Cube pessary disaster

[NotforCissies]

Finally saw an NHS specialist gynae nurse in local hospital this week, having been diagnosed with bladder & bowel prolapses as well as cervical prolapse. After examination she recommended a size 4 cube pessary. To paraphrase - insertion was a struggle (I’m OK with smears, IUD insertion & childbirth) and removal not much better. I declined to continue with it & was fitted with a ring pessary to remain in for 6 months. I believe the cube insertion / removal may have grazed my vaginal & urethral tissues as I am so sore & it stings to pee. The ring pessary seems to be in the right place though the nurse thought it wasn’t big enough & may not stay in… I feel violated & tearful despite being a midwife for over 40 years & having used a diaphragm for contraception in the past

[BME_student4Health]

I'm sorry to hear about your unfortunate experience with pessaries. As a biomedical student, I have done some prior research on these devices, but I understand that they are not easy to use and some, like yourself, have had more complications come about because of them.

If it is not too forward, and if you are ok discussing it, would it be possible to get more of your personal experience with these devices? Maybe your overall thoughts on the process of treating prolapses? For context, I am garnering information, from multiple interviews, about pelvic organ prolapse and pessary devices. This information will be useful to know as our project moves to determine needs in this area of healthcare. Your feedback could be imperative to determining a great need in this area, and your experience can help up-and-coming biomedical engineers to provide accurate solutions.

[NotforCissies in reply to BME_student4Health]

Yes - happy to contribute but would help to know are you in the U.K. & can we do this more discretely rather than posting all the detail on this forum?