UK Clinical Guideline for Best Practice in the Use of Vaginal Pessaries for Prolapse launched 4th March 2021 at UKCS

5th March 2021

 The new Best Practice guidance on the use of vaginal Pessaries for Pelvic Organ Prolapse has been developed by a multidisciplinary team including 3 pessary users and is an evidence-based consensus document for healthcare professionals and women seeking information about pessary use for prolapse. The aim of the Guideline is to provide guidance and information about best practice in pessary use for prolapse for multidisciplinary healthcare professionals and includes a training framework which can be used to plan and monitor competencies in pessary management.

An extensive Patient Information section includes downloadable infographics, leaflets and FAQs on pessary use and self-management skills.

The guideline also has three charts ideal for clinic use: a clinical pathway, a risks, complications & actions chart, and a pessary choice algorithm all of which are downloadable for print in A3 versions.

The Guideline has been commissioned by POGP (Pelvic Obstetric & Gynaecological Physiotherapy) and is endorsed and supported by the following organisations:

• Royal College of Nursing
• International Urogynecological Association
• British Society of Urogynaecology
• The Pelvic Floor Society
• British Association of Urological Nurses
• Pelvic Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy
• Scottish Pelvic Floor Network
• United Kingdom Continence Society
• Association of Continence Advice

The full guideline can be found here

There is a practical guide available here

The guideline also has 3 charts ideal for clinic use

• Pessary Use for Prolapse - A Clinical Pathway

• Infographic: Self Management of Vaginal Pessaries 

• Pessary choice - algorithm