ABSTRACT
I. INTRODUCTION Pessaries have been used for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse since the days of Hippocrates, when a pomegranate was inserted into the vagina to reduce a prolapsed uterus [1]. Since those early days, many different devices have been used for uterine support, including linen soaked in astringent, hammered brass, and cork. The success rates with these devices were variable and usually quite poor. Despite this, mechanical devices to support a prolapsed uterus remained the most widely accepted treatment for prolapse until the mid-19th century, when the advent of anesthesia and antisepsis made surgical repair a more viable option. During the 20th century, pessaries assumed their current role as the cornerstone of nonsurgical treatment for pelvic organ prolapse and stress incontinence. Today, most pessaries are made of a steel alloy spring covered in rubber, then coated in plastic or silicon; they are available in various shapes and sizes.
