Vaginal Support Pessaries: Indications for Use and Fitting Strategies
SERIES Vaginal Support Pessaries: Indications for Use and Fitting Strategies Shanna Atnip and Katharine O’Dell ESSARIES P elvic floor disorders are © 2012 Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates common in women, and as the population ages, Atnip, S., & O’Dell, K. (2012). Vaginal support pessaries: Indications for use and these disorders may be fitting strategies. Urologic Nursing, 32(3), 114-125. Pseen more frequently by health ERIES ON care providers (Nygaard et al., Flexible silicone vaginal support pessaries offer a low-risk, effective option for S 2008). When pelvic symptoms treatment of symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse. This first article in a three-part series summarizes clinical recommendations and current evidence related to are associated with loss of struc- pessary indications, choice, and fitting. tural support of the pelvic organs and vagina, vaginal support pes- PECIAL Key Words: Pelvic organ prolapse, pessary, indications, fitting. saries offer an important option S for relief (American College of Objectives: Obstetricians & Gynecologists 1. List the symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse that may be successfully treated [ACOG], 2007). with a vaginal support pessary. Historically, vaginal pessaries have been used to manage pelvic 2. Discuss the various types of pessaries and their uses to treat pelvic organ floor relaxation and were made prolapse. from a variety of materials, 3. Outline the pessary selection process and steps to pessary fitting. including fruit, metal, porcelain, rubber, and acrylic (Shah, Sultan, genic, and washable, and can gen- & Thakar, 2006). Modern pessaries erally be sterilized using an auto- are made from silicone, acrylic, clave, boiling water, or a cold ster- Shanna Atnip, MSN, WHNP-BC, is a Nurse latex, or rubber.
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