Unlike a medical pelvic exam, a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist does not use a speculum or perform PAP smears or prostate exams. The focus is on addressing your specific concerns while ensuring you feel comfortable throughout the process.

Many individuals seeking pelvic health physiotherapy have a history of trauma, negative experiences, or past discomfort related to the vulva, vagina, penis, testicles or rectum. While not everyone may feel comfortable sharing these experiences, your physiotherapist will always prioritize your comfort by proceeding slowly, maintaining open communication, and adjusting the approach based on your needs.

An internal exam provides the most detailed insight into your pelvic health, but it is always entirely optional.

It’s important to remember that any internal or external examination is based on your consent—whether at a physiotherapy clinic, a doctor’s office, a hospital, or even during childbirth. Informed consent means you are given clear information about the benefits, potential risks, and alternatives before making a decision that aligns with your comfort and preferences, without pressure or coercion. You also have the right to withdraw your consent at any time.

Throughout your assessment, your Pelvic Health Physiotherapist will maintain open communication with you to ensure that you feel safe, informed, and in control while working toward your personal health goals.

Absolutely! It is completely fine to have a pelvic health assessment while on your period. Since hormonal changes can affect vaginal tissues and symptoms, an evaluation during this time can provide valuable insights—especially if your concerns are linked to your menstrual cycle.

If an internal exam is part of your assessment, you will be asked to remove any menstrual products, such as a tampon or menstrual cup, beforehand and can replace them afterward. However, internal assessments are always optional and only performed with your consent. If you’re not comfortable with it during your period, we can focus on external assessments and revisit the internal exam another time if needed.

While much of pelvic health training and clinical experience has focused on cisgender women, your ORKA pelvic health physiotherapist is a dedicated ally of the LGBTQIA2+ community. The holistic, biopsychosocial approach they use applies to individuals of all genders; however, there are specific factors to consider for those undergoing gender affirmation therapy or surgery.

Our Pelvic Health Physiotherapist, Justine, is available to answer any questions you may have about these services. If she is unable to fully address your concerns, she will gladly connect you with a trusted local practitioner who has additional expertise in this area.

Justine also sees males for conditions related to urinary incontinence, pelvic pain, post surgical management (ie. post operative radical prostatectomy or vasectomy etc),  persisting low back pain or groin pain that has not resolved with traditional management.