Pessary Specialist

The Woman’s Center

Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery located in Mesa, AZ and serving the greater Phoenix, AZ area.

A pessary is a medical device that fits comfortably into your vagina to help relieve symptoms associated with prolapse or urinary incontinence. Find out if a pessary is right for you by booking an evaluation with Ryan Stratford, MD, MBA, FACOG, Kelly Kantartzis, MD, MS, FACOG, or Peter Jeppson, MD, FACOG at The Woman’s Center in Mesa, Arizona, today. You can conveniently schedule an evaluation at this Phoenix-area clinic directly through the website, or you can call the office to speak with a team member.

480-834-5111

Pessary

Why do I need a pessary?

A pessary is a small plastic device that fits into your vaginal canal and supports your uterus, vagina, bladder, or rectum (depending on your diagnosis). Your urogynecologist may recommend getting a pessary if you have any of the following conditions:

Stress urinary incontinence
Cystocele prolapse
Rectocele prolapse
Uterine prolapse
Vaginal vault prolapse

A pessary can even be beneficial for pregnant women who are struggling with bladder leakage, which is common during your third trimester, due to added pressure on your pelvic organs.

Which type of pessary do I need?

There are several types of pessaries, based on your specific condition and the severity of your related symptoms. Almost every type of pessary is offered at The Woman’s Center and include:

Ring pessary (circle-shaped and commonly recommended)
Gellhorn pessary (disc-shaped for severe prolapse issues)
Gehrung pessary (U-shaped and used for advanced uterine prolapse)
Cube pessary (uses suction to help with advanced stages of prolapse)

These pessaries rest near the top of your vaginal canal and help keep your reproductive, urinary, and digestive organs in place by supporting them the way your muscles should.

Are there any side effects of a pessary?

Pessaries are safe, effective, and fast-acting solutions to help women overcome the most complex of prolapse or urinary incontinence problems. Your dedicated practitioner may recommend this conservative treatment before discussing surgical repairs.

You can comfortably wear your pessary for extended periods without experiencing any severe side effects.

It’s possible to notice an increase in vaginal discharge, new feminine odor, or even sudden vaginal irritation. But these issues are minor and nothing to be alarmed about.

Your caring physician at The Woman’s Center can show you how to safely remove and replace your pessary on your own, so you can clean it about once a week.

Of course, if you’re not comfortable doing so, you’re welcome to come into have your pessary removed, cleaned, and reinserted at various intervals.

Book your pessary evaluation at The Woman’s Center today. Click on the online scheduling feature or call the office directly.

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