Physiotherapy & bladder strategies
Pelvic-floor care may work on strength, coordination or relaxation. Bladder training and tailored advice about fluids, caffeine or constipation may also help, depending on the problem.
SPECIALIST UROGYNAECOLOGY
Bladder symptoms
& pelvic floor care
Bladder symptoms can shape exercise, sleep and everyday plans. I help work out what is driving leakage, urgency, recurring urinary symptoms or difficulty emptying, and how they connect with the wider pelvic floor.
START WITH YOUR SYMPTOMS
Find your starting point.
More than one pattern may fit. Choose what is bothering you most, or book a consultation if you are unsure.
Leaking urine
With coughing or exercise, with urgency, or a mixture of both.
Urgency & frequency
Sudden urges or frequent trips that interrupt your day.
Difficulty emptying
A weak stream, hesitancy or the feeling that urine is left behind.
Recurring infections or burning
Repeated infections or urinary symptoms that keep returning.
Waking to pass urine
Night-time trips that disturb sleep.
Bladder pain
Pain, pressure or discomfort associated with the bladder.
The finder suggests reading; it does not diagnose your symptoms.
YOUR CONSULTATION
Understand the pattern. Agree a plan.
Start with what matters to you
We discuss symptoms, daily life, medicines and previous treatment or surgery. A focused examination can help identify pelvic-floor or support problems. I explain what it involves; you can ask to pause or stop.
Choose useful investigations
Urine testing and, when useful, a scan of urine remaining after you pass urine help clarify the picture. I use perineal ultrasound for relevant pelvic-floor or prolapse assessment. Urodynamics is considered when its findings would change treatment planning.
Review how treatment is helping
We agree what improvement would mean for you and when to review progress. If symptoms persist, return or follow an operation, we reassess the possible causes and next options together.
Examination takes place with your consent. You can discuss symptoms and treatment choices without committing to a procedure.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR OPTIONS
Treatment matched to your symptoms.
The diagnosis, your priorities and previous treatment guide the choices. Different approaches can be combined; the guides below explain their benefits and limitations.
OPTIONAL THREE-DAY BLADDER DIARY
Make the pattern easier to explain.
Record what you drink, when and how much urine you pass, and any urgency or leakage over three typical days. A diary can help guide assessment and show how treatment is working. You can book without completing one.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Questions before your visit.
Does leakage mean I need surgery?
No. Treatment depends on the type of leakage and your assessment. Non-surgical and surgical approaches can both be considered; we discuss the options that fit your situation.
Why do I have UTI-type symptoms when tests are negative?
Not every episode of burning or urgency is an infection. Bladder overactivity, tissue changes and pelvic floor problems can overlap. Repeated symptoms need an assessment rather than an assumption that the cause is always the same.
What should I bring?
Previous urine results, a medication list and information about earlier pelvic surgery or treatment. The optional bladder diary may help, but you can book without one or a confirmed diagnosis.
YOUR NEXT STEP
Discuss your symptoms and options.
Consultations in Claremont, with additional appointments in Simon’s Town on selected Mondays. Reception will confirm your date, time and venue.
General information to support your consultation. Your assessment and treatment plan are individual.
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Sources & further reading: NICE: urinary incontinence and prolapse · EAU: bladder symptom assessment · AUA/SUFU: overactive bladder · NIDDK: urinary retention · NHS: blood in urine · NHS: urinary infections