Pelvic floor exercises and vaginal pessaries

Pelvic floor exercises – sometimes also called Kegel exercises – strengthen the muscles in the lower part of the pelvis. These are the muscles that help to support the womb and the bladder. The exercises are particularly suitable for women who have mild bladder leakage (stress incontinence) and feelings of pressure in their abdomen. They involve actively tensing the muscles in the pelvic floor. Each session includes various exercises that last a few minutes and are repeated one to three times per day. It is best to learn the exercises from a physiotherapist so that they are right for your specific situation. In Germany, statutory health insurers pay for this.

Pelvic floor exercises can improve the symptoms in mild and moderate cases (first- to third-degree prolapse) and sometimes also prevent the organs from slipping down further. The beneficial effects may already be noticeable after a few weeks. But these exercises don’t always help. Some women still have problems despite doing them. To increase the chances of success, it’s important to do the exercises as instructed – and especially to do them regularly. To stick to the exercises over the long term, it's a good idea to make them part of your daily routine. Pelvic floor exercises usually don't have any side effects.

The exercises are more effective if the prolapsed organs are in the front part of the pelvis, where the bladder and urethra (urine tube) are found. If you have had prolapse surgery, pelvic floor exercises probably won’t help much more – at least not in the first few years after the operation. Studies in this area have found that pelvic floor exercises don’t make a difference in women who have already had prolapse surgery. But it’s not clear whether the exercises might prevent the organs from dropping down again in the long term.

Vaginal pessaries for the treatment of prolapse – not to be confused with contraceptive pessaries – are small cubes, rings or saucer-shaped devices made of rubber or silicone. They are inserted into the vagina with the aim of providing the pelvic organs with support. So although pessaries don’t treat the cause of the prolapse, they can keep the affected organs in their natural position. Doctors also think that using a pessary might help to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.

Pessaries are available in different shapes and sizes. People often have to try out a number of different pessaries before finding one that works. If possible, doctors usually prescribe cube pessaries that women can insert, remove and clean themselves. If other types of pessaries are used, these steps have to be performed at the doctor's office – typically every 6 to 8 weeks.

Well-fitting pessaries can support the pelvic organs in a way that reduces bladder and bowel problems or even makes them go away completely. They don’t fix prolapses. But women don’t always find a suitable pessary that is effective enough.

The use of a pessary is considered if, for instance, a woman wishes to avoid or delay surgery. About half of all women who use a pessary get by with it so well that they use it for several years or more. Pessaries can also be a good idea if pelvic floor exercises don’t help enough on their own.

Women who use a vaginal pessary need regular appointments to have the pessary checked and their vagina examined by a doctor.

Because pessaries push against the lining of the vagina, they can irritate the mucous membranes there and even lead to pressure sores. These cause symptoms such as pain and bleeding. Pessaries can also lead to problems with bowel movements or increase the likelihood of vaginal infections. With some pessaries, it’s not possible to penetrate the vagina during sex – with others it is, but they might cause discomfort. Cube pessaries can be removed before having sex.

To avoid side effects, it’s important that the pessary is well positioned and also changed and cleaned regularly. A lubricant gel can make it easier to insert the pessary. After menopause, women who use a pessary are advised to protect the lining of their vagina with a hormone cream – unless they have already had cancer in a reproductive organ or breast cancer.