Pelvic and Women’s Health

Naturally, this field covers some very sensitive and private areas. To obtain information about your concern, personal questions may be raised for discussion and exploration. It is always up to you what you are willing to divulge, and these questions can be quite thorough. A detailed history is frequently important, and often this can take up the majority of your first session. It is important you know that all your clinical appointments are treated with complete confidentiality and respect, including anything discussed or information obtained through your assessment. We are very aware this can be a vulnerable space. You are welcome to bring a support person with you, either to wait in the reception or to accompany you in the consultation room.

Frequently these consultations also requires a pelvic assessment, including an external and/or internal pelvic assessment. You can always decline any part of a healthcare assessment, however the more information gained, the more tailored, streamlined and effective your treatment will be. Great care is taken to make these as comfortable and respectful as possible, and confidentiality is taken very seriously. Typically no speculum is required.

Babies are always welcome!! However, younger (more mobile) children will need to be accompanied by another adult in our waiting area due to the equipment in the room. There are 2 flights of stairs into the clinic, however there is a chair lift if you feel you need your pram. There is plenty of space in the clinic room for a play mat or pram.

ACC and Maternal Birth Injuries

For any ACC claim, there needs to have been some form of external force identified as causing the pelvic injury. For example, trauma sustained in a motorbike accident is considered external force, coughing causing a prolapse would be an internal force.

Birthing has historically been considered an internal force and as such has injuries sustained in childbirth were not covered by ACC, until now! As of October 2022 ACC has embraced Maternal Birth Injuries (MBI)! This is a major step towards getting early diagnosis and prevention in the field of Pelvic health.

Excitingly, ACC is also looking to cover adjuncts to therapy such as pessaries.

Sometimes a claim is submitted for you by your LMC or OB at the time of birth or soon after. As a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist, Anna can also submit an ACC claim for certain birth injuries, such as tears, prolapse, and pubic symphysis injuries. Evidence may be needed for this, for example; a discharge summary stating there was a tear, if there is no longer a tear present at the time of your assessment.

If you have any concerns, we can discuss this further during your appointment or through email.