Overview
One in three women suffer from incontinence or prolapse during their lifetime.
Our Women's Health Chartered Physiotherapists provide specialised treatment in Cork for a range of female health conditions. Women’s health issues can occur due to several different reasons such as pregnancy or pelvic floor problems. Our physiotherapists play a key role in the treatment of pain, incontinence and pelvic floor dysfunction.
Education for patients undergoing major gynaecological surgery
In Bon Secours Hospital Cork, all women undergoing major gynaecological surgery are given the below booklet upon attending our pre-assessment clinic. We also invite our patients to watch the eductional video below, in which our senior physiotherapists in Women's Health discuss important topics to guide your recovery after surgery.
Advice and exercise after major gynaecological surgery video
We also invite our patients to watch the eductional video below, in which our senior physiotherapists in Women's Health discuss important topics to guide your recovery after surgery.
Pelvic floor dysfunction
Pelvic floor dysfunction includes weak pelvic floor muscles, overactive pelvic floor muscles, pelvic/perineal pain syndromes and muscle imbalances. Pelvic floor dysfunction may manifest itself in several ways including:
- Antenatal & post-natal incontinence
- Stress Urinary incontinence
- Overactive bladder (OAB), urinary frequency, urgency, urgency incontinence
- Pelvic organ prolapse
- Anorectal, bowel (faecal), or ‘wind’ incontinence
- Difficulty defaecating (opening bowels) e.g. constipation
- Pelvic pain/perineal pain syndromes (including pudendal neuralgia)
- Overactive Pelvic Floor muscles (including vaginismus)
What treatments can help pelvic floor muscles that are not working properly?
Treatments must be specific for individual problems.
Treatment for overactive pelvic floor muscles includes:
- breathing techniques
- manual therapy
- posture correction
- pelvic floor release techniques with or without biofeedback
It is important to release the pelvic floor muscles prior to strengthening them. In the early stages abdominal exercises and pelvic floor exercises may be contra-indicated.
Treatment for weak pelvic floor muscles includes correct pelvic floor exercise technique. This involves correct breathing technique and correct posture. Treatment of symptoms of overactive bladder may involve bladder training techniques also. Biofeedback and Neuromuscular-Electrical Stimulation may be indicated in some cases.
Our physiotherapy service
In Bon Secours Hospital Cork, this service is led by Tracy O Mahony, MISCP, Senior Physiotherapist in Women’s Health and Continence, and Eithne Fitzpatrick, Senior Physiotherapist in Women's Health and Chronic Pain. To make an appointment, call 021 4801630. Outpatients can attend for women's health physiotherapy and advice with or without a GP or consultant referral.