Bladder control problems affect 3-6 million people in the UK.  Women tend to experience these symptoms due to childbirth or the menopause but it can happen at any time in a woman's life.  Although it is common it is not something that should be put up with and Physiotherapy can improve symptoms.

Stress urinary incontinence: - urine leaks out when the bladder is placed under pressure, for example sneezing, coughing or exercising.

Urge incontinence: - when urine leaks as you feel a sudden intense urge to pass urine.

Faecal incontinence affects 1.4% of the general population over 40 years although it can happen at any time in a person's life.

Your Physiotherapist will listen and take a detailed history of your symptoms to enable them to understand your condition and the problems it causes to you. They will then assess your pelvic floor so that they can form a diagnosis and then together with you discuss a treatment plan.

Depending on your diagnosis you may be given a variety of treatments including:

• Pelvic floor relaxation or strengthening exercises.
• Advice and education on how to manage your condition or lifestyle changes.
• Bladder/bowel diary
• Advice on how to re train your bladder or bowel

Physiotherapy can be particularly helpful if you suffer from leakage of urine during exercise or when you cough or sneeze. It can also help if you suddenly need to go to the toilet but can't get there in time. These are common problems that affect one in three women at some time during their life.

Physiotherapy can also help you if your pelvic floor muscles are weak.

What is self-referral and what do I need to do?

Self-referral is just another way of getting to see a physiotherapist. It means that you don't have to see your GP and wait for them to contact the physiotherapist. This service is available if you are female, over the age of 16 and have a bladder or pelvic floor problem. 

Here are the links to the pelvic health self-referral forms for our different hospital sites.
Bristol hospital form
Weston hospital form

Leaflets

Overactive Bladder and Bladder Training

Pelvic floor exercises and continence advice for women

Tips for your Bowel Problems

Anal sphincter exercises for people with bowel control problems

Websites

Bladder and Bowel Community

Urinary incontinence - NHS

Bowel incontinence - NHS

Constipation - NHS

Videos

Watch our video about pelvic floor muscle training