Grant: Alliance Grants

Cosm Canada has developed a novel pessary to use after childbirth to support the pelvic floor muscles and connective tissues while they heal. The pessary can be personalized based on each person's unique body and pelvic floor support needs. This study aims to explore the feasibility of the personalized vaginal pessary to be used for this purpose. Nearly half of births result in pelvic floor disorders such as pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence experienced within the subsequent year, the most common being pelvic organ prolapse due to labour and delivery-related injury to the pelvic floor muscles and connective tissues. Pelvic floor disorders significantly reduce quality of life, limit participation in physical activities, and have been associated with an increased risk of postpartum depression. Further, symptoms often persist and worsen over the life course, often requiring surgery. Currently there is a lack of research and publicly available funding to support pelvic health after childbirth. Pessaries are intravaginal devices that are used to support the pelvic organs in patients with pelvic organ prolapse. However, the use of pessaries to support the pelvic floor and improve tissue healing after childbirth is novel and its effectiveness remains unknown. The goal of this study is to assess the feasibility of Cosm's novel pessary developed for this purpose. Participants will be fitted with a personalized vaginal pessary and will be asked to use it for 3 months. Information will be generated about successful fitting, usability of the pessary and the willingness of those successfully fitted to continue using it. This information will help improve the design of the device with the goal of preventing PFDs after obstetrical delivery. This work will enable Cosm to pursue development of a promising commercial technology that could be used in prevention of pelvic organ prolapse.