Postnatal pelvic floor dysfunction: conservative treatment and management options

Thirty per cent of postnatal women will suffer with one or more symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction. Left untreated, symptoms can lead to social isolation and embarrassment. Long-term co-morbidity is increased in women who have symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction postnatally, therefore assessing and treating these symptoms when they develop is crucia for the wellbeing of women. This article describes the key issues in the identification, assessment and conservative management of women with pelvic floor dysfunction in the postnatal period.