Pessary Fitting Services
Core Connections Physiotherapy is Ottawa’s first pessary fitting physiotherapy clinic!
We’ve been collaborating with physicians, specialists and nurse care practitioners in Ottawa to fit pessaries since 2013!
- We’ve been fitting pessaries for over 12 years
- We fit 7 different types of pessaries (RWS, RWS with knob, DISH, Oval, Marland, Cube, Gellhorn)
- We use fitting pessaries (not disposable pessaries) and best practice standards for reprocessing.
- We try as many pessaries as it takes to find the best fit
- We provide pessary fitting services in English, French, and Telegu
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Our pessary fitting services include comprehensive pelvic floor muscle re-education and strengthening, optimization of intra-abdominal pressure management strategies and an integrated manual therapy approach
- We will be offering custom-fitted pessaries as of 2026- coming soon!
Book a complimentary pessary phone consultation online here or by calling 613-291-2956. We are happy to answer any questions related to pessaries!
- vaginal bulging or heaviness
- difficulty with bladder -needing to shift positions or strain
- difficulty with bowel emptying – need to use fingers to lift the perineum or splint vaginally
Stress incontinence symptoms include:
- involuntary leakage associated with coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting, exercising, etc.
- Pre-fitting assessment (symptom history, vaginal and speculum exam, prolapse assessment, pessary care education and consent, PAL *)
- Pessary fitting assessment: ‘
- Pessary follow up appointments (10 days, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months
- Discharge letter to referring medical professional
Referrals
If you are a health professional and would like to refer a client for a pessary fitting, please complete this form (PDF, DOC) and return it to us by fax at 613-907-1352.
If you are a new client who has been referred for a pessary fitting by your pelvic health physiotherapist, please have your physiotherapist complete the pdf form above and return it to us by fax.
If you are a patient with questions, please book a complimentary phone call by calling 613-291-2956 or by booking online here.
Thank you kindly for your referrals!
Pessary FAQs
What is a pessary?
A pessary is a soft, flexible device that is placed in the vagina to help support the bladder, vagina, uterus and/or rectum in the case of pelvic organ prolapse.
For more information about the different types of pessaries available, please visit Canada Pessary here.
What are the benefits of a pessary?
Pessaries offer a non-surgical way to reduce pelvic organ prolapse symptoms, to improve bowel and bladder emptying, to prevent a prolapse from getting worse, to delay or prevent surgery, to reduce incontinence, and to facilitate improved activity tolerance.
The benefits of a pessary may include:
- Improved pelvic organ support
- Immediate improved comfort
- Improved bladder and/or bowel emptying
- Improved pelvic floor muscle function
- Improved ability to strengthen your Kegels
- Reduced urinary incontinence
- Improved ability to be physically active
- Preventing or avoiding surgery
- Improved quality of life
What is our pessary fitting process?
Our pessary fitting process follows best-practice guidelines and includes:
- a pre-fitting assessment
- a pessary fitting appointment
- a pessary follow-up assessment
- ongoing follow-up appointments
Pre-fitting assessment
The pre-fitting assessment includes a thorough history-taking of current symptoms, and medical and pelvic health history.
A vaginal exam is required to assess:
- the quality of the skin and vaginal tissues*
- the type and degree of prolapse
- functional movements which provoke symptoms
- pelvic floor muscle strength in gravity positions
- whether there are any factors that might delay the pessary fitting such perineal scar tissue, increased pelvic floor muscle tonus, and tissue sensitization
*Some women may benefit from a 1–3 month course of local vaginal estrogen to help make the lining of the vagina thicker and healthier. Non-estrogen vaginal moisturizers can also be very beneficial to relieve symptoms of vaginal dryness and to improve the comfort of the pessary.
The key findings of the assessment are summarized in a pessary authorization form and faxed to the physician or specialist. The pessary fitting consent and pessary care forms are reviewed. Once the pessary authorization form is signed and returned to us by fax we can proceed with booking the pessary fitting appointment.
Pessary fitting appointment
The pessary fitting appointment includes:
- a vaginal assessment to note any baseline tenderness of the vaginal walls and a speculum exam
- trial and error of a number of different pessaries until the best fit is found
- instruction in inserting and removing the pessary
- a review of pessary care and medical follow-up
Pessary follow-up assessment
The pessary follow-up assessment is a 15-30-minute appointment carried out 1-2 weeks after wearing the pessary daily. The vaginal walls are palpated for any signs of tenderness and a repeat speculum exam is done. Pessary care is reviewed and any questions or concerns are discussed.
Pessary follow-up appointments
Follow-up appointments with a physician, your fitting physiotherapist or another designated health care professional, such as a nurse care practitioner, are recommended at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months following the pessary follow-up assessment. From that point onwards, it is recommended that you have a medical assessment once per year to have the tissues assessed.
Please book a complimentary pessary phone consultation with any more questions!
