Women’s Health Physiotherapy

Written by Hannah Gray, Women's and Men's Health Specialist Physiotherapist
Medically reviewed by James Walker, Service Development Director & Senior Physiotherapist, on 14/09/26.

The White House Clinic offers a range of specialist services and treatments supporting women to understand the changes their bodies are going through. We can help keep women strong and healthy at any stage of their life.

Our Women's Health service runs from our Sheffield West and Chesterfield clinics, and you can find both on our clinic locations page.

You do not need a referral to book. We see women for bladder and bowel symptoms, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic pain, pregnancy and postnatal recovery, and the changes that come with the menopause.

Bladder, bowel and pelvic symptoms are far more common than most women realise, and they are rarely talked about. In a study of 3,763 women followed for twelve years after childbirth, 37.9% still reported urinary incontinence, and of the women who had symptoms three months after giving birth, 76.4% still had them twelve years later.¹ Bowel symptoms are common too: in a community survey of more than 1,000 UK adults, 11% reported bowel incontinence.² Back and pelvic pain are common in pregnancy, and the menopause brings changes that can affect fitness and strength. Whilst these symptoms are common, they are not 'normal' and can often be treated with simple, effective exercises.

Our in-house specialists and partners are on hand to help support women with a range of conditions and women's health related questions.

We're here to listen so come and talk to us!

How can we help?

The Women's Health clinic will help you understand your symptoms and support you in identifying and achieving your health and wellness goals.

There are many ways we can offer support and advice, here are some of the conditions we are experts in:

Menopause pelvic health

Pelvic floor problems might not be the most obvious of menopausal symptoms, however the onset of the menopause can aggravate any pre-existing problems. For more information, read our article on what your pelvic floor is and what it does.

Bladder symptoms and leaks

Menopause can trigger leaks and bladder control problems when laughing, exercising, or even standing up. Leaks are not only a menopausal symptom, though - they can begin in pregnancy, after birth, or at any age. We have written an article with tips for reducing leaks, and a fuller guide to bladder symptoms and what they can mean.

Pelvic organ prolapse

A prolapse is when one of the pelvic organs moves down from its usual position and presses against the wall of the vagina. It can cause a feeling of heaviness or dragging, a bulge, or bladder and bowel symptoms, and it is often helped by pelvic floor muscle training. In a multicentre randomised trial of 447 women, one-to-one pelvic floor muscle training reduced prolapse symptoms at 12 months compared with a lifestyle advice leaflet alone.³ Read our guide to managing pelvic organ prolapse.

Bowel symptoms

Bowel symptoms such as urgency, leakage, constipation or difficulty emptying are among the hardest to raise with anyone, and often go unmentioned for years. Pelvic floor and bowel retraining can help many people regain control. Our article on bowel problems, their causes and how physiotherapy can help explains what is involved.

Bladder and bowel symptoms with a neurological condition

Conditions affecting the nervous system, including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, stroke and spinal cord injury, can change the way the bladder and bowel work. These symptoms can be assessed and treated in their own right, alongside neurological physiotherapy. Read more about managing neurological bladder and bowel symptoms.

Pregnancy and after birth

Back and pelvic pain are common during pregnancy, and the pelvic floor carries a great deal of load through pregnancy and birth. We support women before and after birth, including pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy and recovery from a traumatic or difficult birth, and our antenatal and postnatal services include one-to-one Pilates and massage therapy.

Lower back, muscle and joint pain

Stiffness and pain are very common during the menopause and can often be mistaken for arthritic pain. Lower back pain can come at any time in our lives; however, the menopause can exacerbate any pre-existing symptoms. You can find out more about menopausal symptoms and how physiotherapy can help.

Men experience many of the same pelvic floor, bladder and bowel symptoms, and the same clinicians treat them. If you are looking for support for a man, see our Men's Health service.

How our Women's Health service works

If you are unsure about which service you require, we would recommend that you are triaged by our team before arranging an appointment.

You can do this by calling 0114 230 2030 or email info@whitehouse-clinic.co.uk and one of the team will be happy to help. We will briefly go over your concerns and identify the best person for you to see at the clinic.

Women's Health Physiotherapy at the White House Clinic is led by Hannah Gray, Women's and Men's Health Specialist Physiotherapist, who has worked in pelvic health since 2004 and spent over twenty years in the NHS, including within specialist cancer teams, and who sees patients at Chesterfield. At Sheffield West you will see Jackie Gibbon, Specialist Women's Health Physiotherapist, who qualified in 2003 and spent over a decade in NHS women's health, including the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals community continence team. The service is delivered by physiotherapists with specialist training in pelvic health, including members of the Pelvic, Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy (POGP) network. All our physiotherapists are HCPC-registered and members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, and many hold additional qualifications in specialist areas.

Women's health services

• Menopause - understanding perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms, and what physiotherapy and exercise can help with.
• Women's Health Partnerships - our partner-delivered programmes, including Bupa health checks and menopause care, and Sheffield Private Pregnancy Care.
• Women's Health Physiotherapy - a one-hour initial assessment covering your symptoms, your movement and your goals, followed by a treatment plan built with you.
• Antenatal and Postnatal services - antenatal and postnatal Pilates and pregnancy massage therapy, before and after birth.

How much does it cost?

Our current fees for Women's Health Physiotherapy assessments and follow-up appointments are published on our prices page. If you are using private medical insurance, call the team on 0114 230 2030 and they will tell you what is covered.

Book an appointment

You can book Women's Health Physiotherapy online, or call 0114 230 2030 and speak to the team first. If you are booking at Sheffield West, ask for Jackie Gibbon; at Chesterfield, ask for Hannah Gray. If you are not sure which service you need, start with the triage route above and we will point you to the right person.

This page is general information and not a substitute for individual assessment. Book an appointment or call 0114 230 2030 to speak to our team.

References

1. MacArthur C, Wilson D, Herbison P, et al., BJOG (2016) - Urinary incontinence persisting after childbirth: extent, delivery history, and effects in a 12-year longitudinal cohort study
2. Buckley BS, Lapitan MC, International Journal of Clinical Practice (2009) - Prevalence of urinary and faecal incontinence and nocturnal enuresis and attitudes to treatment and help-seeking amongst a community-based representative sample of adults in the United Kingdom
3. Hagen S, Stark D, Glazener C, et al., The Lancet (2014) - Individualised pelvic floor muscle training in women with pelvic organ prolapse (POPPY): a multicentre randomised controlled trial