Ottawa Pessary Clinic
We are Ottawa’s known, private physiotherapy clinic. We are devoted to the fitting of pessaries for women with various pelvic health conditions.
Have you noticed a bulge or heavy feeling in your pelvic region?
Were you diagnosed with Pelvic Organ Prolapse?
Do you struggle with bladder leakage when you run, jump, laugh, or sneeze?
Do you want to avoid or postpone Prolapse surgery?
Do you experience symptoms of heaviness, bulging, or pressure?
If you said ‘yes’ to any of these questions, we can help you prevent your prolapse from becoming worse, treat your incontinence symptoms, and help you live your most confident & happy life!
At Harmony Physiotherapy & Wellness, we can assess and properly fit you for a vaginal pessary support device.
A pessary is a flexible, removable, silicone device that’s inserted into the vaginal canal. Pessaries provide support to the pelvic organs: the bladder, uterus, and rectum. They are usually prescribed to help with a prolapse of one of these pelvic organs into the vagina, and can help keep the prolapse from becoming worse, as well as helping symptoms become more manageable, such as bladder & bowel leakage!
Pessaries come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and are as varied as each of us! A pessary is specially fitted to you and the shape is selected to best help treat and manage your symptoms. Pessaries can also be appealing as they are a non-invasive alternative to surgical treatments.
At Harmony Physiotherapy & Wellness, we can help you find the type of pessary right for you and fit the pessary to ensure that it is as comfortable and effective as possible.
Learn about Pessary
What is it?
A pessary is a removable device that is inserted into the vagina to support the pelvic organs (bladder, uterus, and bowels)
Who is it appropriate for?
1) Women who have pelvic organ prolapse: descent of the pelvic organs
2) Women who have stress urinary incontinence: leakage of urine with activity (eg. sneezing, laughing, running)
When is it used?
A pessary may be worn constantly or inserted only during activities that produce symptoms (eg. during exercise)
Why use it?
Improve the quality of life
Return to activities of daily living and previously enjoyed hobbies
Decrease heaviness, pressure, and bulging
Reduce urinary incontinence
Improve sexual function
About the procedure…
Pessary fitting is a procedure that should be carried out by a qualified healthcare provider with specialized training, such as doctors, nurses, or physiotherapists. During this process, the healthcare professional will conduct an internal examination to determine the appropriate size of the pessary to start with. The choice of pessary shape will be based on your individual anatomy, symptoms, and the type and severity of prolapse you may have. Additionally, various factors, including your age (menstruating or post-menopausal), sexual activity, and whether you'll be responsible for self-insertion and removal or have periodic assistance from a healthcare provider, will be taken into consideration when determining the most suitable pessary for your needs.
It's important to note that it's not uncommon to try several different sizes or shapes during clinical visits before finding the optimal fit. Furthermore, over the course of your life, you may require different pessaries. Sometimes, the vaginal walls adapt to the pessary over time, necessitating a larger size. In other cases, a pessary that initially worked well may later become less effective, leading to the need for adjustments. Experiencing these adjustments should not be disheartening; it simply means that some exploration may be necessary to find the right solution.
When fitting a pessary for a client, We ensure that it is sufficiently large to support the pelvic organs without exerting undue pressure on the vaginal tissues, which could increase the risks associated with pessary use.
Therefore, it is essential to consult with a professional to undergo a proper pessary fitting. Avoid purchasing pessaries online, as they are not one-size-fits-all and must be specifically fitted to your unique body and needs.