A pessary is a silicone device that can be placed into the vagina to support the pelvic organs.
What is a Pessary?
A pessary needs to be fitted and followed up by an experienced clinician. Not all physiotherapists provide this service.
A pessary is a silicone device that can be placed into the vagina to support the pelvic organs (bladder, uterus, bowel or intestines). It can help to reduce or resolve symptoms associated with pelvic organ prolapse and give support to stretched tissues whilst strengthening the pelvic floor muscles underneath.
A pessary needs to be fitted and followed up by an experienced clinician, therefore not all physiotherapists provide this service. Avoid ‘guessing’ your size and buying online as serious complications from pessary use can arise if mismanaged.
What to Expect
Prior to a pessary fitting a vaginal assessment is required to ensure you are a good candidate, this includes assessing the skin quality, prolapse severity and your ability to self-manage your pessary.
At Anatomy Physiotherapy, we have multiple different shapes and sizes of pessaries. We have the unique service of fitting kits to ensure we find the best fit for you. The fitting of a pessary can still sometimes take 2 or more trials, as once a pessary is fitted, we will ask you to go and see how it feels and performs in your everyday life.
The Benefits of a Pessary
A pessary can help assist muscle and tissue recovery postnatal whilst performing pelvic floor muscle exercises. Sometimes pregnancy or childbirth cause changes that unfortunately cannot be reversed therefore a pessary may be the missing piece to getting you back to the activities you love. The main purpose of a pessary is to reduce or resolve the symptoms that arise from pelvic organ prolapse or delay or prevent surgical intervention. These symptoms vary depending on type of prolapse. Most common symptoms are urinary incontinence, urgency, difficulty with emptying bowels or bladder, bulge, lump or pressure feeling at the vagina entrance or sexual pain.
Do I Need a Doctor’s Referral?
No. With your consent we will communicate with your medical team, making them aware of your pessary use and follow up appointments required. We have developed a protocol we recommend all clients follow for best results.