What is pelvic health physiotherapy?
Pelvic health physiotherapy treats dysfunction of the pelvis and pelvic floor muscles using a combination of lifestyle advice, exercises, manual techniques and retraining. Treatment is based around pelvic floor muscle exercises (known as Kegels), alongside an individual exercise programme, bladder and bowel retraining, Pilates-based exercise, soft tissue massage, and neuromuscular electrical stimulation or feedback techniques where appropriate.
Physiotherapy takes time and patience, so changes are rarely noticeable overnight, especially as the pelvic organs are a delicate and often overlooked part of the body. With consistent practice and adherence to your therapist’s advice, most people notice benefits after six to 12 weeks, though more complex issues can take three to six months to improve significantly.
Who should have pelvic health physiotherapy?
Our specialist physiotherapists provide assessment and treatment for:
- Pelvic pain
- Lower bowel dysfunction, including constipation, faecal incontinence, obstructed defaecation, rectal pain, and bowel urgency.
- Sexual dysfunction
- Stress urinary incontinence — leakage of urine triggered by physical activity such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercise
- Urge urinary incontinence — a sudden and intense need to urinate with very little warning, sometimes triggered by a change in position or the sound of running water
- Mixed urinary incontinence — a combination of both stress and urge incontinence symptoms
- Overactive bladder — characterised by increased bladder muscle activity, often resulting in frequent urination including multiple episodes overnight
- Pelvic organ prolapse — occurring when pelvic organs such as the uterus, bladder, bowel, or vaginal vault descend from their normal position and press into the vaginal canal, causing discomfort or pressure. We offer a pessary fitting service here as well.
- Vaginal and vulval pain
- Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation (PTNS) — a minimally invasive treatment used to address bladder and bowel dysfunction by stimulating the tibial nerve to regulate pelvic floor activity
Pregnancy and Postnatal Physiotherapy Care
Our team provides specialist support throughout pregnancy and the postnatal period. Hormonal and physical changes during pregnancy place significant demands on the pelvic floor and musculoskeletal system, and early physiotherapy intervention can prevent or reduce long-term complications.
Our private post-pregnancy physiotherapists treat:
- Pelvic girdle pain
- Lower back, hip, and buttock pain
- Pelvic floor muscle dysfunction and weakness
- Antenatal pelvic floor preparation and education
- Postnatal rehabilitation, including recovery following perineal trauma, diastasis recti (abdominal separation), and return-to-exercise guidance
- Postnatal bladder and bowel dysfunction
Post-Operative Gynaecological Rehabilitation
Physiotherapy plays a vital role in recovery following gynaecological surgery. Our team provides structured rehabilitation programmes for patients who have undergone:
- Prolapse repair surgery (including anterior, posterior, and apical repairs)
- Hysterectomy (abdominal, laparoscopic, or vaginal)
- Pelvic floor reconstruction
- Surgery for stress urinary incontinence, including mid-urethral sling procedures
- Gynaecological cancer treatment, including surgery and radiotherapy
Post-operative rehabilitation focuses on restoring pelvic floor function, managing scar tissue, reducing pain, and supporting a safe and effective return to daily activities and exercise.
How much does private pelvic physiotherapy cost?
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Pelvic Floor Therapy initial appointment (60 mins) |
£165 |
|---|---|
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Pelvic Floor Therapy follow up appointment (45 mins) |
£153.75 |
How to pay for your treatment
If you’re… paying for yourself
Did you know you don’t need private medical insurance to come to St John & St Elizabeth Hospital? As a self-pay patient, you can access safe, outstanding quality health care at times to suit you.
For scans and tests, as well as to see most consultants, you’ll still need to be referred by a medical professional like your GP, but as a self-pay patient, the process is more straightforward. You won’t need authorisation from an insurance provider, and you’ll have greater choice of therapist and appointment times.
If you’re… insured
St John & St Elizabeth Hospital is approved by all major medical insurance companies. If you have a personal private health insurance policy, or your company provide it for you, you can use it to pay for your care from your initial consultation through to treatment, surgery and aftercare such as physiotherapy. Not all private health insurance plans cover the same things. It’s very important to check exactly what you are covered for with your insurance provider.
Frequently asked questions about pelvic health physiotherapy
St John & St Elizabeth Hospital is located in St John’s Wood (NW8), easily accessible for patients from Hampstead (NW3), Kilburn (NW6) and across North and Central London.
By Tube: St John’s Wood station (Jubilee Line) is a 5-minute walk to and from St John & St Elizabeth Hospital.
By Bus: Routes 13, 46 and 113 stop near St John’s Wood Underground Station. Routes 139 and 189 stop on Abbey Road.
By Car: Finchley Road and Kilburn High Road provide direct routes from NW3 and NW6.
A private pelvic health physiotherapy initial appointment at St John & St Elizabeth Hospital costs £165 for a 60-minute session. Follow-up appointments (45 minutes) cost £153.75. We accept both self-pay and insured patients; please check with your insurer before booking as prior authorisation may be required.
You can be referred by your GP or consultant, or you can refer yourself directly if you are experiencing symptoms you would like help with. Self-referral is common for this service, as many people prefer to seek help privately and discreetly without first discussing symptoms with a GP.
Your physiotherapist will take a detailed history of your symptoms and general health, some of which may be quite intimate in nature. Depending on your condition, a physical examination may be recommended, which could include an internal examination. Your therapist will always explain what this involves beforehand and you can choose not to proceed if you would prefer not to.
Most people notice benefits after six to 12 weeks of consistent practice, though this varies depending on the condition being treated. More complex issues may take three to six months of treatment to see significant improvement. Your physiotherapist will give you a clearer idea of what to expect based on your individual assessment.
No. Pelvic health physiotherapy is suitable for both men and women. Men commonly seek treatment for conditions such as prostatitis, urinary incontinence following prostate surgery, and pelvic pain.
“Kegel” exercises can strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. These exercises involve alternately squeezing and relaxing the muscles.
You should do these exercises in three different positions: lying down, sitting, and standing. Get into the habit of doing them every day.
Whilst it’s important to do these exercises daily, don’t overdo them, as this can strain your pelvic floor muscles. By working with one of our pelvic floor physiotherapists, you can make sure you’re doing them correctly.