Pelvic Health Melbourne

Up to a quarter of v♡gina owners report persistent pelvic pain and if often dismissed.

Our director Nicola Andreacchio focuses on pain during intimacy, also known as dyspareunia.

Check out Nicola's video in our comments.

Alex Lopes and Dr Marita Long presented today to some of the Team at Hobsons Bay City Council for Women's Health Week. Marita highlighted the importance of prioritizing a 45-minute menopausal assessment with your women's health GP. Ideal for all women 45 and beyond to optimize their health beyond menopause Alex chatted about va**nal lubricants and vi*****rs the when and why and basic bowel health. Sincere thanks to Hobsons Bay City Council for hosting a great event and to Dr Marita Long from the Australasian Menopausal Society.

Today, our director Melissa Smith talks about the shame and stigma around bladder leakage.

Head to the link in our comments to watch the video.

Enjoyed a wonderful webinar as a panelist for Women's Health Week delivered to osteopaths about women's and pelvic health and the potential next steps in Australian healthcare.
Alex Lopes, Director of Pelvic Health Melbourne

Our team has couragous conversation every day.

We chat about weeing ourselves, sticky poo, va**nal farting, vi*****rs, intimacy pain, and so much more.

One of the biggest courageous conversations is va**nal dryness.

Check out the links in our comments to watch our Director Alex discuss l**e, vi*****rs and dilators and how they can support you with your pelvic health.

Jean Hailes is
dedicated to the health and wellbeing of all women, girls and gender-diverse people.

Day one is all about Knowing Your Body and we're focusing on the v♡lva.

Check out the link in the comments to watch our senior physio Zwin run through knowing where your v♡lva is, how to do a self check and learning what is your normal.

Pelvic Health Melbourne hosted the Australian Physiotherapy Association's Women's Men's and Pelvic Health level 2 course over the weekend. It was exciting to see the passionate new physiotherapists leading the charge in Pelvic health physiotherapy across Australia.

Can you name all the parts of the v♡lva? Get to know them. Understand what they are. Know your normal. 😊

Add this to your monthly body scan, along with breast checks.

Fantastic image by the team at 🧡

What a fantastic weekend with Pelvic Health Melbourne's Melissa Smith and Alex Lopes presenting to physios and osteopaths across Australia on Pelvic Girdle Pain. This includes assessment and management for SIJ, P***c Symphysis, and Coccyx pain. We shared ideas and all learned heaps with an exceptional group of therapists.

Exciting News! 🚨

We're thrilled to introduce our newest team member, Dennise! Originally from Scotland, Dennise first fell in love with Australia during her university studies, and she’s been enjoying the sunshine and lifestyle ever since.

Dennise brings over 20 years of physiotherapy experience to our team, with a special focus on pelvic health and a deep commitment to personalized care. Her journey in physiotherapy began with sports, but it’s her work with clients facing real-life challenges like chronic pain, pregnancy and postpartum that has been the most rewarding.

Outside of the clinic, Dennise’s life is busy chasing after her twin toddlers. She looks forward to more family time at the beach, in the hills, and maybe even getting back into competitive running or roller derby one day!

Fun facts about Dennise:
• Favorite holiday destination: I have lots of happy memories travelling around New Zealand with my Mum and brothers but now I would say Scotland is my favourite destination. I get the bonus of seeing family, being a tourist and sharing the culture with my kids.

• Guilty pleasure TV show: Grey’s Anatomy and British crime dramas.

• Karaoke song of choice: The Proclaimers' "500 Miles" (though she’s more of a listener than a singer!).

• Toilet paper technique: Definitely a folder!

Please join us in giving Dennise a warm welcome! 🌟
To book an appointment:
☎️ Call 9325-1511
💻 pelvichealth.melbourne

Happy Winter Solstice. ❄

The Winter Solstice, also known as Mid-Winter, marks the shortest day of the year with the fewest daylight hours.

