What to expect at your first pelvic therapy session
Pelvic therapy is starting to be more well-known in the community. In fact, Google Trends data suggests that in 2004, there were 100 searches for pelvic therapy per month and in 2026, there is nearly 2,400 per month. That’s a very large increase.
But just because awareness is there does not mean that it’s “easy” to understand what exactly happens in a pelvic therapy appointment, so I wanted to break down the initial visit for you here.
My goal is to always make sure anyone I work with is fully informed before we begin. So, if you’ve been wondering what, exactly, to expect at pelvic health physical therapy session, keep reading!
Medical History
During our first official appointment together, we’ll begin by covering your medical history.
I like to ask lots of questions that will help me put together each piece of your story so that we have a very clear idea about what's going on to cause your symptoms. Oftentimes, different memories will be jogged during the interview, so don’t worry about remembering every detail. I’ll do my best to ask questions that will help.
This part of the session does take a decent amount of time because every piece of your story matters. Many of the people that I work with have gone to different providers and feel like their story just hasn't been heard, or they didn't have time to discuss their symptoms and experiences in full. My goal is to ensure that you are heard and that I do take the time to understand exactly what you're going through and where you're coming from. It all matters to me.
Assessments
General testing
During your first session, it's important to do an assessment to ensure that we figure out what exactly is causing your symptoms. Your assessment, coupled with your medical history, can help us design a care plan that is specific to you.
I'll start with a general health screening, strength testing, range of motion testing, and some movement screening.
If you aren't able to perform a movement or you feel pain with a movement, it will simply be data for us to use during your treatment. This is all a part of the problem solving that is your pelvic health therapy!
Internal pelvic exam
This is usually the part people are most curious (or nervous) about when it comes to a pelvic floor evaluation or pelvic floor PT in general.
If I think you may benefit from one, I'll explain exactly what an internal pelvic examination involves and you'll be able to decide whether or not you'd like to proceed. This internal pelvic exam is what sets apart a traditional physical therapist from a pelvic health specialist.
An internal pelvic floor examination allows me to properly assess pelvic muscle function, tension, and coordination of the pelvic muscles. The exam is always in my private treatment room which is much more comfortable than a typical doctor's office setup. My goal is to ensure you feel safe and comfortable during the exam (and honestly, at all times during treatment).
A pelvic health specialist is different from a general physical therapist largely because of the internal pelvic examination. It's what allows us to properly assess pelvic muscle function, tension, and coordination, which are things that simply can't be evaluated as precisely from the outside.
Here's what it actually involves: I wear gloves and use a lightly lubricated finger to gently examine the pelvic floor muscles through the vagina, and sometimes the rectum if it's relevant to your specific condition and you've agreed to it. This is much different than an OB/GYN exam; there is not a cold speculum involved at all (I know you know).
During the exam, I'm evaluating:
Muscle strength
Areas of tenderness or trigger points
Resting muscle tone
Your ability to contract and relax voluntarily
Overall muscle coordination
The exam takes place in a cozy, private treatment room, with real bedsheets, so it’s a quite different setting than what you may be used to at an OB/GYN's office.
Treatment
Most times, we will begin treatment at your initial evaluation. treatment often mirrors the examination and is always based on what is found during your examination.
Before treatment begins, I will explain all of my findings, give you an idea of what you can expect, and create a plan with you for treatment.
the goal for treatment in the initial session is to get started at the baseline and begin treating the root cause of the problem. You will also receive lots of education along the way, so you will always know exactly what you're doing, why you're doing it, and how it's going to be helping you.
How to get started with pelvic floor therapy in Durham, NC
If you are local to the Durham, NC area, I'd love to work with you. My pelvic therapy clinic specializes in pelvic health and pelvic health treatment. It’s not just a part of what I do, but what I specifically do.
Pelvic floor PT can be intimidating and pelvic floor conditions can feel embarrassing, hard, lonely, and frustrating. I'd love to help you overcome the pelvic concerns you have and get you back to feeling 100%.
If you’re ready to get started, request an appointment below. I’d love to help you.
