What is the Perinatal Pelvic Health Service (PPHS)?
Anyone can be affected by pelvic health problems during, or after pregnancy – including accidental bladder or bowel leakage (known as incontinence), painful sexual intercourse and pelvic organ prolapse.
The Perinatal Pelvic Health Service (PPHS) offers support to those experiencing pelvic health problems, including early access to physiotherapy if required.
How do I access support from the PPHS?
Anyone who is booked to receive labour care from, or who have recently had a birthing experience at Lister Hospital or through the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust community care services (such as home births), are eligible for self-referral to the service.
Is there a limit to accessing the service?
Women and birthing people will be able to self-refer at any point throughout their pregnancy journey, or up to 12 months after their birthing experience.
Please be aware, we are not an emergency service, therefore if you are experiencing signs and symptoms of urinary retention (*), urinary tract infection (**) or wound infection (***), please contact your GP or 111 if out of hours.
If you are experiencing a loss of sensation when passing urine and/or to open your bowels, please call 111.
* Signs of acute urinary retention including a sudden inability to pass urine, usually with some pain or discomfort in your bladder.
** Signs of urinary tract infection including pain or a burning sensation when urinating, urine that looks cloudy, darker or stronger smelling than usual.
*** Signs of wound infection or breakdown including an increase in pain, new bleeding or pus-like discharge, or feeling unwell.
How can I self-refer to the PPHS?
You can request support from the team by filling in and submitting a self-referral form.
Contact information
For further information or queries please contact the PPHS team on 07436 028437 or email enh-tr.perinatalpelvichealthservice@nhs.net (Please note: All staff work part-time and may not answer calls immediately. In this instance, please use the voicemail service and a member of the team will get back to you ASAP).
Clinic location
The Perinatal Pelvic Health Service will run a clinic at Chells Way Surgery in Stevenage from 8.30am – 16.00pm every Monday.
Address:
265 Chells Way
Stevenage
Hertfordshire
SG2 0HN
Parking at Chells Way Surgery
There are car, bicycle and disabled parking facilities available on-site at Chells Way Surgery, there are also parent and child parking bays available.
Bringing children to Chells Way Surgery
The surgery offers baby changing facilities, a parent and baby room as well as a pram park.
Types of referrals
Antenatal
- Poor control or leaking of urine, wind or faeces
- Symptoms of vaginal prolapse (bulging/heaviness from the vagina)
- Previous 3rd/4th degree tear
- Previous complex perineal trauma, if symptomatic
- Persistent perineal pain (pain in the area between your vagina and anus which began after your childbirth)
Postnatal
- Poor control or leaking of urine, wind or faeces
- Symptoms of vaginal prolapse (bulging/heaviness from the vagina)
- Postnatal dyspareunia (painful sex after birth)
- Vaginismus
Pelvic Health Webinars
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Pelvic floor dysfunction is having difficulty coordinating your pelvic floor muscles. This may present as urinary incontinence (unintentional passing of urine), faecal (bowel) incontinence, vaginal prolapse and/or perineal pain (pain felt between the vagina and anus). Sometimes symptoms are not obvious or they can occur at a later date if not prevented.
Treatment varies for each person and is decided after a detailed assessment is undertaken and a personalised management plan put in place. This may include pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation, lifestyle advice, bladder and bowel advice, bladder retraining, manual therapy, biofeedback, neuromuscular electrical stimulation or scar management.
Evidence has shown it can take 3-4 months to improve pelvic floor dysfunction, so an active and committed participation in your personalised management plan is essential.
Your first appointment will last up to 60-minutes. We will have received lots of information from your referral form, however, we’ll still need to ask some additional questions to ensure we provide the most appropriate treatment. This may be followed by a physical assessment including, where appropriate, an internal vaginal examination to enable full assessment of the pelvic floor muscles.
If you are pregnant, we will ask you further questions before we make any decision to perform a vaginal examination. You will have a chance to ask questions and receive more information about what a vaginal examination entails during your appointment, and this will only be carried out with your full consent.
Your appointment will be with a female specialist physiotherapist or a specialist midwife. They are aware of the sensitive nature of the condition and are sympathetic to any concerns you may have about your treatment.
Yes, please still attend your appointment and if we need to carry out a vaginal examination, this can be done at a later date. If you are only lightly bleeding, and are comfortable to do so, a successful vaginal examination can still be carried out with your consent.
Yes, if English is not your first language and you need to have a translator, please let the PPHS know at least 48-hours before your appointment.
If you have a baby/young child and unable to find childcare, please do feel free to bring them with you.
Yes, you are welcome to bring a family member or friend with you if this would make you feel more comfortable. If you prefer, you can request a formal chaperone (someone trained in being a chaperone) to be in your appointment with you. If you would like to have a formal chaperone, please telephone the PPHS in advance to arrange this, at least 48 hours before your appointment date.
We would not be able to see you in this service but help is still available – please contact your GP and ask them to refer you to your local Pelvic Health Physiotherapy Department.
If you are not booked to birth with East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, you are not able to refer yourself to this service. However, there may be a similar service available at the Trust you are booked at, or you can ask for a referral to your local Pelvic Health Physiotherapist from your GP, and consult the useful resources below.
Useful resources
In addition to the service provided by the PPHS team, you may also find the following websites useful for further information and guidance, should you be experiencing pelvic health problems.
My Health London – Discover a range of NHS-approved exercises to improve your posture, and support your body during and after pregnancy.
Pelvic Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy – Search for local pelvic physiotherapists, seek pelvic health advice and access useful information through a range of accessibility and language options.
Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists – Learn more about perineal tears and episiotomies in childbirth.
The MASIC Foundation – Learn more about supporting services for women who have suffered injuries during childbirth.
