Which Pessary is Right for Me?
Pessary fitting must be completed by an appropriately trained health care professional (specially trained doctors, nurses or physiotherapists). The health care professional will do an internal exam to get an…
Pessaries and Pelvic Floor Muscles
Today we are going to discuss common questions regarding pessary use and pelvic floor muscles. A question I am often asked by clients and fellow physiotherapists alike is, “Can I…
Pelvic Organ Prolapse
What is it? Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is when any of the pelvic organs- the bladder, urethra, uterus, vagina, rectum, or small intestine- sit lower than normal due to tissue…
Prolapse Symptom Management – Rest and Recovery Positions
During the day, gravity puts downward pressure on the pelvic floor muscles and abdominal and pelvic organs, such that by the end of the day, your prolapse symptoms of heaviness,…
Bladder Emptying Techniques
With pelvic organ prolapse (POP), it is imperative that one avoids straining to empty her bladder or bowels, as extra downward pressure on the pelvic floor and pelvic organs can…
Instances When a Pessary May Not Work
Use of a pessary can be life changing for the better when it fits well and does what it's supposed to. Studies have shown that as many as 90% of…
Exercise and Pelvic Organ Prolapse
“Tell me what exercises I can and cannot do!” my clients beg of me. I wish it were that simple. You have been diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse (POP), but…
How do I Know if my Pessary is Working?
When trialing pessaries, women sometimes ask, “How do I know if the pessary is working?”. Pessaries do not directly fix prolapses or the mechanical breakdown behind stress urinary incontinence; rather,…
What is a Pessary?
History of Pessaries Did you know the use of pessaries for pelvic organ prolapse dates back to the days of Hippocrates?! The use of pessaries was even documented in early…
Medical Conditions that may Prevent Pessary Use – Part I
Pessaries are used as a conservative management approach to women’s pelvic health conditions including pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI). In general, using a pessary is safe.…