The Pelvic Health Physiotherapy Department at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust offers specialist assessment and management of pelvic, bladder and bowel dysfunction for male, female and non-binary patients.
We receive referrals from gynaecology, urology, colorectal, obstetrics (including midwives), continence advisors and GPs.
We do not currently accept self-referral into this specialist service.
Conditions we treat
- Bladder dysfunction- urinary incontinence, voiding dysfunction, urinary urgency and frequency.
- Vaginal prolapse
- Bowel dysfunction- constipation/ obstructive defaecation, faecal and flatal incontinence.
- Sexual dysfunction- Pain with intercourse (including vaginismus), erectile and ejaculatory difficulties associated with pelvic pain.
- Persistent pelvic pain- painful bladder syndrome, management of endometriosis pain, genital pain.
- Pregnancy related pelvic girdle pain (PGP)- antenatal and postnatal
- Abdominal wall dysfunction- Diastasis recti.
- Pre/ post prostatectomy
- Following 3rd/4th degree tear.
Common treatment options
- Pelvic floor muscle re-training (including strengthening and down-training)
- Bladder re-training
- Fluid management
- Defaecation training
- Lifestyle advice
- Strengthening and stretching advice
- Manual therapy
- Postural advice
- Acupuncture
- Soft tissue therapy
- Antenatal education class
Your appointment
We offer appointments at Darent Valley Hospital in the Physiotherapy Department and Queen Mary’s Hospital in the Outpatient Department. Please arrive promptly for your appointment and be aware that the carpark at Darent Valley gets very busy and you may have to queue so allow plenty of time.
Your first appointment will be a 1:1 appointment with one of our pelvic health physiotherapists, unless it is for pregnancy related pelvic girdle pain and then you will most likely be offered an education class.
Your 1:1 appointment will involve taking a detailed medical history to get a clear understanding of your symptoms and the impact they have on your quality of life. If appropriate you will be offered an internal vaginal examination to assess your pelvic floor and other vaginal tissues. This will all help us to formulate an appropriate treatment programme.