How to find the right Pessaries AI guide
Written by an AI model from its trained knowledge.
What the AI looks for in Pessaries
- Clinician fitting
- Clinical pessaries should be sized with a fitting set by a clinician; there is no universal size. Too small falls out, and too large causes pain and erosion.
- Type by problem
- Ring or ring-with-support types are first-line for most prolapse, Gellhorn, donut and cube types suit more advanced prolapse, and incontinence dish or ring types suit stress incontinence. Shape determines both support and whether the user can remove it herself.
- Material
- Prefer medical-grade silicone. Silicone lasts longer, holds less odor and avoids latex allergy.
- Self-management
- Choose a type the user can remove and clean if she prefers to self-manage. Self-care reduces clinic visits, but some shapes are hard to remove without help.
Brands that matter
- CooperSurgical (Milex): The broadest clinical pessary range, including fitting kits.
- Poise Impressa: Over-the-counter disposable bladder support for stress incontinence, sized with a kit.
What to avoid
- Buying a clinical pessary in a guessed size without a fitting.
- Wearing any pessary continuously without scheduled checks for erosion.
Questions
Can I buy a pessary without seeing a doctor?
Only OTC stress-incontinence inserts like Poise Impressa are designed for self-sizing. Prolapse pessaries need a clinician's fitting.