Our pelvic health services are available to women, men, transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse individuals. We understand that pelvic health concerns can feel vulnerable. We are committed to creating a space where you feel heard, respected, and supported without assumptions or judgement.
Our team uses inclusive language and takes the time to understand your individual anatomy, goals, and lived experience. Whether you seek support for pelvic pain, bladder or bowel concerns, prolapse, post-surgical care, pregnancy-related changes, gender-affirming surgery rehabilitation, or general pelvic floor retraining, your care will be tailored specifically to you.
We recognise that healthcare experiences have not always felt safe or affirming for members of the LGBTQ+ community. Our aim is to ensure your experience with us is different: professional, compassionate, and centred around your comfort and consent at every step.
If you have any questions about how we can support you, please contact our friendly reception team on 09 3664480 or book a complimentary call with one of our Physiotherapists.
At Auckland Physiotherapy, we're dedicated to providing you with the best possible care, tailored to your unique needs. We see clients privately, under ACC and who have a MBI. We have two tiers of Pelvic Health services, each with varying pricing options to suit your requirements. Our Physio tier are trained and mentored in pelvic health by our Senior Physio to ensure the best standard of care and results. See below for prices for each service and tier.
PELVIC HEALTH PHYSIO – Specialising in pelvic floor issues, pregnancy-related concerns, post-natal care, and pelvic pain (including prolapses up to level 2).
SENIOR PELVIC HEALTH PHYSIO – For more complex concerns or if you're seeking a practitioner with greater experience, our senior Women's Health Physios are here for you.
GABRIELLA SLIGHT - PELVIC HEALTH PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Gabriella is a registered Pelvic Health Physiotherapist and has undergone extensive training in Pelvic Health, including internal pelvic floor assessments and pessary fitting, allowing her to provide comprehensive care for a range of conditions. Gabriella specialises in continence issues, pregnancy-related pain, postnatal recovery, and pelvic floor dysfunction.
Read more about Gabriella Slight or book your session online.
CLODAGH QUILTER- PELVIC HEALTH PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Read more about Clodagh Quilter or book your session online.
JULIE BLADES - SENIOR PELVIC HEALTH PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Julie is our Senior Pelvic Health Physio who is a wealth of knowledge and has experience in the area. Julie enjoys empowering patients with timely education and the ability to optimise their bodies through movement and exercise at any stage in life. She is able to fit pessaries and deal with complex and ongoing issues.
Read more about Julie Blades or book your session online.
Many women and men experience pelvic health problems at some point in their lives, especially around pregnancy and birth, after surgery, with certain sports, or as they get older. Common bladder issues include leaking urine when you cough, sneeze, laugh, run or lift, needing to rush to the toilet, or going very frequently day or night.
Bowel‑related problems can involve constipation, straining, difficulty emptying, or accidental leakage of stool or wind. Many people also report a feeling of heaviness, dragging or a bulge in the vagina or rectum, which may be related to pelvic organ prolapse.
Pelvic pain is another key area and can include pain with intercourse, pain around the vulva or penis, testicular pain, tailbone pain, or deep pelvic, hip or low back pain linked to the pelvic floor. These problems are common but not “just something you have to live with”, and pelvic health physiotherapy offers conservative, evidence‑based options to help.
You should consider seeing a pelvic health physiotherapist or your GP if pelvic symptoms are bothering you, limiting your daily life, or not improving with simple self‑care. This includes leaking urine, feeling pelvic heaviness or bulging, ongoing constipation or bowel leakage, pain with sex, or persistent pelvic, hip or low back pain that seems linked to your pelvic area.
It is also a good idea to book if you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, recently given birth, returning to sport, or recovering from pelvic or abdominal surgery, as early assessment can prevent problems later. People who lift heavy at work, do high‑impact sport, or have long‑standing coughs or breathing issues may also benefit from proactive pelvic health support.
If you have severe or sudden pelvic pain, fever, heavy bleeding, blood in your urine or stool, or difficulty emptying your bladder or bowel, you should seek urgent medical advice from your GP, after‑hours clinic or emergency department before or alongside physiotherapy.
A pelvic health assessment at Auckland Physiotherapy is a one‑on‑one appointment in a private room where your physiotherapist takes time to understand your concerns and goals. The session usually starts with a detailed discussion about your symptoms, bladder and bowel habits, pregnancies or surgeries, exercise, work, and how your pelvic health is affecting daily life.
Your physio will then assess how you move, including your posture, breathing, abdominal and hip strength, and any movements that reproduce your symptoms. With your full consent, they may offer an internal vaginal or rectal examination to accurately assess pelvic floor muscle strength, coordination and tension; this is explained clearly, is always optional, and you can decline or stop at any time.
Once the assessment is complete, your physiotherapist will explain what they have found in plain language, discuss a working diagnosis, and create a treatment plan tailored to you. You will usually leave the first appointment with specific exercises, lifestyle tips and a clear idea of the next steps so you know exactly how to get started.
For many people, pelvic health physiotherapy can significantly reduce symptoms of incontinence, prolapse and pelvic pain, and in some cases prevent them from getting worse. Research supports pelvic floor muscle training and tailored lifestyle changes as first‑line treatment for many types of urinary incontinence and mild to moderate prolapse.
A pelvic health physio can teach you how to correctly contract and relax your pelvic floor, optimise bladder and bowel habits, adjust exercise and lifting, and address contributing factors such as breathing, posture, core strength and tension patterns. For pelvic pain, treatment may focus more on relaxation, desensitisation, gentle mobility, nerve and muscle release techniques, and strategies to calm an over‑protective nervous system.
Results vary from person to person, and some complex or severe cases may also need input from a GP, gynaecologist, urologist or colorectal specialist. Your physio will discuss realistic expectations with you and work alongside other health professionals as needed to support the best possible outcome.
There is a lot you can do at home to support your pelvic health and reduce the risk of problems as you age. Learning to correctly activate and relax your pelvic floor muscles, maintaining comfortable bowel habits (avoiding regular straining), staying physically active, and managing long‑term coughing or heavy lifting can all make a difference over time.
Simple strategies include pacing your fluids, limiting excessive caffeine if urgency is an issue, using good toilet posture, supporting your pelvic floor when lifting, and keeping to a healthy weight where possible. For many people, avoiding “just in case” toilet trips and not regularly pushing or straining can also help protect bladder and bowel function.
Because everyone’s body and history are different, a check‑up with a pelvic health physiotherapist can help you learn the right type and level of pelvic floor exercises for your situation, especially during pregnancy, after birth, around menopause or after surgery. This combination of personalised guidance and everyday habits offers the best chance of staying active and confident in the long term.
