10/13/2026
Five words to say at your next appointment when you get told that what you're dealing with is normal. I've had patients come to me after that exact appointment.
Here are the five words: "What are my options here?"
That's it. It's not confrontational. It's not accusing anyone of anything. But it's really hard to answer that with "nothing."
Because there's a difference between being told something is common and being told there's nothing you can do about it.
Leaking may be common. Getting up in the night to go p*e may be common. Having pain with s*x may be common. But common doesn't mean normal, and neither of those mean you can't do anything about it.
And if you want another option, you could ask: "Who would you send your sister to?"
That question typically gets a different response than just asking for a referral, because you're asking your provider to think of a specific person versus just a category.
The last thing I'll say is this. In many states you don't need a referral to see a pelvic floor physical therapist. You can start care whenever you're ready. A lot of people are waiting on permission that they don't actually need.
So write those five words down before your next appointment. And if you've already been told what you're experiencing is common and you left without a plan of action, book an appointment with us. We offer pelvic floor physical therapy in Atlanta and virtual pelvic health coaching worldwide. Link in bio.
Please note: this is education, not individual medical advice.