#6 - Pelvic health PT and the internal exam

I commonly hear from women, “pelvic floor PT?  I didn’t even know this was a thing!”  It is!  And it can be really helpful for some people in just a few PT sessions, when we know the whole clinical picture.  A pelvic health PT evaluation includes an external and internal examination.  So you may ask, is an internal pelvic exam absolutely necessary?

The short answer is no.  But it provides an aspect to the physical therapy examination that may be really beneficial in the development of your individualized plan of care.  For example, if you are experiencing symptoms of incontinence, it may be from muscles that are too weak, too tense, or maybe something is in the way.  Pelvic health physical therapists have additional training in examining and evaluating what’s going on down there. A pelvic floor exam does not involve a speculum, just a single gloved finger to feel for muscle contractions. We might find and release that trigger point that has been making sex unenjoyable. We might find that you’ve been doing Kegals (pelvic floor muscle contractions) wrong all this time.  Or we might check on wounds healing after childbirth.  An internal pelvic exam is quick, strictly with your consent, and a helpful component to a complete pelvic health PT eval. If you have questions about your own situation or want to learn more before scheduling a PT visit with me, ask away!  I’d love to hear from you!