How can a pelvic floor physiotherapist help with Endometriosis?

Whether you have been diagnosed with something like endometriosis, or you just suffer from period pain and don't know why, then a pelvic floor physiotherapist may be helpful to you and here is why.

When you experience period pain, especially if it has been going on for a long time, the muscles around your pelvis can "tense" up in anticipation of pain. This is like how you would brace your abbs if someone was going to punch you in the tummy - you are anticipating a threat and your body is responding.

The muscles around your pelvis that can respond in this way may include, your glutes, hip flexors, adductors, abdominal and your pelvic floor. All of these muscles are external except for the pelvic floor which is where we come in.

When your pelvic floor is in a state of "tension" or is used to repeated cycles of pain, it can end up being "guarded" as your body is trying to protect you from pain, this can cause dysfunction through the pelvic floor.

When the pelvic floor isn't working as it should, you may experience the following symptoms:

• Having pain with using tampons, during gynaecological exams or with any sort of penetrative sex

• Not being able to use tampons/menstrual cups because you can’t get them in or you can’t get them to stay in.

• Having pain during or after sex

• Having pain during or after a bowel movement

• Going to the toilet more than 10 times a day (depending on fluid intake)

• Having a very strong and almost painful urge to empty your bladder that is hard to put off

• Stress urinary incontinence (wetting yourself when your jump, laugh, sneeze, cough)

• Constipation (not being able to poop)

Pelvic Floor Physiotherapists can therefore help by:

• Helping sex to be less painful (if that is a symptom)

• Treat the musculoskeletal system that may be reacting to ongoing pain (glutes, adductors, pelvic floor, abdominals)

• Provide education, support and information about period dysfunction, endometriosis and other causative factors

• Give bladder and bowel advice to aid with frequency and consitpation

• Provide safe exercise options for different times of your cycle

• Help to relax your pelvic floor and desensitise it

• Being a mediator and advocate between your other health care providers like your GP and gynaecologist

Follow this link to book an in person home visit or an online consultation.