It’s not all dark though, the solstice is about lightness and rebirth. One of the most popular Pagan myths surrounding the winter solstice is about the Norse Goddess Fr**ga, who gave birth to her "young son" on the night of the winter solstice, a birth that is viewed as giving light to darkness.

Because of this birth, in Northern Europe, the longest night is also known as the "Mother's Night," It’s a day focused on rebirth, light, and forward movement.

Many cultures use Winter as a time to slow down and reconnect with the natural world. It’s a great time to gather friends together for a hearty, warming meal to recognise and feel part of this ancient tradition.

Wishing you a beautiful "Mother's Night". May you find your light and move towards happiness always. 💕

Beautiful image •

When the two collide! 🙈

Is anyone else experiencing both hormonal stages at the same time in their house?

International Men's Health Week ends today and we're finishing our series with information on the prostate.

The prostate is a male reproductive organ that sits underneath the bladder and surrounds the urethra. It's main function is to produce secretions that lubricate and nourish s***m.

Prostate enlargement happens to almost all p3nis owners as they get older, occuring when a small gland becomes enlarged causing the prostate to compress and block the urethra, making it difficult to wee normally.

Symptoms include;
• frequent weeing
• weeing at night
• urge incontienence
• difficulty starting a wee
• dribbling at the beginning or end of weeing
• inability to completely empty the bladder
• frequent urinary tract infections

If you're needing a prostatectomy, our amazing team can support you during and after surgery including:
• Continence management
• Erectile dysfunction treatment
• Pelvic floor muscles care
• Practical management of bladder and/or bowel side effects.



To book an appointment please
☎️ Call 9325-1511
OR
💻 Book online at pelvichealth.melbourne

Erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence, is the inability to maintain or achieve an er****on that allows s€xual activity and pe*******on.

Erectile dysfunction can be a sign of a physical or psychological condition causing stress, relationship strain and low self-confidence.

Common causes of erectile dysfunction include:
🍆 Prostate surgery
🍆 Pelvic floor muscle weakness
🍆 Vascular disease and hypertension
🍆 Cigarette smoking
🍆 Psychological factors

Treatments/Solutions:
🍆 A supervised pelvic floor muscle training program
🍆 Vacuum assisted devices
🍆 Erectile rehab program specific for your individual requirements

WE'RE HERE TO HELP!

Our supportive pelvic health physio team can provide a thorough assessment and provide you with an individually tailored treatment plan.

If you have any concerns about your pelvic health, make an appointment today.
☎️ Call 9325-1511
OR
💻 Book online at pelvichealth.melbourne

Just like v***a owners, p3nis owners can experience a wide range of pelvic pain.

You could experience pain or burning during and/or after weeing or when doing a poo. Pelvic pain can also affect s€x and intimacy and may be felt in the abdomen, p3nis, te**es, or a**l area.

We understand that coming into a pelvic health clinic may be intimidating and embarrassing. However, our expert team is trained, experienced, and supportive.

If you're experiencing pelvic pain, don't put up with it. Book in for an appointment. We're here to help.

☎️ Call 9325-1511
OR
💻 Book online at pelvichealth.melbourne

This week is Men’s Health Week, and it’s so important to remember mental health as well as physical. 🧡
📸

Maintaining good bowel habits is essential for optimal digestive health in p3nis owners.
Here are some tips to help you create healthy habits:

• Stay hydrated: Drink an adequate amount of water throughout the day to keep your body hydrated. Hydration helps soften your poo and promotes regular bowel movements.

• Eat a fibre-rich diet: Include plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and other high-fibre foods in your diet. Fibre adds bulk to your poo, improves regularity, and helps prevent constipation.

• Exercise regularly: Engage in regular physical activity as it stimulates bowel function and promotes overall digestive health.

• Don't ignore the urge: When you feel the urge to do a poo, don't delay or ignore it. Responding promptly to the body's signals can help prevent constipation.

