1 in 3 women experience women’s health problems particularly urinary incontinence during their lifetime. The unfortunate news is that up to 60% of women tolerate these problems, either too embarrassed to seek help or unaware that there are treatments available.

I am passionate about breaking down the taboo surrounding pelvic floor dysfunction particularly urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.

I have worked in varying environments to deliver women’s health physiotherapy over my entire 20 year career. As a young qualified physiotherapist back in 1997 in Mayo General Hospital I started providing care on the post-natal and gynaecological wards.

During my time in Australia in my early career I worked in the hospital setting with the ante-natal population providing exercise classes.

Over the past 12 years I have worked in a very busy out-patient hospital physiotherapy department specialised in women’s health and in my own private practise for longer still seeing many female patients and I have provided this care in both one to one and educational group settings.

I promote in particular safe exercise environments where exercises are modified as needed until the core and pelvic floor are strong enough to take on more strenuous tasks.

I feel one of our current greatest issues in women’s health is the return of women too soon to challenging exercise particularly post-natally. I also feel concerned about the trends whereby women participate in exercise classes such as circuits/bootcamps without awareness of the status of their pelvic floor and core strength therefore oftentimes worsening a pelvic floor that is already weak and sometimes in my experience even causing PELVIC ORGAN PROLAPSE.

I fully appreciate the sensitivity around women's health related issues and the importance of providing a professional, discreet, comfortable and private environment in which women can seek advice and treatment. Confidentiality is assured at all times.

The categories of women’s health and continence patients that I help treat can be divided into the following core areas.

Pregnant woman with a strong pain massaging her backache - pain in red :Pelvic pain or lower back pain in pregnancy

Ante-natal and Post-natal Care

  • Ante-natal/post-partum Urinary/Bowel incontinence

  • Post-partum scarring (Episiotomy/3rd degree tears)

  • Abdominal diastasis(tummy gap)

  • Pelvic girdle pain

  • Back pain

  • Coccydynia

  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

  • Post-Natal Assessment “Mummy Wellness Check”

  • “Mum and Me” Exercise and Wellness Class

Bladder/ Bowel Dysfunction

  • Urinary Incontinence (leakage)

  • Urinary Frequency/ Urgency 

  • Overactive bladder

  • Pelvic Organ Prolapse of bladder, uterus and rectum.

  • Post anterior or posterior repairs +/-  hysterectomy

  • Chronic Constipation

  • Bowel Incontinence

  • Pain with bowel movements​

Sick woman with hands holding pressing her crotch lower abdomen in front of toilet bowl. Medical problems, incontinence, health care concept
Young woman in pain lying on couch at home, casual style indoor shoot

Chronic Pelvic Pain

Pelvic pain is often misunderstood; it is frequently associated with an overactive pelvic floor and the presence of trigger points and tension. Reasons you could suffer from pelvic pain could include:

  • Trauma to the pelvic floor during childbirth.

  • Chronic constipation.

  • Adhesions following surgery.

  • Over-activity of the pelvic floor muscles

  •  Direct trauma to the pelvic floor.

  • Injury to the sacrum or coccyx.

  • Unknown cause.

The pain can be diffuse throughout the pelvis or localized to one spot. Treatment is aimed at releasing these muscles and restrictions before appropriate strengthening.

Conditions treated include:

  • Painful intercourse

  • Pelvic floor / perineal pain.

  • Endometriosis and hormone cycle pain

  • Urethral / vaginal / rectal pain.

  • Lower abdominal pain.

  • Vulvodynia.

  • Anismus

  • Pudendal Neuralgia

  • Post-surgical pain

  • Painful Bladder Syndrome

  • Interstitial Cystitis

  • Abdominal Pain

I also offer treatment for men’s health conditions

  • Post prostatectomy

  • Urinary Incontinence 

  • Bowel Conditions

I have always suffered from PMS with severe menstrual cramps and had accepted them as a fact of my life. Working with Doreen on practical strategies to reduce and deal with the pain before and during my period along with small dietary changes has been life changing. I now have a more balanced mood before and during my period, and the cramps have diminished significantly and are far less intense. I can’t thank Doreen enough for her work. She has given me techniques that are still working 6 months on. My quality of life has improved dramatically. 

Christina

suffering with PMS for years