How do I know if I need a pessary?
You will be prescribed a pessary if you have a mild to moderate vaginal prolapse.
Early on, it may be hard to know if you have a vaginal prolapse and your GP at a
routine PAP smear, or a women's health physiotherapist during an internal examination
who may first detects early signs.
How is The Fix Program different in the prescription of pessaries?
Your treatment begins with an assessment with a women's health physiotherapist.
This will always involve an internal vaginal examination. This internal examination
will allow for the physiotherapist to properly assess any weakness, spasm or change
to your pelvic floor muscles, and examine your vaginal structure and detect the
presence of any "bulges" or prolapses. This can only be done properly through an
internal examination.
Our women's health physiotherapists are extensively trained in the prescription
and fitting of pessaries. Your vaginal measurements will be taken and depending
on the degree and organ (bladder, uterus or bowel) that has prolapsed, the correct
pessary will be prescribed. A pessary is only prescribed if it is essential to your
treatment and recovery.
What should I expect?
You do not need a referral to see our women's health physiotherapists, but you may
be referred by your GP or gynaecologist. After speaking with you over the phone
about your pelvic floor problem, we will book you an hour long assessment.
The assessment will involve taking a very detailed history about your pelvic floor
habits, from bladder and bowel control, to sex, to lower back and pelvic pain. An
internal vaginal examination will follow. We then create a treatment plan together
with you.
Treatments after this time will be different for each woman. Treatments may involve
a weekly or fortnightly session where we:
- fit your pessary
- teach you specific pelvic floor muscles exercises while wearing the pessary
- educate you on good pelvic floor habits
- how to remove and insert your pessary
- look after your pessary
Pessaries are inexpensive with prices ranging from $40-$200. If fitted correctly,
you will not even notice that they are inside your vagina. Playing sport and having
sexual intercourse wearing most pessaries is still possible.
Incontinence symptoms associated with
vaginal prolapse, bulging feelings, pelvic pain, and back pain have all been shown
to improve in most women with management or vaginal prolapses in this manner.
If symptoms do not improve, we can discuss with you the pros and cons of surgical
repair and refer you to a Surgical Gynaecologist.
