Perhaps you have read or have been told by your health professional to ‘just do your pelvic floor muscle exercises’? Perhaps you have tried to do pelvic floor muscle exercises after googling how to but you are not sure if you are doing them correctly or feel that they don’t work! Perhaps you are male and did not realise that pelvic floor muscles are important for you too…

Intus surgeon Dr Deborah Wright, from the University of Otago, said pre-operative vaccination could support safe elective surgery in New Zealand, by significantly reducing the risk of Covid-19 complications in patients if a significant outbreak occurred while they are being prepared for surgery. Click to find out more.

Faecal incontinence is defined as the involuntary loss of faecal material from the bowel. It can occur passively, without awareness or it may be preceded by urgency.

Polyps are one of the most common conditions affecting the colon and retcum, occuring in 15-20% of the adult population. They are abnormal growths in the lining of the large intestine (colon) which protrude into the intestinal canal. Find out more and how to manage them with Intus.

Our consultant dietitians at Intus have a specialist interest in gastrointestinal health, including irritable bowel syndrome and low FODMAP diets. We successfully provides patients with effective and practical strategies to manage IBS symptoms.

Crohn's disease is a lifelong condition in which parts of the digestive system become inflamed. The wall of one or more segments of the gastrointestinal tract becomes thickened, inflamed and swollen.

Ulcerative colitis is one type of a condition called inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). New Zealand has the third highest rate of inflammatory bowel disease in the world with the number increasing at an alarming rate. It is estimated to affect 15,000 New Zealanders. Find out more with Intus.

Over 80% of people will experience rectal bleeding at some point in their lifetime. The causes of such bleeds are multiple and most often the underlying problem is not a serious one. However, this is not always the case – bleeding from your bowels should always be reported to your doctor so that an accurate assessment of your bleeding can be made.

Barrett’s oesophagus is when the cells lining the lower part of your oesophagus (gullet) gets damaged by acid and bile repeatedly coming up from your stomach.

A pilonidal sinus is a small hole or tunnel in the skin at the top of the buttocks, where they divide (the natal cleft). Most people with a pilonidal sinus don’t notice it until it becomes infected and causes symptoms.

Non-alcoholic steatosis (NASH) is a very common condition in New Zealand and is seen particularly in overweight, diabetic patients with elevated cholesterol.

An ano-rectal fistula is an abnormal communication or tract between the rectum and perineum with an opening at each end. Faeces enter the track from the anus and provoke chronic infection, which prevents the fistula from healing. The faeces and inflammatory fluid discharge from the other end of the track on the skin beside the anus.

Haemorrhoids are normal, but with increased pressure in the anal canal or tissue laxity they can become engorged and cause a number of symptoms.

Rectal prolapse refers to a condition where the rectum (lower part of the bowel) telescopes upon itself and sometimes through the anus (back passage). Learn more about management at Intus.

A hernia occurs when there is a weakness in the layers of the abdominal wall and abdominal contents (such as part of the intestines) protrude through this weakness. Learn how Intus treates hernias.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacteria which infects the stomach lining. The chemicals it produces cause inflammation of the stomach lining. Infection appears to be lifelong unless treated with mediations to eradicate the bacteria.

It is usually normal to not go every day, or go anywhere from 3 times a day to 3 times a week. Constipation however means a hard dry stool that is difficult to pass, or passing less than 3 bowel movements a week. It can cause discomfort and bloating for many who suffer with it.

Bowel cancer is common in New Zealand. There are multiple potential causes and prevention is our goal. However, for those with a diagnosis of cancer there are multiple treatment options that Intus can guide you through.

The pelvic floor muscles are a series of muscles that form a sling or hammock across the opening of the pelvis. These muscles, together with their surrounding tissue, are responsible for keeping all the pelvic organs in place and functioning correctly.

A sigmoidoscopy is an examination of the rectum and the lower end of the large bowel by means of a flexible tube (endoscope). It is the same as a colonoscopy except that it does not examine all of the colon.