A silicone pessary is a flexible device worn in the vagina for a period of time determined by your healthcare professional. It supports certain pelvic organs that have descended (prolapsed) and/or helps with urinary incontinence. The pessary may be suggested for diagnostic or therapeutic reasons.
A pessary provides support for certain pelvic organs that have “fallen” (prolapsed) by repositioning these organs back to their original position. Some pessaries are specifically designed to stabilize the urethra in stress urinary incontinence (loss of urine during coughing, laughing, strenuous exercise). Some pessarcise must be removed nightly by patient. Most pessaries, however, are inserted and removed by a healthcare professional. Anyone wearing a pessary must have frequent (every 4-6 weeks) checkups. At these visits the pessary is removed and cleaned by the healthcare professional and vaginal vault examined to be sure they are no contraindications to reinserting the pessary.
The benefits to wearing a pessary are as follows:
• Non-invasive solution to the problem
• Conservative therapy
• Help determine the proper surgical procedure
• Extend quality of life in non-surgical situations.
Milex silicone pessaries are made of state-of-the-art medical grade silicone. This ensures a longer usage life, as well as less chance of an allergic reaction. You will need to be seen initially three (3) times the first month of usage and then every 2-3 months thereafter. The time may vary so please ask your healthcare professional for more details.
As with any medical device or procedure, please contact your healthcare professional if you have any questions.
Specific items to call about are:
• Pain on urination or bowel movements
• Vaginal discharge and/or odor
• Inability to urinate or have bowel movement.
A properly fitted pessary should not be felt once in position. A woman wearing a pessary should be able to continue her normal activities. It is not unusual for a healthcare professional to have to try several different sizes and/or shapes of pessaries before determining the one which assures patient comfort and relief of symptoms. Refitting with another size or even a different pessary is sometimes necessary.
There are some pessaries which may be worn even during intercourse. There are also two pessaries made for easy patient removal. If you are going to be fit with a pessary, be sure to let your healthcare professional know if you are sexually active.
1. Trimo-San helps restore and maintain vaginal acidity. 2. Trimo-San coats the walls of the vagina with a lubricating film that helps reduce odor-causing bacteria.
Some pessaries contain metal components and must be removed prior to having and X-Ray or MRI. If you are wearing a pessary and have to undergo one of these procedures, be sure to check with your healthcare professional to see if your pessary contains any metal. Pessaries will not affect airport metal detectors.
After thoroughly considering your healthcare professional’s advice and information in this brochure, if you would like to begin wearing a supportive pessary to correct your medical condition, please call your healthcare professional for an appointment.
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