A pessary is a medical device that is inserted and used in the vagina. This device supports the vaginal walls and helps to correct the position of the displaced pelvic organs. Generally you can insert and remove the pessary yourself, but you will still need to see your doctor for regular checkups and maintenance.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Part One: Inserting the Pessarium
Step 1. Wash your hands
Wash your hands with warm water and soap. After that, dry with a clean paper towel.
Step 2. Unpack the pessary
Open the plastic packaging or aluminum foil (aluminum foil). If the pessary is not in a sterile package, you should wash it with soap and water. Rinse and dry thoroughly.
Please note that pessaries are available in various sizes. The doctor will give you a pessary according to the size you need
Step 3. Fold the pessary in half
Hold the pessary by one side of the head and use your fingers to fold the pessary in half.
Check the pessary you are using. If you are using an open-ring pessary, you should notice any indentations (indentations) on the inside. If you are using a ring pessary with a support, you should notice a hollow area around the center of the support. These two areas are flexible points that need to be folded and you have to hold the ring between these points. The pessary can only be folded in that area
Step 4. Apply a water-based lubricant on the pessary
Use your finger to apply a dab of lubricant to the rim of the headless ring.
- Note that when you hold the pessary, the curved part of the pessary should be facing up, towards the ceiling.
- Lubricant should be applied to the entire edge of the folded part on the side opposite the head of the pessary. This edge is the part you will insert first.
Step 5. Spread your legs apart
Stand, sit, or lie down with your legs extended. The pessary can be inserted from any of these positions, so choose the one that is most comfortable for you.
- If you choose to sit or lie down, your knees should be bent and your feet should be spread as wide as possible without causing discomfort.
- If you prefer to stand and you are right-handed, place your left foot on a chair, bench, or closet with your right foot on the ground. Rest on your left foot when inserting the pessary.
- If you choose to stand and you are left-handed, place your right foot on a chair, bench, or closet with your left foot on the ground. Rest on your right foot when inserting the pessary.
Step 6. Stretch the labia
Use the fingers of the non-dominant hand to stretch the vaginal lips.
You should still hold the bent pessary in your dominant hand. Use your dominant hand to insert the pessary
Step 7. Insert the pessary slowly
Carefully push the folded, lubricated edge of the pessary into the vagina. Push as deep as possible without causing discomfort.
Note that the pessary must be inserted longitudinally (longitudinally) into the vagina
Step 8. Remove the pessary
The pessary should open and return to its normal shape when you release it.
If the pessary doesn't feel comfortable, use your index finger to rotate it. The tip of the head should be facing upwards and the pessary should not be felt once it is positioned properly
Step 9. Wash your hands again
Take your hands out of your vagina and wash them again with soap and warm water. Dry with paper towels.
This step ends the process of installing the pessary
Part 2 of 3: Part Two: Caring for the Pessarium
Step 1. Check the size of the pessary
A well-fitted, well-fitted pessary should keep you comfortable. To be precise, the pessary should be barely felt.
- You should also check the pessary's fit by applying pressure or trying to use the restroom. The pessary should not come off when the procedure is performed and you should not have any difficulty using the restroom after installation.
- If you've tried adjusting the placement of your pessary and that doesn't resolve your comfort or other concerns, the size or type of pessary may not be right for you. Consult this with your doctor.
Step 2. Clean the pessary regularly
You should remove the pessary at least once a week and clean it before putting it back on.
- Ideally, you should remove the pessary and clean it once a day. Some women even choose to take it off at night, clean it, and put it back on the next morning, but you should consult your doctor first to make sure that removing the pessary overnight is possible for your condition.
- When cleaning pessaries, use mild soap and warm water. Rinse and dry with a paper towel before putting it back in.
- If you are unable to remove and insert the pessary easily, you should visit your doctor every three months for a professional examination and cleaning. Never leave a pessary for more than three months in a row without cleaning.
Step 3. Clean the pessary if it comes off
While you should be able to urinate without difficulty, the pessary may fall off during defecation. If so, you will need to clean it thoroughly before reinstalling it.
- Check the toilet after each defecation to check whether the pessary is detached or not.
- If the pessary comes off, scrub it with mild soap and warm water until it's clean. Soak the pessary in isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) for 20 minutes. Wash again with soap and water, rinse, then dry before inserting into the vagina again.
Step 4. Schedule regular check-ups with your doctor
While you can remove, clean, and insert your own pessary at home, you should still schedule regular check-ups with your doctor every three to six months.
- The first examination should be done after approximately two weeks. A second examination should be performed within 3 months thereafter.
- Continue to have regular check-ups with the doctor every three months until a full year has passed. After using a pessary for a year, you can usually schedule checkups only two or three times a year.
Part 3 of 3: Part Three: Removing the Pessarium
Step 1. Wash your hands
Before inserting a pessary, wash your hands with mild soap and hot water. Dry with a clean paper towel until completely dry.
Step 2. Extend both legs
While standing, lying down, or sitting, keep your legs outstretched. You can use the same position as when inserting the pessary.
Remember to keep your legs extended and your knees bent. If standing, place your non-dominant foot on a bench and rest on it during the release process
Step 3. Insert your finger
Insert your index finger into the vagina and locate the periphery or lip of the pessary. Hook your fingertip under or above the lip of the pessary.
- More precisely, you should locate the head, indentation, or hole in the lip of the pessary and hook your finger to the area.
- Note that the pessary is just below the pubic bone.
Step 4. Tilt and drag
Use your finger to tilt the pessary slightly, then gently pull it until it comes out of the vagina.
- You only need to tilt the pessary about 30 degrees.
- Bending the pessary can help you remove it, but it won't bend as fully as it did when you put it in. However, the vaginal wall will usually stretch strong enough that you can remove the device even without bending it.
- If you have difficulty removing the pessary, apply pressure as if you were having a bowel movement. This can help push the lip of the pessary forward and make it easy to reach and pull out.
Step 5. Wash your hands again
After removing the pessary, you should wash your hands again with soap and hot enough water, then dry them.
- Clean or dispose of the pessary as needed after removal.
- This step ends the process of removing the pessary.
Warning
- Call your doctor if using a pessary causes vaginal bleeding, vaginal discharge with an abnormal odor, pelvic bone pain, pressure on the pelvic bones, difficulty urinating, difficulty defecating, vaginal irritation or itching, unusual discomfort (swelling)., pain to the touch, cramping, or tenderness) in the lower abdomen, or fever.
- Instead of using tampons, use sanitary pads during your menstrual period to prevent discomfort and potential irritation.
- Some types of pessaries can damage condoms and diaphragms, rendering them ineffective. Consult your doctor if you have any concerns about this.
