Pelvic Health Self Assessment

We encourage all women and birthing people to complete our pelvic health self assessment questionnaire. Pelvic health problems affect many women and can have a negative impact on your quality of life.

The conditions  listed below during, or after pregnancy, can signal that the pelvic floor muscles are not working well. Most pelvic floor problems can be prevented with the right advice and support. Completing the questionnaire will help you to understand your individual risk of pelvic floor problems, and sign post you towards the right help and support.

If you already have pelvic floor problems you do not need to complete this self-assessment. Instead, we recommend you ask your GP, community or hospital midwife, health visitor or other healthcare professional for a referral to our perinatal pelvic health physiotherapy service.

  • Leaking wee with coughing, sneezing, movement, exercise.
  • Rushing to the toilet to wee, having accidents on the way to the toilet, or getting up lots of times to wee at night.
  • Rushing to the toilet to poo/leaking poo
  • Difficulty wiping clean
  • Having accidents with, our without, being aware this is happening
  • Problems controlling wind (farts)
  • Constipation or difficulty having a poo
  • Pain during sex or intimacy which may be deep in the vagina or on the outside
  • Vaginismus – difficulty or pain with medical examinations e.g. smears, difficulty with using vaginal devices e.g. tampons
  • Feeling too tight or too loose/open
  • Feeling less sensation than before
  • Feeling a heavy pressure or a dragging sensation in the vagina which generally is worse at the end of the day or with more activity
  • Feeling something is pushing down or feeling a lump at the opening of the vagina. This may also affect how easy it is to wee, poo or have sex
  • Feeling less support between your legs
  • Pain in the pelvic, groin, low back, top of legs and hips that is worse with movement or certain activities
  • Difficulty walking or moving as usual, difficult finding a comfortable position or getting to sleep at night
  • Getting in and out of the car or turning in bed
  • A dome shape or bulge appearing in your tummy from the top to the bottom when you try to pull yourself up.

Start the antenatal questionnaire (This should be done in early pregnancy, ideally by 16-19 weeks, but can be completed at any time)

Perinatal Pelvic Health Antenatal Self Assessment Questionnaire – Fill out form

Start the postnatal questionnaire (This should be completed by 6-9 weeks following birth, but can be completed at any time following the birth of your baby up until they are 12 months old)

Perinatal Pelvic Health Postnatal Self-Assessment Questionnaire – Fill out form

Please note that the perinatal pelvic health service is not an urgent care service.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms below, please access same day medical advice by either contacting the Maternity Assessment Unit, your GP or NHS 111.

  • You suddenly can’t wee and have pain in your bladder (lower tummy area)
  • You feel burning or pain when you wee and your wee is cloudy, darker, has a strong smell or there is blood in your wee.
  • You can’t feel when you wee or poo.
  • You feel numb around your perineum (area between your vagina and anus/bum).
  • You feel pins and needles or numbness or weakness in both your legs at the same time.
  • You have pain in your leg(s) which is also red, hot to touch and swollen.
  • You have blood in your stools (poo).
  • You have pain which is constant and doesn’t change with movement or rest.

Your perineal wound:

  • Has an offensive (horrible) smell or discharge
  • Is getting more painful
  • Has opened
  • Has excessive redness, swelling in and around your wound
  • You have a fever or temperature or are generally feeling unwell