Resources
Generally speaking, I’ve found it hard to find much in the way of support for people with pelvic floor dysfunction. I certainly haven’t come across any UK charities or helplines for prolapse. I’m pretty sure that’s because there aren’t any. I have a few thoughts about why that might be. Stigma? Gender inequality? But that’s for another day.
In the meantime, here are a few links I’ve pulled together which may be useful. Please let me know if there are others and I will try to add them. It’s worth noting that I have no association with any of these organisations:
Information and Support
- Pelvic Roar - pelvic health campaignhttps://www.pelvicroar.org/
- Bladder & Bowel Communityhttps://www.bladderandbowel.org/
- Bladder Health UKhttps://bladderhealthuk.org/
- Association for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Support (based in US)https://www.pelvicorganprolapsesupport.org/
- Masic - a charity for mothers with anal sphincter injuries in childbirth.https://masic.org.uk/
- Make Birth Better - A unique collective of parents and professionals working together to end suffering from birth trauma.https://www.makebirthbetter.org/
- Maternal Mental Health Alliance - campaign to improve perinatal mental health care.https://maternalmentalhealthalliance.org/
- The Pandas Foundation - gives support to people coping with Pre and Postnatal Mental Illnesses, as well as their families, friends and carers.https://www.pandasfoundation.org.uk/
- Birth Trauma Association - a charity that supports women who suffer birth traumahttps://www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk/
- Pelvic Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy - professional network of physiotherapists with a professional interest in women's (and men's) healthhttps://thepogp.co.uk/default.aspx
Fitness
I know from my own experience that getting back to fitness with pelvic floor dysfunction is something else that’s really hard to navigate. Many fitness professionals have little or no knowledge of this area and you can end up doing nothing for fear of making things worse. Here are some of the programmes that have been recommended to me over the years. I did Holistic Core Restore myself in 2019 and it has really helped with both strength and confidence:
- Holistic Core Restore - pelvic floor and core fitnesshttps://www.holisticcorerestore.com/
- MUTU System - online postnatal exercise programmehttps://mutusystem.co.uk/
- POPUp - online resources for managing Pelvic Organ Prolapsehttps://www.popuplifting.com/
- Core Exercise Solutions - Online core and pelvic floor rehabhttps://www.coreexercisesolutions.com/
- FemFusion Fitness - Online fitness and pelvic healthhttps://www.femfusionfitness.com/
Pelvic Floor Rehab
I am a big fan of Squeezy. It’s an NHS app which will remind you to do your pelvic floor exercises by sending a notification to your phone. It’s very persistent so it’s fairly effective! It also has a directory of pelvic health physios so you can find one near you, which I would wholeheartedly recommend.
- Squeezy Apphttps://www.squeezyapp.com/
- Physiotherapy - I have been lucky enough to access physio both via the NHS (no charge) and privately. For the NHS, you can get a referral from your GP or consultant. In some areas you can even self-refer. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/physiotherapy/accessing/