What to Expect at Your First Pelvic Floor Visit

During Your Session

Many people wonder what their first pelvic floor evaluation will be like. The truth is, every visit is tailored to you. Some first sessions involve more conversation and history-taking, while others may be more hands-on—it all depends on your comfort level and what you need.

Here’s a general outline of what you can expect:

Step 1: Conversation
We’ll start by listening to your story. We want to know what brings you in, and we may talk about:

• Daily activities, work, and sleep habits

• Diet and fluid intake

• Medical history

• The details of your symptoms

This helps us understand the bigger picture of your health. Sometimes this step takes most of the first visit, especially if your history is complex.

Step 2: Whole-Body Assessment
Your pelvic floor works with the rest of your body, so we’ll also look at:

• Posture (sitting and standing)

• How you move with activities like squatting or lifting

• Breathing patterns and rib cage movement

• Flexibility in your spine, pelvis, and hips

• Core, back, and hip strength

Step 3: Pelvic Floor Exam (Optional)
A pelvic floor exam is always your choice. You don’t have to do one on your first visit—or at all—if you’re not comfortable. If you’d like an exam, we’ll go over the anatomy together first so you know exactly what to expect.

• External exam: We look at the perineal area (from pubic bone to tailbone) and observe how your pelvic floor muscles contract and relax. We may also check for tenderness.

• Internal exam: With your consent, one gloved, lubricated finger is gently inserted vaginally to check muscle tone, strength, and relaxation.

After Your Session

Once the evaluation is complete, we’ll talk through what we found and create a plan just for you. You’ll also get simple home exercises to practice between visits. Staying consistent helps us track your progress and adjust your plan so you can get the best results.