What to expect from your Pelvic Health Assessment
New pelvic health assessment appointments are 60 minutes long so please allow yourself that time to attend the full session. We have clinics running in Chelmsford, Maldon and Braintree and it is possible to be assessed at one location and then be followed up at another, there just may not be the continuity of the staff member.
Due to the nature of the appointment, we will ask you questions about your bladder, bowel, sexual health and other symptoms that you may feel less comfortable talking about. Please rest assured that you do not have to answer anything that you do not wish to, just that we are trying to build a detailed picture of your pelvic health which includes toileting habits, sexual health, pain patterns to determine how best to treat and manage your symptoms.
We often ask if it would be ok to perform a vaginal or ano-rectal examination, depending on your symptoms. This is only performed with consent, and you will be offered a chaperone. These exams are only performed by specially trained female members of staff within the Pelvic Health Team, and it is a gloved finger (digital) examination only, no instruments or speculums.
If you have an appointment booked and realise that you might or are physically menstruating then please rest assured that you should still attend your appointment where we can complete part or all the assessment, it depends on how you feel about being physically examined at that time.
Follow up appointments are 30 minutes long and it is common to have several weeks between appointments for you to put things into practice, change habits, practice pelvic floor exercises or execute other recommendations provided on your appointments.