• Practice proper toileting posture: When using the toilet, adopt a squatting position by placing your feet on a small stool. This position can help facilitate easier bowel movements.

If you have any concerns regarding your bowel health, please make an appointment with our supportive team.

1 in 10 Australian p3nis owners suffer from bladder incontinence.

TYPES OF BLADDER INCONTINENCE
🔧Stress Incontinence
P3nis owners can experience stress incontinence with age and following surgery to the prostate. Stress incontinence is urine loss when there is exertion or an increase in pressure in the abdomen e.g. when running, sneezing or coughing.

🔧Urge Incontinence
Urge incontinence is the need to suddenly rush to the toilet as the bladder is filling. This can be the result of bladder spasms, a reduced capacity of the bladder, or with certain triggers. Triggers can include; coffee, fizzy drinks, alcohol, artificial sugars, running water, on route to the toilet or even when putting a key in the door.

🔧Post micturition incontinence
Post micturition incontinence (commonly known as after-dribble) can occur when the muscles that surround the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the p***s) do not contract properly. This stops the bladder from fully emptying. A common cause of post micturition incontinence is an enlarged prostate or weakened pelvic floor muscles).

It is important that you seek support and help by a health professional if you have any of the following symptoms:
• difficulty starting the flow of urine
• having to strain to wee
• a slow urine stream when weeing
• feeling the need to urgently wee
• burning, discomfort or pain when weeing
• blood-stained urine
• having to get up one or more times during the night to wee
• having to change your lifestyle because of problems with your bladder

Our team are here to help!
☎️ Call 9325 1511
OR
💻 Book online at pelvichealth.melbourne

P3nises come in all different shapes and sizes and having a curved er3ction isn't necessarily a cause for concern. But, if this is something you've noticed, you may like to read on...🧐

Peyronies disease occurs when scar from a trauma has not been reabsorbed into the circulatory system but sits in the er3ctile tissue and hardens over time.

If the thickened tissue progresses it can result in curvature of the p3nis which may contribute to painful intimacy or difficulty maintaining an er3ction.

For many p3nis owners, Peyronie's disease also causes stress and anxiety, greatly effecting your mental health and wellbeing.

⚠️ Symptoms
Peyronie's disease signs and symptoms might appear suddenly or develop gradually. The most common signs and symptoms include:
• Scar tissue. The scar tissue associated with Peyronie's disease called plaque, can be felt under the skin of the p3nis as flat lumps or a band of hard tissue.

• A significant bend to the p3nis. Your p3nis might curve upward or downward or bend to one side.

• Er3ction problems. Peyronie's disease might cause problems getting or maintaining an er3ction.

• Shortening of the p3nis. Your p3nis might become shorter as a result of Peyronie's disease.

• Pain. You might have p3nile pain, with or without an er3ction.

Early treatment gives you the best chance to improve the condition — or prevent it from getting worse.

🧡 Treatment:
Therapeutic Ultrasound is showing promising evidence as an effective conservative treatment to reduce the size and progression of these plaques.

At Pelvic Health Melbourne we use therapeuic ultrasound which directs the sound waves through the area of thickened tissue to commence reducing the plaque size and thickeness. We ultrasound the area for 10 minutes 2-3 times a week over 4 weeks and track changes to the plaque area.

The patient will then use vitamin E oil to massage into the plaque area on the day of treatment and the day after to help maintain the softened tissue and help remove the tissue that has broken down.

To make an appointment with our supportive physio team;
☎️ Call us 9325 1511

Thank you to the Mayo Clinic for additional information on Peyronies.

This week is for men, p3nis owners and those that love them! 👳‍♂️👲🧔👱‍♂️👨‍🦰👨‍🦱👨‍🦳👨‍🦲

Over the week we will be highlighting some of the pelvic health issues experienced by men and p3nis owners.

