal - do not live with symptoms if you do not have to!

Book into your local pelvic floor physio or come and see us at Womens Wellbeing Physio!