Pelvic Health

The Pelvic Health Outpatient Physiotherapy service at Cork University Hospital (CUH) offers specialist assessment and rehabilitation of pelvic floor, bladder ,bowel and sexual dysfunction for both men and women.

We accept referrals from CUH Urology and Colorectal services only for our service.

Conditions commonly assessed and treated include:

Bladder dysfunction in women and men

Overactive bladder and voiding dysfunction (difficulty emptying bladder) and urinary incontinence.
Urinary frequency, urgency and urge incontinence: The feeling of needing to empty the bladder frequently and/or rush to get to the toilet in time, often accompanied with loss of control of urine.
Stress urinary incontinence: Leaking urine during a run, cough, sneeze or laugh.

Bowel dysfunction in women and men

Faecal and flatal incontinence (the loss of control of bowels and/or wind);
Faecal urgency: The feeling of needing to empty the bowel with little warning.
Bowel evacuation disorders such as constipation and difficulty emptying the bowels.

Prolapse

Pelvic organ prolapse in women and rectal prolapse in women and men.

Sexual dysfunction in women and men

Pain with sexual intercourse and erectile dysfunction

Chronic pelvic pain

Vaginal and/or vulval pain in women, scrotal or testicular pain in men; bladder pain syndrome, chronic pain in the pelvic region and abdomen.

Prostate cancer

Pre and post prostatectomy.

Physiotherapy Assessment and Treatment

The Physiotherapy service is delivered in CUH and CUMH – please check your appointment letter for details of your appointment.

Please arrive promptly for your appointments. If you miss an appointment or arrive late to the appointment you will be referred back to your GP/consultant.

At your first appointment the physiotherapist will have a detailed discussion with you regarding your symptoms. If they feel it is necessary and appropriate they may request to do an internal examination, but only with your consent. Following the discussion and assessment they will discuss and agree a treatment plan with you. Allow up to 45 minutes for this appointment.

Some of the treatments we commonly provide:

Pelvic floor muscle retraining
Biofeedback for the pelvic floor
Neuromuscular electrical muscle stimulation.
Bladder and bowel retraining
Pessary advice
Manual therapy & Soft tissue massage.
Individualised exercise programmes and lifestyle advice
Core strengthening exercises and postural advice for musculoskeletal conditions
Bladder advice class
Acupuncture & dry needling.
Transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TTNS)

Your therapist will decide with you which treatment is most suitable for you