Pessary 101: What's a Prolapse?
POP occurs when the connective tissue in the pelvic floor becomes weaker. This could be your pelvic floor muscles OR the ligaments in your pelvic floor. When the connective tissue weakens, it can cause a descent of one or more of the pelvic floor organs, meaning that they will rest lower than they typically do.
POP can involve your bladder, uterus or rectum (or any combination at once). When the bladder or uterus prolapse, they will push into the front wall of the vaginal canal. If the rectum is involved, it will push into the back wall. If the prolapse is severe enough, the pressure could be enough that the vaginal wall will bulge outside of the vaginal opening.
POP can commonly occur after childbirth, with increasing age leading up to menopause, or in those with connective tissue disorders.
COMMON SYMPTOMS OF PELVIC ORGAN PROLAPSE
Valginal heaviness, bulging, sagging, or dragging
Difficulty emptying bladder or bowels
Urinary/fecal incontinence
Urinary/fecal urgency or frequency
Painful or obstructive intercourse
TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR PROLAPSE MANAGEMENT
Pelvic floor muscle training
Lifestyle changes
Pessary
Surgical management
Wait and see
Why should I use a pessary?
A pessary is a great, non-surgical treatment option for pessary management that can provide immediate relief from symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Here’s why you might consider a pessary:
Non-Surgical Solution: A pessary is a non-invasive, conservative management option. It can significantly enhance your daily comfort and functionality without the risks and recovery time associated with surgery.
Immediate Symptom Relief: Pessaries provide immediate support to the pelvic organs, alleviating symptoms like pelvic pressure, heaviness, and urinary incontinence. This support can help you resume your daily activities with greater ease and confidence.
Personalized Care at wellbe: At wellbe, we take the time to ensure a perfect fit for your pessary, providing a comfortable and supportive experience. Our pelvic health physiotherapist provides custom pessary fitting tailored to your unique needs, making the process smooth and reassuring.
This blog post was written by wellbe’s pelvic health physiotherapist Amber Watkins. Book your first session with Amber here and learn more about Pessaries here.