The unmet needs in vaginal pessaries

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Gynecology
• Medical Device Engineering

Background:

• Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) affects many women, impacting quality of life.
• Vaginal pessaries are a common, non-surgical management option for POP.
• Current pessary use presents challenges and complications in clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current applications of vaginal pessaries in managing POP.
• To identify challenges and complications associated with pessary use.
• To explore unmet needs and suggest future product development directions.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of current pessary use in POP management.
• Analysis of reported challenges and complications.
• Discussion of market gaps and potential innovations.

Main Results:

• Pessaries are widely used for short and long-term POP management.
• Common issues include fitting difficulties, discomfort, and adherence problems.
• Existing products have limitations in material, design, and patient-specific fitting.

Conclusions:

• Vaginal pessaries are a valuable tool for POP, but improvements are needed.
• Future research should focus on innovative materials and user-centered designs.
• Addressing unmet needs can enhance patient outcomes and satisfaction with pessary therapy.