A common complaint: ‘I had no idea of the risks’
Wellington pelvic health physiotherapist Liz Childs treats a range of pelvic floor health issues for both men and women.
The conditions she sees most in women are bladder, bowel, pregnancy and postnatal issues, and those brought on by menopause and ageing. Common issues include bladder leakage, bowel control problems and constipation.
Liz says there are many effects on women, with one in four New Zealand women reporting that urine leakage affects their participation in sports and going the gym.
“Another example of how it affects people’s daily life is that some patients won’t leave their house until they have had a bowel motion due to fear of faecal incontinence. That is quite debilitating,” she says.
Others have sexual problems with reduced sensation, pain and relationship issues. Liz says there’s a strong link between pelvic
