Sexual and organ function in patients with symptomatic prolapse: are pessaries helpful?

Objective To evaluate quality of life and pelvic organ and sexual function before and during pessary use in patients with symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse and to determine reasons which lead to cessation of pessary use. Design Prospective observational study. Setting Tertiary referral center. Patient(s) Patients with symptomatic stage II or more prolapse of the anterior, posterior, or apical vaginal wall with or without uterus were included in this study. Intervention(s) We used the Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire and the Sheffield prolapse questionnaire. For quality of life we used the King's Health Questionnaire. Main Outcome Measure(s) Main outcome measures were quality of life and sexual and pelvic organ function. Result(s) A total of 73 women participated in this study; 31 were sexually active. Desire, lubrication, and sexual satisfaction showed statistically significant improvement, and orgasm remained unchanged. Statistically significant improvement in the feeling of bulge occurred during therapy, stool outlet problems were significantly improved, overactive bladder symptoms were significantly better, and pessaries did not significantly alter incontinence. Conclusion(s) Pessaries have been shown to be a viable noninvasive treatment for pelvic organ prolapse improving organ and sexual function as well as general wellbeing.