There are things that we sometimes wake up late to in life. I hope, through writing this column, that one of those things for many readers, is the havoc that ultra-processed foods wreak in the body over years. But today I’m NOT talking about food (for a change).

As a doctor, I’m admitting that I’ve woken up late to the concept of pelvic and women’s health physiotherapists. I didn’t even know it was a thing. But now that I know and have witnessed the results, I feel compelled to talk about it. 

Many female patients suffer from varying degrees of incontinence. Many more, of all ages, suffer from painful sexual intercourse. And for both doctors and their female patients alike, it’s often a challenge addressing these issues because there isn’t necessarily a product or pill to fix them. Add to that the shyness of speaking about these issues and it’s no surprise that many women suffer in silence.

Petro Zietsman, a physiotherapist with a special interest and training in pelvic and women’s health, has joined the Hanya House wellness collaboration. This means that, together with me and Dr. Allison van der Riet, we can take an even more holistic approach to the root causes of women’s health symptoms and work together to reverse them. 

So as well as working to repair a patient’s hormone health and function, me and Dr. Allison can now complement our approach with Petro’s rehabilitation of the intimate area, specifically the pelvic floor. This has made a life-changing difference for female patients, from their ability to exercise to the quality of their sexual experiences.

The take-away today: Don’t suffer in silence. There are passionate female health professionals out there who want to work with you to mend problems that are actually quite common. And now that we also have pelvic physiotherapists, the outcomes are even better! 

Oh, and stay away from the ultra-processed foods people (I had to put that in because this is a food medicine column, after all). 

Petro Zietsman is a Pelvic and Woman’s Health Physiotherapist. This includes pelvic floor function, continence, pelvic organ prolapses, pregnancy, post-partum recovery, post-operative care, pelvic pain, and sexual dysfunction. She is not limited to only treating pelvic patients and still enjoys musculoskeletal, sport, and post-surgical rehabilitation. To contact Petro Zietsman: petro.ziets@gmail.com or 083 320 9435