Yes! The male body has a pelvic floor too!
The pelvic floor muscles help the male body by:
• Supporting the pelvic organs (bladder and bowel)
• Helping maintain bladder and bowel control
• Gaining and maintaining an er****on and ej*******on

Topics we'll be covering over the week include:
🍆 Peryronies Disease
🍆 Urinary Incontinence
🍆 Bowel Issues
🍆 Prostate Surgery
🍆 Pelvic Pain
🍆 Erectile Dysfunction

There needs to be more awareness, information and education around these topics. The theme of Men's Health Week 2024 is Checking In With Our Health - focusing on health checks physically, emotionally and mentally.

Often men are embarrassed to seek support or guidance around these issues which can greatly affect their mental health and wellbeing.

For many men, unless they develop symptoms and are referred on for pelvic floor physiotherapy, they often won’t learn a lot about their pelvic floor.

We're proud to be playing a part in building that healthy environment.

If you have any concerns about your pelvic health, please make an appointment with our supportive team of physios.

☎️ Call 9325-1511
OR
💻 Book online at pelvichealth.melbourne

Hello Winter! ❄️
This is your 1st day of the Month Breast/Pec Check Reminder.

If you are familiar with the way your breasts/pecs look and feel, it will make it easier to notice if any changes occur. When breast cancer is detected early, you have a greater chance of being treated successfully.

📸 Pink Hope - Australia's Hereditary Cancer Charity

Once your little one arrives you may find your focus centres on their health & wellbeing with Maternal Health Nurse appointments, immunisations etc, but what about you and your health checks?

Most women will see their GP/OB for a routine 6 week postpartum appointment that will include checking your blood pressure, discussing blood loss concerns, healing after incisions/tears, s*xual in*******se and contraception which is great, but it’s not enough. You also need a postpartum check with a pelvic health physio.

During our Postnatal Pelvic Health Assessment we discuss;
🌼 Pelvic muscle range including motion, strength, stability & pain
🌼 Scar tissue management
🌼 Urine and bowel function, including incontinence and/or constipation
🌼 Abdominal separation (also known as DRAM)
🌼 Pelvic pain
🌼 S*x after having a baby
🌼 Guidance on safe return to exercise
🌼 Discuss breastcare and mastitis

Postnatal pelvic health assessment booking options:
☎️ Call 9325-1511
💻 Book online at pelvichealth.melbourne

📷 💕

Hello May! 🍁
This is your 1st day of the Month Breast/Pec Check Reminder.

If you are familiar with the way your breasts/pecs look and feel, it will make it easier to notice if any changes occur. When breast cancer is detected early, you have a greater chance of being treated successfully.

For those of you expecting a bub, this is your feel good Saturday night reminder that our myotherapist, Kristy, is open for appointments on Thursdays and Fridays in our Altona North clinic. Book Now!

☎️ 9325 1511
💻 pelvichealth.melbourne

Got any new or leftover nappies to spare? Drop them off to us and donate them to the CLEAN BUMS FOR LITTLE ONES campaign! Because every little one deserves the dignity and comfort of a clean bum.

From 26 April to 24 May, is aiming to collect 350,000 nappies across Australia – that’s how many are needed right now for families in crisis.

We are proud to be part of a community of collection points where you can donate nappies for local families who need them most.

Every donation, big or small, makes a difference and every single nappy means a clean bum for a vulnerable little one!

You'll find the collection box next to reception. 🩷

Whether you're newly pregnant, about to give birth, had your bub or at any stage in between, our Body Before Birth pregnancy and postnatal care program is here to support you with knowledge, practical advice and treatments to make this amazing experience memorable.

This program is designed to educate you on changes to your body at all stages of pregnancy, inform you of your care options, and prepare you for birth and beyond.

To see the descriptions of each key appointment;
https://www.pelvichealth.melbourne/womens-pregnancy/body-before-birth

Cougar Puberty. Have you heard it? 🤔 It's a term used to describe the perimenopause period, especially emphasising the array of changes and experiences v***a owners undergo during this transitional phase.

