What are the symptoms of vaginal pessary?

Vaginal pessary is not a disease, and as such has no symptoms. A vaginal pessary is a removable device inserted into the vagina in order to support areas of pelvic organ prolapse, explains the Royal Women's Hospital of Victoria, Australia.

While vaginal pessaries are a voluntary treatment option for prolapsed pelvic organs, they do carry a list of complications. The presence of the pessary can irritate the vaginal walls and cause open sores to form, notes WebMD. This can lead to pain, discomfort and bleeding. In extreme cases, the vaginal wall itself can wear away, causing a fistula, or an abnormal opening caused by wear and tear, to form between the vagina and the rectum. In less extreme cases, a pessary may cause a rectocele formation, which is a bulging of the rectum against the vaginal wall.

While all these complications are possible, managing one's pessary correctly can minimize their risk. One of the most important considerations when using a vaginal pessary is to make sure the device fits correctly and does not put undue pressure on the walls of the vagina, reports WebMD and HealthlinkBC. In post-menopausal women, estrogen, in the form of creams, rings, or tablets, can help with irritation. Regular and proper cleaning of the pessary can also help reduce the likelihood of complications.