Specialist Pelvic Health Physiotherapy

Let our expertise give you peace of mind

Pelvic health symptoms can affect comfort, confidence, intimacy, exercise and everyday life. They may develop after childbirth, around menopause, following surgery or without an obvious trigger, and they are not something you simply have to put up with. 

At Solent Specialist Physiotherapy in Gosport, pelvic health assessment and rehabilitation is a defined area of specialist clinical practice. We support women with bladder and bowel symptoms, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic floor dysfunction, pelvic pain, postnatal recovery and pelvic floor-related concerns during pregnancy.

Our approach combines specialist assessment, clear explanation and individually tailored rehabilitation, considering how pelvic floor function, abdominal control, breathing, movement and load interact rather than focusing on muscle strength alone.

Why pelvic health problems require specialist assessment

The pelvic floor does not work in isolation. It coordinates with the diaphragm, deep abdominal muscles, hips and spinal stabilisers to support continence, pelvic organ position and load transfer during movement.

Symptoms such as urinary leakage, bowel dysfunction, prolapse, pelvic pain or discomfort during intimacy may reflect altered muscle coordination, tissue quality changes, nerve sensitivity, hormonal influence, previous surgery or childbirth-related injury.

These presentations often overlap. A simple instruction to “squeeze your pelvic floor” is rarely sufficient.

Specialist assessment explores muscle activation patterns, endurance, relaxation capacity, load response and functional integration with movement and breathing. This allows treatment to be tailored precisely to what your body requires.

A clearer understanding of the factors contributing to symptoms allows treatment to be tailored more specifically to the individual.

Common pelvic health problems we help with

We regularly support women with:

Pelvic floor weakness

Urinary Incontinence→ 

Bowel dysfunction and constipation→ 

Pelvic organ prolapse→ 

Postnatal recovery

Diastasis recti (abdominal separation)

Persistent pelvic pain and discomfort→

Vaginismus and pain with intercourse→

Each condition requires specific clinical reasoning and an individualised management pathway. Detailed guides can be explored within our specialist pelvic health rehabilitation hub→

If you are unsure whether pelvic physiotherapy is appropriate, specialist assessment can provide clarity and reassurance.

Pelvic Health Acupuncture

Pelvic health acupuncture is available as an additional treatment option for women experiencing persistent pelvic pain, endometriosis-related discomfort, painful periods, bladder urgency and frequency, or pelvic floor muscle tension.

Unlike general acupuncture, treatment is delivered within our specialist pelvic health service and informed by a detailed understanding of your symptoms, pelvic floor function and wider medical history.

Where appropriate, acupuncture can be combined with pelvic health rehabilitation, bladder retraining and other individually tailored strategies as part of a coordinated treatment plan.

Explore Pelvic Health Acupuncture →

What Makes Our Pelvic Health Service Different

Pelvic health rehabilitation within our Gosport clinic is delivered by Alex Stephenson, Pelvic Health Specialist Physiotherapist, who works within specialist pelvic health services in the NHS alongside her private practice. 

Her clinical work includes bladder and bowel dysfunction, pelvic organ prolapse, postnatal rehabilitation, pelvic floor dysfunction and persistent pelvic pain. Specialist assessment considers strength, coordination, relaxation, tissue behaviour and functional load, with internal assessment undertaken only where clinically appropriate and with full explanation and consent.

Rehabilitation is tailored to the individual and may include pelvic floor retraining, bladder or bowel strategies, functional rehabilitation, neuromuscular electrical stimulation and pelvic health acupuncture where appropriate.

Many women attending pelvic physiotherapy have previously been given general advice without meaningful improvement. This is rarely because symptoms cannot improve. More often, the contributing factors have not been thoroughly assessed.

Specialist evaluation examines coordination, strength, relaxation, tissue behaviour and load tolerance. Internal assessment is performed only where appropriate and always with full consent and explanation.

Rehabilitation is structured around functional integration — ensuring the pelvic floor works effectively during coughing, lifting, running, intimacy and daily activity, rather than simply in isolation.

Care is guided by advanced clinical reasoning and specialist experience rather than protocol-driven or generic exercise approaches.

Where appropriate, we can:

• Integrate neuromuscular electrical stimulation to support muscle activation where indicated and pelvic health acupuncture
• Liaise with your GP or consultant to ensure coordinated care
• Adapt rehabilitation around menopause, postnatal recovery or long-term pelvic health needs

The aim is not simply symptom management, but restoring confidence and control.

Meet your pelvic health specialist physiotherapist

Alex Stephenson

Pelvic Health Specialist Physiotherapist

Alex has over 20 years of physiotherapy experience and has specialised in pelvic health since 2017. She supports women with bladder symptoms, prolapse, pelvic floor dysfunction, pelvic pain and postnatal recovery, including rehabilitation following OASI. She also sees women during pregnancy where there are pelvic floor-related concerns.

Meet Alex→

Book your specialist pelvic health appointment

Specialist pelvic health appointments are available within our Gosport clinic with Alex Stephenson, Pelvic Health Specialist Physiotherapist. 

Assessment is detailed, respectful and individually tailored, with treatment planned around your symptoms, goals and clinical findings.

Book online with Alex Stephenson →

Online booking is available for self-funding pelvic health appointments. If you have WPA insurance, please contact us before booking.

Please note: Alex’s specialist clinic runs on Fridays and appointments may book several weeks in advance. If no appointments are showing online, please contact us as additional availability may sometimes be possible.

Prefer to speak to us first?
You can contact the clinic by phone or email and we’ll be happy to help.

📧 [email protected]
📞 0330 133 9090

Not sure this is the right area? Explore all body regions here→