Pessary Fitting
As part of a comprehensive plan of care, a custom-fit pessary can give you the support you need to do the activities you love without symptoms or surgery.
A pessary is a silicone device that is inserted vaginally to help support the pelvic organs internally. There are many different types and styles, and we can work with you to figure out the best for your anatomy and lifestyle while we also address other issues that could be leading to your symptoms to maximize your overall pelvic health.
If you’ve been told “Never lift anything over 15 pounds again” or “There’s nothing you can do besides surgery,” rest assured there are other options and we are here to work with you to figure out what is going to serve you best!
Don’t settle for a restrictive lifestyle or surgery as the only options if you are living with pelvic organ prolapse or urinary leakage!
At Tri Cities Pelvic Health, we don’t believe in a cookie-cutter approach to care. In addition to assessing your lifestyle, movements, strength, flexibility, coordination, and more, we will provide information on whether you would be a good candidate for a pessary. It’s not the only tool we have, but for those who need it, it can be a game-changer!
Frequently Asked Questions About Pessary Fittings
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Most of the time, a pessary will not change the prolapse itself. However, it is a relatively low-risk and minimally invasive way to live your life without being held back by symptoms. Think about a pessary like eyeglasses. Glasses don’t “fix” your vision, but they make it so that any impairments you have aren’t bothersome. In the same way, a pessary provides the support you need so that your prolapse and/or leakage aren’t ruling your life. In some cases, it can actually support your body in making structural change over time, but that isn’t always our goal.
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We do a thorough assessment of your anatomy and any structural changes such as organ descent you are experiencing. We then take this information along with your goals and lifestyle factors to choose which would be the best choice for you. Then, we make sure to follow up with you to make sure it is providing the relief you are seeking, and if there are any concerns, we may try different sizes or styles.
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This can vary! For some people, they only wear it during specific activities such as high-intensity exercise. For others, they wear it continuously for support. Depending on the style you have, it may need to be removed for things like intercourse as well.
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It shouldn’t! If you have a properly fitting pessary, you should essentially not be able to feel anything at all except relief of your symptoms. Occasionally there is a short adjustment period, but even then, it should be minimally noticeable. If this is not the case, we would work with you to figure out a different solution, whether that is a different size or style of pessary, or options outside of pessary use.
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Not at all! We look at a pessary as just one potential part of your care plan. We want to also make sure your strength, coordination, pressure management, and bowel/bladder health are optimal. This will ensure that you feel the best with your current symptoms and also prevent any worsening of your concerns down the road.