Pelvic Floor Assessment

A pelvic floor assessment examines the group of muscles that support the bladder, uterus (womb) and bowel, and helps to treat pelvic floor dysfunction.

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At a glance

  • Self Referral
  • Next-day availability
  • Health insurance
  • Self-Pay Available

What is a pelvic floor assessment?

Your pelvic floor is made up of a group of muscles that support your bladder, uterus (womb), and bowel. These muscles attach to your pubic bone at the front, your tailbone at the back, and the base of your tailbone. 

Pelvic floor muscles help your bladder, womb, and bowel to function. When they’re strong, they prevent incontinence and prolapse of the womb, bowel, and bladder. When they’re weak, it can lead to many issues, including urinary or bowel incontinence and pelvic pain.

A pelvic floor assessment examines how well this group of muscles are functioning, and aims to strengthen them with treatment. At Welbeck, this service is delivered by pelvic specialists in our state-of-the-art Digestive Health centre.

You may need a pelvic floor assessment if you:

  • go to the bathroom often

  • have to frequently start and stop when you’re trying to pee

  • strain or push during a bowel movement

  • have to change positions on the toilet, or use your hand to pass a stool (poo)

  • are constipated often

  • have leaking stool (faecal incontinence) or leaking urine (urinary incontinence)

  • have pain when you urinate (pee)

  • have unexplained lower back pain

  • have ongoing pain in your pelvic region, genitals or rectum – with or without a bowel movement

Who should not have a pelvic floor assessment?

A pelvic floor assessment might not be appropriate, or it will require specific considerations if you:

  • are, or may be, pregnant

  • have had a baby recently

  • have had recent pelvic surgery

  • have a vaginal, bladder or urinary tract infection

  • have recently received radiotherapy

  • are on your period

When you make your appointment, let us know if any of these apply to you.

More information

Although pelvic floor dysfunction is common, you might feel embarrassed to discuss your symptoms and worried about the assessment. 

At Welbeck, all pelvic floor assessments are performed by consultant gastroenterologists, who will talk you through what to expect at each step. 

There are usually 3 parts to the exam, which include:

  1. Questions about your medical history – including your symptoms, such as bladder and bowel habits, and measuring your weight.

  2. External assessment of your pelvic floor – the consultant will look at the alignment of your pelvis, hips, and lower back. They will then assess your posture and how your body moves during certain tasks, such as squatting and standing. They may also examine the area to feel for muscle tension, knots, or pain. 

  3. Internal assessment of your pelvic floor – the consultant will perform a vaginal or rectal exam to see how well your pelvic floor and anal sphincter muscles are working, both for strength and coordination. This part isn’t compulsory, and will only be performed if you’re comfortable.

Based on your results, your consultant will develop a treatment plan to help you strengthen and improve your pelvic floor, which may include any or all of the following:

  • exercises, including biofeedback and pelvic floor physiotherapy, core muscle strengthening, and muscle stimulation

  • manual therapy, such as muscle relaxation for overactive or painful pelvic floor muscles

  • dietary and lifestyle changes  

  • diaphragmatic breathing techniques

  • bladder and/or bowel retraining

  • advice on pelvic and vaginal health

  • safe rehabilitation following pelvic floor surgery or a hysterectomy

Pelvic floor assessments are very safe, with few risks involved. 

A vaginal or rectal examination may be the only time you feel discomfort, but it shouldn't be painful. If it is, let the consultant know – you can ask them to stop at any time.

Keeping a diary of your symptoms and bringing it to your consultation can give the consultant a better idea of what might be going on.

Make a note of any symptoms you have, including:

  • when they happen

  • what triggers them (if you know)

  • how severe they are 

While there’s no other specific preparation needed, you may want to wear clothing that’s easy to remove before your internal examination.

There’s no recovery time or aftercare needed for a pelvic floor assessment. Some women experience slight discomfort during the internal exam, but this will only last a short time.

Please contact our Digestive Health centre for pricing information.

At Welbeck, our pelvic health specialists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.

With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof. 

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

To book a private pelvic floor assessment, you must be referred by either your GP or a consultant following an appointment with them. Self-referrals are not accepted for this test.

If you would like to schedule a consultation with one of our specialists, please get in touch to make an appointment. Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.

Our locations

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London

1 Welbeck Street
Marylebone
London
W1G 0AR

More information

Frequently asked questions

The exact cause isn’t known, but a few factors seem to play a role. These include traumatic injuries to your pelvic area (like a car accident or a fall), overusing your pelvic muscles (straining to use the toilet), pelvic surgery (like a hysterectomy or prostatectomy), pregnancy and childbirth, ageing, stress and anxiety, and connective tissue disorders.



Pelvic floor dysfunction can exist alongside (but also be mistaken for) many other conditions, which is why getting an accurate diagnosis is so important. These may include interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and pelvic organ prolapse (POP).



Unfortunately, pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms typically don’t get better, and can also get worse, if they aren't treated. But with just a few months of physical therapy sessions, you’re likely to see an improvement – 75% of people with pelvic floor dysfunction find that biofeedback helps them gain better muscle control.

Yes, you’re very welcome to bring someone with you to your appointment. If it would help you feel more comfortable, we can also organise for a chaperone to attend – just ask our reception staff when you arrive for your appointment.

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