Women’s, men’s, and pelvic health physiotherapy focuses on the assessment and treatment of the muscles, joints, and tissues in and around the pelvic region. Your physiotherapist will take a detailed history and discuss your symptoms and goals. They may recommend further assessments to investigate bladder, bowel, or pelvic floor muscle function. Your physiotherapist will work with you to develop an individualised management plan. 

Treatment may involve education, general exercise, or exercises specifically designed to strengthen or relax the pelvic floor muscles, as well as breathing and posture techniques and lifestyle advice. 

Our women’s, men’s, and pelvic health physiotherapists work across a number of services and sites, including: 

Our physiotherapists visit the maternity wards at Eastern Health Box Hill and Angliss to provide early management and education to support women in caring for themselves following birth.  

Outpatient physiotherapy is also available to support women birthing at Eastern Health during the childbearing year (pregnancy and the first months postpartum). This service is available at Eastern Health Box Hill, Angliss, and Lilydale, and includes: 

  • Pelvic floor physiotherapy for bladder, bowel, prolapse, or other pelvic floor concerns. If ongoing management is required, patients may be referred to our Continence Clinic. 
  • Musculoskeletal physiotherapy for conditions related to pregnancy and the early postpartum period, including: 
    • Pelvic girdle pain 
    • Back and rib pain 
    • Wrist and thumb pain 
    • Dysfunction caused by weakness or stretching of the abdominal muscles 
    • Exercise advice 

Physiotherapists in our Continence Clinic, based at Eastern Health Forest Hill and Lilydale, assess and treat women and men with bladder, bowel, or pelvic floor concerns. For more information, please also refer to the following Eastern Health program: 

Our pelvic health physiotherapists are part of the multidisciplinary team at the newly established Women’s Health Clinics at Eastern Health Blackburn. These clinics are part of the Victorian Government’s four-year plan to improve access to specialist care for women, including services relating to pelvic pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, prolapse, incontinence, contraception, and menopause. 

This service supports the recovery of men undergoing radical prostatectomy at Eastern Health. Our physiotherapists accept referrals for patients pre-operatively and within 3 months post-operatively. Patients are typically supported for up to 12 months post-surgery to support recovery and optimise pelvic floor function. If ongoing management is required, patients may be referred to our Continence Clinic.   

 NOTE:  Our services have variable wait times, and you will be advised accordingly. You may also wish to pursue private treatment options. Please refer to the CFA Physiotherapy Group website to find a provider specialising in pelvic health physiotherapy. 

If you have had your condition for more than six months, you may wish to discuss the possibility of a Chronic Condition Management Plan with your GP. This may enable you to claim Medicare rebates for some private allied health services. Click here for more information.