Vaginal pessary fitting service by an experienced GP
If you are concerned that you may have a vaginal prolapse, why not see our experienced gp in our pessary fitting in London clinic. Dr Williams will be able to assess if indeed you do have a vaginal prolapse and discuss various options, including the fitting of a vaginal pessary if warranted and wanted by you.
| Consultation | Price |
|---|---|
| Pessary assessment Consultation (20 minutes) | £104 |
| Pessary fitting Consultation (20 minutes) | £104 |
| Pessary replacement Consultation (20 minutes) | £104 |
Choice of three GP consultations:
Pessary assessment consultation
This is the initial consultation with our GP to assess your symptoms and examine you to check if you do have a vaginal prolapse and how significant your prolapse is. She will ascertain on examination if you will be suitable for a ring pessary. If so, her examination will reveal the likely size of the pessary you will need. It is not unusual for 2 or 3 different sizes of pessary to be trialed before ascertaining a size which is comfortable for you that will remain in position. Our GP will give you a prescription detailing the type and size of pessaries she recommends be trialed – this private prescription can either be taken to any chemist or you may choose to purchase the specific size of pessary yourself via an online medical supplies retailer.
Pessary fitting consultation
Once you have bought the ring pessaries, you will book in this appointment for our GP to fit the pessary for you.
Pessary replacement consultation
The vaginal ring pessary usually needs to be replaced every 6 months. Hence you will book this appointment in biannually to replace the old pessary with a new one.
What is a vaginal prolapse?
A vaginal prolapse occurs when the supporting ligaments that hold the womb and other pelvic organs in position is no longer strong enough to do this effectively.
The womb may descend and press on other pelvic organs such as the bladder or bowel and result in different types of symptoms. A prolapse often feels like ‘something coming down’ in the vagina. It may cause backache and difficulty in controlling the bladder and sometimes the bowel, or discomfort during sexual intercourse.
What causes a vaginal prolapse?
The ligaments and walls of the vagina and the pelvic floor muscles could have become weakened by many factors, most common being pregnancy and childbirth. Other causes may be a chronic cough, straining when constipated, continuous heavy lifting, or following menopause when the decrease in production of female hormones effects the elasticity of the tissues.
Ring pessary device –
A pessary for prolapse is a removable device that is placed into the vagina to support the prolapsed organs and keep them in place. Ring pessaries are popular because they do not block the vagina and are therefore compatible with sexual intercourse. They need to be replaced every six months, but otherwise should not be felt or prove bothersome, thus not preventing any activity the women wish to undertake.
The advantage of vaginal pessary devices is that they confer much less risk than surgery and can be inserted and replaced in a GP setting without the need for anaesthetic of any kind. The disadvantage of these devices is that they may fail. Examples include the risk of displacement – the ring may move from the vagina by the prolapse, despite trying different sizes or different devices. This method is also an ongoing treatment, requiring repeated appointment attendance, which for some women may not be practical. The final drawback of vaginal pessary devices is that they can produce a vaginal discharge which some women do not like.
What if the pessary does not work?
If the pessary does not work, you may have to consider surgery. The surgery to repair a prolapse is often combined with a hysterectomy, in which case the womb is usually removed vaginally and the vaginal walls are strengthened and repaired at the same time. This will allow the bladder and bowel to return to their correct position.
Your GP – Dr Henrietta Williams
I have worked as a GP in South West London since 2011 and am experienced in all areas of General Practice. My particular skills and expertise are in Women’s Health and Family Planning. I hold a Diploma from the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health and am experienced in counselling women about their choice of contraceptive and how to identify and manage potential problems.
Availability:
Thursday and Friday mornings.
How to make a booking
Please Call Us to book in your appointment with Dr Williams.