I began experiencing pelvic floor problems in my early 40s, around 10 years after childbirth, which had involved a third-degree tear.

Leaks had always been an issue during high-impact activities, like trampolining, but that was easy enough to avoid. However, when I realised I was starting to avoid even light exercise because I was worried about leaking, I knew it was time to do something about it.

I suspect I may have been one of the most reluctant people to start a pelvic floor programme!

I hate exercise—especially when the rewards are gradual rather than instant—and I'll find almost any excuse to avoid it. Whether it was tiredness, a hectic schedule, work, family life or simply not having enough hours in the day, there was always something else that seemed more important.

I'd also tried pelvic floor exercises before, but I wasn't convinced they were making any real difference.

The West 6 Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation Programme was different.

Rather than feeling like another thing I had to squeeze into my day, the exercises became part of my routine. The structured progression meant I wasn't just repeating the same exercises over and over again—I was gradually building strength, endurance and coordination, knowing each exercise was preparing me for the next.

One of the biggest things I learned was that recovery is a marathon, not a sprint.

There were times when progress felt slow, but I also learned that setbacks don't mean you've failed. They simply mean you keep going. If one exercise or approach wasn't working for me, there was always another way to progress.

One thing I particularly valued was the opportunity to regularly check my technique. Like many women, I often questioned whether I was doing the exercises correctly, but I was usually doing much better than I thought. Having that reassurance gave me the confidence to keep going and helped me recognise the progress I was making.

There's still a little way to go, but the programme has shown me that I'm much closer to my goal than I ever realised.