Urotherapy
 

Women's Health

Women's Health Physiotherapists treat bladder and bowel continence problems in both men and women. This includes bladder training for stress incontinence (jumping, cough or sneeze), urgency (needing to get to the toilet urgently), or nocturia (having to urinate during the night)

(For further information please read the article below)

Men's Continence

Bladder training is often necessary post radical prostatectomy. Please contact us if you require help with this.

 

Urotherapy Prices

Initial Consultation  up to 60 minutes	£60:00
Follow-up Consultation up to 60 minutes	£60:00
Book both appointments together	£110:00

 

Post-Natal Continence Problems

 Pregnancy and childbirth are often associated with a time of strain and trauma to the pelvic floor muscles and the surrounding tissues. This can result in some women having a problem of leakage of urine in pregnancy or post-natally. This is quite common and it is estimated that one in four of women will have a problem with leakage at some time in their lives. It is, however, a problem that is often not spoken about, even to very close friends or relatives. Embarrassment and   fear of being the only one in that situation are common reasons for not seeking help. Many women also delay because they think that the only solution is surgery and that is not a route they wish to go down yet.

Problems with bladder leakage can have a devastating effect on anyone, but this can be intensified when it occurs post-natally. It is a time of extreme and overwhelming fatigue often in addition to radical change in lifestyle and circumstance. Many women feel isolated if they are no longer at work and at home alone with a new baby. All these factors can contribute to feeling of lack of control especially when someone has more than one bladder problem.

Leakage can cause some women to alter and adapt their lifestyle to accommodate the problem. They will wear clothes that are less likely to show leakage. They will plan outings around where the next available toilet is and will often need to avoid long journeys. They often avoid sport and leisure activities and even running with their children. All of this can cause low self-esteem and become part of a downward spiral.

Sex after childbirth is not always straightforward. Initial discomfort either following perineal trauma or in the low abdomen following a caesarean section can be a reason that causes some women to delay resuming their sex life. Extreme fatigue and altered body image are other reasons. For women that experience bladder leakage, fear of leakage and loss of self esteem are addition factors that can prevent them from returning to their sex life. This can put additional strain on relationships with a partner. Decreased vaginal sensation can also be a problem. This is often helped by increasing the tone in the pelvic floor.

Many women use pads as a solution to the problem rather than addressing the problems themselves. Pads for urinary leakage are now widely available and marketed to target younger women. Although this has helped to dispel the myth that urinary leakage is something that only affects “old ladies”, long term pad use should not be seen as the answer to the problem. The financial impact of this can often be significant and should not be underestimated.

The most common type of leakage associated with pregnancy and childbirth is stress urinary incontinence [SUI]. This leakage occurs when the pressure in the abdomen is raised e.g. with laughing, coughing, sneezing or lifting.

Another common problem is leakage on the way to the toilet or having a sudden urge to pass urine [urge incontinence and urgency]. Some women may also find that they can leak when standing up after going to the toilet.

Less commonly, leakage from the back passage can occur after delivery.

The pelvic floor muscles are at the base of the pelvis and are part of a complex continence system. Strain or weakness in these muscles can affect continence.

Pelvic floor exercises are important in order to strengthen the pelvic floor to help prevent problems or to treat symptoms if they occur. As the muscles in this area are relatively small they can only cope with a limited amount of exercise at each session. It is therefore better to do a few at a time often, rather than too many at one session which could cause them to tire. Your Midwife or Women’s Health Physiotherapist can advise you on this.

Many women suffer from an increased need to pass urine, both in the day and at night during pregnancy. This is normal but it is advisable to inform your midwife especially if excessive or accompanied by other urinary symptoms. If frequency or the need to pass urine at night [nocturia] continues after the delivery, bladder retraining may help to resolve the problems.

If any bladder or bowel symptoms continue beyond the time of your post-natal check-up, it may be advisable to see a Women’s Health Physiotherapist. For many women the immediate post-natal period is exhausting and you may wish to wait until you feel the time is right for you. However, as with most things, it is better to sort out any problems earlier rather than later.

A comprehensive assessment is the key to establishing the exact nature of the problems and formulating an individual treatment plan. Leakage problems commonly coexist with frequency and nocturia.  Therefore a holistic approach is imperative when formulating a treatment plan. Treatment can incorporate pelvic floor exercises, bladder training, specific techniques for the different types of leakage and training to reduce or stop the need to pass urine at night. Physiotherapy has a success rate of around 75% and is generally considered to be one of the first treatment options for most women with leakage problems

Physiotherapy can also help in the treatment of scar site pain or sensitivity following a tear or episiotomy.
 

For more information please contact us