It highlights the similarities between the confusing and diverse changes experienced during perimenopause and the transformative period of puberty.

Just like during puberty, when the body undergoes significant hormonal changes leading to various physical and emotional adjustments, perimenopause brings about its own set of shifts due to fluctuating hormone levels.

These changes can include va**nal dryness, loss of s*x drive, period changes, sensitive bladder and other symptoms that can be bewildering and challenging to understand and manage.

What do you think of the term?

Queefing, Q-tip and Quiet all start with the letter Q and are all related to pelvic health. #

QUEEFING
Queefing, f***y farting, va**nal farts, varts or va**nal flatus - is when air gets trapped in the va**na. It eventually passes out again when pressure is placed on the lower abdominals or pelvic muscles - resulting in QUEEFING!

Queefing can sound the same as fart however it doesn't carry a gassy odor. While it can be embarrassing, especially if you're not alone 😉, most women will experience queefing in their lifetime.

Q-TIP
Pelvic health physiotherapists may use a Q-tip (cotton swab) to perform a v***a and l***a touch sensitivity test as part of their assessment for pain conditions such as vulvodynia. This test is known as a Q-tip test or cotton swab test.

Using a sterile or clean cotton swab, the physiotherapist gently touches various points around the v***a area. They may start with less sensitive areas before moving towards more sensitive areas, such as the vestibule (the area surrounding the va**nal opening). Throughout the test, the physiotherapist will ask to rate the level of discomfort or pain experienced at each touch point. This helps the physiotherapist gauge the patient's sensitivity levels and identify areas of heightened pain.

It's important to note that the Q-tip test is just one component of a comprehensive assessment for v***ar pain conditions.

QUIET
Even your pelvic floor muscles need to become "quiet" or relax. We here a lot about activating or strengthening our pelvic floor muscles and often never learn the importance of quietening or relaxing the same muscles.

In order to function well, a muscle needs to be able to move from its fully relaxed/lengthened position, to its fully contracted/shortened position.

To make an appointment with one of our supportive team:
☎️ 9325 1511
💻 pelvichealth.melbourne

April is Caesarean Awareness month and we're here to celebrate the 35% of Australian mummas and birthing people who brought their babies Earth-side through belly birth. 🌱👣

⚠️ So what exactly is a caesarean/belly birth?
A csection is short for caesarean section and can be planned or un-planned. During a csection, an incision is made into your skin, through the fat cells, connective tissue, and into the abdominal cavity.

The abdominal muscles are then spread apart and the bladder is moved down and out of the way in order to get to the uterus. An incision is made into the uterus and the baby is guided out. The placenta is taken out shortly after.

The uterus is then stitched up, the bladder put back in place, then connective tissue, the abdominals, and the skin stitched up, to varying degrees. We have a lot of layers of sutures and thus, scar tissue that will form.

That's major abdominal surgery! We're here to optimise your recovery. Pelvic health physiotherapy will promote healing allowing you to return to activity safely after having a c-section.

To make a postpartum appointment with one of our supportive pelvic health physios;
☎️ 9325 1511
💻 pelvichealth.melbourne

C-sections carry some risk factors for perinatal mental health challenges. One study showed that people who have a C-section birth can experience higher rates of depression during the postnatal period. The reasons for this are complex but trauma during birth may be a contributing factor.

If you want to talk about your birth, these support services are available:


PANDA National Helpline (Mon to Fri, 9am - 7.30pm AEST/AEDT) 1300 726 306

Today is Say Their Name Day 💕⭐

A day to honour the little ones we love and miss so desperately. A day of recognition, remembrance and connection to honour the thousands of babies and their families who have experienced the heartache of pregnancy and infant loss.

“We talk about them not because we’re stuck or haven’t moved on, we talk about them because we are theirs, and they are ours, and no passage of time will change that.” • Unknown .

💚