Bowel Frequency & Urgency
Bowel urgency is rushing to the toilet for a bowel action, with an overwhelming urge to go, feeling you can’t hold on. Bowel frequency is having a bowel action very often, more than 3 times daily.
You might have a bowel action several times a day or get no warning when you need to go. Or perhaps even holding on for a minute or two is impossible. If you suffer from these issues, don’t despair; you’re far from alone. It’s very common, occurring in 1 in 20 Australians – that’s well over a million Aussies who have difficulty controlling their bowel.
Bowel frequency and urgency is often not talked about. Many people silently cope with the symptoms for years, missing out on the things they enjoy because they feel too embarrassed to seek help. Often, they assume nothing can be done. But when left untreated, these issues can affect all areas of life – from work and exercise to social outings and intimacy. You might find yourself always planning around toilet access, wearing pads ‘just in case’, or avoiding activities altogether.
Don't suffer in silence.
There’s no need to go through this alone. Our experienced postgraduate qualified pelvic health physiotherapists are trained in treating bowel frequency and urgency issues, and the good news is that most people with these conditions can make real improvements. So, remember, at Pelvic Health Matters we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Over 1.4 million Australians have difficulty controlling their bowel, yet most don’t do anything about it. But the good news is that we can treat it successfully.
Common signs & symptoms of bowel frequency & urgency
We’re all unique, but if you suffer from bowel frequency and urgency, you’re probably familiar with some of the following.
- Having a bowel action more than 3 times a day
- Rushing to the toilet for a bowel action with an overwhelming urge to go
- Feeling anxious when you get an urge
- Wearing a liner or pad for protection
- Avoiding places that don’t have a toilet nearby, e.g. the park
- Avoiding going for a coffee or eating out with friends
- Feeling self-conscious about the number of times you visit the toilet
Risk factors & causes of bowel frequency & urgency
- Pregnancy
- Childbirth especially perineal tear and episiotomy
- Loose stool
- Constipation
- Damage to the anal sphincter muscles
- Weak pelvic floor muscles
- Poor bowel routine and toileting habits
- Bowel Surgery
- Altered rectal and anal sensation
- Diet
- Ageing
- Anxiety/stress
- Sensitised nervous system
- Radiation therapy
- Medications
- Neurological conditions, e.g. Parkinson's Disease, MS or stroke.
- Inflammatory bowel disease, e.g. Crohn's disease
- Irritable bowel syndrome
Our Proven Pathway to Treating Bowel Frequency & Urgency
Discover what matters
You’re assessed as a whole person
Our first step is understanding you – not just your symptoms, but the whole picture. So, your postgraduate qualified pelvic health physiotherapist will collect the following information:
- QUESTIONNAIRE: You’ll complete a pelvic health questionnaire online before your first visit. This helps us understand about your history, current health concerns and what matters to you.
- 1-on-1 CONSULTATION: Here, we’ll take the time to learn about you and your bowel problem. We believe a holistic approach enables us to understand how your specific physical, emotional and lifestyle factors influence your pelvic health.
- THOROUGH ASSESSMENT: This includes a pelvic floor examination, a bowel diary to track your stool consistency, frequency and urgency and questionnaires to understand your thoughts, feelings and environment.
- CONNECTING THE DOTS: Now that we’ve discovered so much about you and your bowel frequency and urgency issues, we can explore how it all fits together. For example, you might discover how loose stool and worrying about making it to the toilet on time are contributing to your bowel issues.
- SET GOALS: We’ll help you set meaningful pelvic health goals such as:
- Say yes to coffee with friends
- Not worry about getting to the toilet on time
- Feel confident to leave the house
- Take my grandkids to the park, even when there’s no public toilet
Restore what matters
You’ll have a personalised pelvic health plan.
This is where the action happens. Together, we’ll choose the best research-proven treatment options for your lifestyle. You’ll learn how your bowel works, what’s not working and how to improve your bowel control.
Together, we’ll look at your bowel diary and give you advice about your stool consistency and bowel habits. You’ll also learn strategies to calm your nervous system and bowel. This might include general relaxation and bowel urge suppression.
Next, we’ll start Pelvic Floor Muscle Training. You’ll learn new skills and connect with hidden muscles you probably didn’t know existed. You’ll have an individualised program based on your needs. And you’ll learn how to use your muscles when required —especially on the way to the toilet. We’ll also help improve the strength and endurance of your pelvic floor muscles and ensure your bowel emptying is effective. Plus, we’ll provide excellent resources and tools to help you progress.
ABOUT YOUR APPOINTMENTS: Together, we’ll work out how often we should see each other. We’ll agree on what works best for you, your commitments and your finances.
Enjoy what matters
You’ll be living your best life.
The last step is ensuring you achieve all the meaningful goals you set at the beginning of your journey. As things improve, you might also find you can embrace new possibilities you hadn’t considered, such as planning a holiday or taking up a new hobby. You’ll be equipped with the skills to ensure bowel control in all situations – without having to return for appointments.
Life doesn’t always go to plan, and if things shift, we're always here to support you with a little ‘reset’ whenever you need. You may have a nasty flu, your bowels could play up – or perhaps pregnancy or childbirth has made bowel control even trickier. Whatever the case, we’ll always be here to help you.
Read about Rita 72 yrs, Evelyn 54 yrs, Courtney 38 yrs, Pallav 46 yrs
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Pelvic Health Matters
New name.
Same exceptional care.
Formerly known as Women’s & Men’s Health Physiotherapy, our new name reflects both what we believe in and what we do. We have an unwavering belief that pelvic health matters for everyone, at every stage of life.
Same phone number: 03 8823 8300
New email: physio@pelvichealth.com.au