During your first two appointments, your BMI women’s health physiotherapist will assess your condition and together you will decide the right approach for you. This is likely to include physiotherapy and a tailor made exercise programme to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles.
Physiotherapy and exercise
Physiotherapy for a weak pelvic floor concentrates on the improvement of muscle function through exercise. Your physiotherapist will develop a personalised exercise plan for you based on her assessment and diagnosis of your condition.
This will consist of a set of pelvic floor exercises that your physiotherapist will teach you to perform properly. These will be tailored around you and your individual condition, symptoms and lifestyle.
She will explain the exercises in detail and check that you are exercising the correct muscles. This is important, as it has been found that fewer than half of women perform pelvic floor exercises correctly if they are only given verbal or written instructions.
During further sessions, your physiotherapist will check your progress and develop and update your exercise plan as your muscle function improves.
When pelvic floor exercises are performed correctly and supervised by a trained physiotherapist, two thirds of women report that they are sufficiently improved to avoid medication or surgery.
If you need further help with your pelvic floor exercises, your physiotherapist may use specialist equipment during your treatment sessions including electrical stimulation and biofeedback.
Electrical stimulation
Electrical stimulation may be used if you find it hard to exercise your pelvic floor muscles. Your physiotherapist places a probe inside your vagina which carries a safe, gentle electrical current that stimulates your muscles and helps to strengthen your pelvic floor.
Biofeedback
Biofeedback uses sensors to check if you are using the correct muscles when performing your pelvic floor exercises. Your physiotherapist will explain clearly whether or not either of these is suitable for you.
Referral to a consultant
If pelvic floor exercises are not the right solution for your condition, or do not improve your symptoms well enough, then medication or surgery may be appropriate. Because physiotherapy as part of BMI pelvic floor treatment is carried out within a fully equipped BMI hospital, you can be referred for further treatment or consultation without delay.
Medication
There are a number of drugs that can be used to treat urinary incontinence. Those that help to improve the symptoms of a weak pelvic floor work by tightening the muscles at the neck of the bladder (the urethra) to prevent leakage. Other drugs reduce or prevent contractions in an overactive bladder, or relax the muscles so that the bladder can empty more completely.
Some of these drugs have side effects, and these will be discussed with you fully before you decide to proceed with treatment. Medication is not suitable in all cases.
Surgery
If physiotherapy and medication do not improve your condition well enough, then surgery may be considered. This can usually be performed at same BMI hospital as your first appointment, and arranged at a time suitable to you - there are no long waiting lists at BMI hospitals. You can be referred to a specialist consultant who will be able to explain the surgical choices clearly and will advise and agree the right plan for you
The cost for your treatment, whatever route you take, will be quoted in advance, so you know the costs involved before going ahead. See our pages on prices for more information on inclusive packages and ways to pay including the BMI Card.
Back to top
