Pessary Management Approach Affects Likelihood of Surgery

It is unknown whether the pessary management type influences the need for surgery.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of surgical treatment for pelvic organ prolapse or stress urinary incontinence with the type of pessary management (self-management or office management).

We conducted a retrospective cohort study that included first-time pessary users treated at a tertiary urogynecologic clinic from 2012 to 2014 for pelvic organ prolapse, stress urinary incontinence, or both. For the primary outcome, we explored the relationship between pessary management type and the likelihood of surgery using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. Secondary outcomes assessed relationships between patient factors (eg, demographics and clinical attributes) and pessary management type using multivariable logistics regression models.

There were 218 patients included in our analysis. Of all pessary users, 59 (27.1%) required office management and 159 (72.9%) participated in self-management. Surgery was performed in 22 (35.1%) office-managed patients and 33 (19.3%) self-managed patients. Women who self-managed their pessaries were significantly less likely to undergo surgery than those who received office management (multivariable hazards ratios, 0.416; P = 0.005). In the multivariable logistic regression model for pessary management type, increasing age (odds ratio [OR], 1.098; P ≤ 0.0001), increasing body mass index (OR, 1.078; P < 0.05), and increasing genital hiatus (OR, 1.547; P < 0.05) were associated with increased odds of pessary office management compared with self-management.

In a urogynecology clinic setting, pessary self-management is associated with lower rates of surgical treatment compared with office management. Factors associated with office management include increased age, body mass index, and large genital hiatus.