ABSTRACT

Pessaries and other intravaginal devices have long been used for the treatment of pelvic floor

dysfunction in women. Initial descriptions of vaginal device use entailed intravaginal place-

ment of objects to support genital prolapse and/or administer therapeutic chemicals. Specific applications of pessaries for women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) are rather recent.

Owing to the high coexistence of genital prolapse and urinary incontinence, it is likely that

many women who were fit with a pessary for genital prolapse noted an improvement in their

urinary incontinence. Alternatively, women with exteriorized prolapse may have occult

stress incontinence which is uncovered upon being fit with a vaginal pessary for reduction of

the prolapse.