Ask Mentor Glossary How to Use Intermittent Catheterization A pessary is a vaginal insert that has evolved over centuries to become a widely used medical device to relieve the discomfort of a cystocele, a rectocele, a uterine or bladder prolapse, or the problems associated with urinary incontinence.
Pessaries come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials.
They are designed to be comfortable for long-term usage. Click to enlarge For many women, pessaries provide a convenient option for alleviating incontinence. A doctor or nurse inserts the pessary into the vagina, where it is positioned against the vaginal wall and urethra. This creates pressure that repositions the urethra, thereby reducing stress leakage. If you use a pessary, you should be alert for pain on urination, cloudy or bad-smelling urine, fever, and chills, which can be signs of possible vaginal and urinary tract infections.