Test: Do you suffer from pelvic floor dysfunction?

Not sure whether your symptoms are related to a pelvic floor problem? Not sure whether pelvic floor physiotherapy would be helpful for you? Take this screening test to find out.

Instructions: Check all answers that apply

• I sometimes have pelvic pain (in the genitals, perineum, pubic area, or bladder region, or pain with urination) that exceeds a '3' on a pain scale of 1 to 10, where 10 is the worst pain imaginable.
• I remember falling on my coccyx, lower back or buttocks (even as a child).

Urinary symptoms

I sometimes experience one or more of the following urinary symptoms:

• Accidental loss of urine
• I feel unable to completely empty my bladder
• Having to empty my bladder within minutes of a previous void
• Pain or burning during urination
• Difficulty starting or frequent stopping/starting of urine flow

• I often or occasionally have to get up to urinate twice or more per night.
• I sometimes feel a sensation of increased pelvic pressure, or the sensation that my pelvic organs are slipping or falling.
• I have a history of or pain in my lower back, hip, groin, or coccyx, or I have sciatica.

Bowel symptoms

I sometimes experience one or more of the following bowel symptoms:

• Loss of bowel control
• I feel unable to completely empty my bowels
• Straining or pain with a bowel movement
• Difficulty initiating a bowel movement

• I sometimes experience pain or discomfort with sexual activity or intercourse.
• Sexual activity increases one or more of my other symptoms.
• Prolonged sitting increases my symptoms.

Source: Cozean Pelvic Dysfunction Screening Protocol, by Nicole Cozean, PT, DPT, WCS, CSCS and Jesse Cozean, MBA.