Pessaries: Understanding & Using Vaginal Devices for Incontinence

Pessaries are medical devices used to treat urinary leaking in women. The University of California San Francisco Medical Center reports that pessaries are safe and easy-to-use solutions for women suffering from incontinence.

Identification

• A pessary is a small, rigid ring made of silicone that women insert and remove on their own. Physicians determine the specific size of the device based upon the severity of each patient's condition.

Function

• When inserted into the vagina, the pessary places pressure upon the urethra. The pressure prevents urine from leaking.

Use

• To insert the pessary, patients insert the ring into the vagina as far as it will go, removing it by taking hold of a notch and pulling it out. The pessary requires regularly cleaning and can be worn for up to a week, even during sleep or sexual intercourse.

Considerations

• A physician must fit pessaries for patients before they are used. After the initial fitting, the physician routinely examines the device to ensure that it continues to fit properly.

Side Effects

• Vaginal discharge often increases from pessary use, but this is a normal and harmless side effect. Symptoms like discomfort or rubbing while the pessary is in place, spotting or bleeding are more serious side effects that require medical attention.