American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 196, Issue 4 , Pages 405.e1-405.e8, April 2007

The PESSRI study: symptom relief outcomes of a randomized crossover trial of the ring and Gellhorn pessaries

  • Geoffrey W. Cundiff, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence and Reprints: Geoffrey Cundiff, M.D., 1081 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6 Canada, Phone (604)806-8166, Fax (604)875-2987
    • ,
  • Cindy L. Amundsen, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
    • ,
  • Alfred E. Bent, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Dalhousie University School of Medicine, Halifax, NS, Canada
    • ,
  • Kimberly W. Coates, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Dalhousie University School of Medicine, Austin, TX
    • ,
  • Joseph I. Schaffer, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
    • ,
  • Kris Strohbehn, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH.
    • ,
  • Victoria L. Handa, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD

Objective

The aim of this randomized crossover trial was to compare symptom relief and change in life impact for women using the ring with support and Gellhorn pessaries.

Study Design

Subjects were randomized to use each pessary for 3 months. Outcome data included a visual analog satisfaction score, and quality of life questionnaires. Analysis included student’s t-test, Wilcoxan Signed–rank test and logistical regression.

Results

Subjects were primarily white, parous, postmenopausal women with a mean age of 61. The median POPQ stage was III. We enrolled 134 subjects and collected 3-month data on 94 ring and 99 Gellhorn subjects. There were statistically and clinically significant improvements in the majority of the PFDI and many PFIQ scales with both pessaries, but no clinically significant differences between the two pessaries.

Conclusions

The ring with support and Gellhorn pessaries are effective and equivalent in relieving symptoms of protrusion and voiding dysfunction.

Key Words: Ring pessary, Gellhorn pessary, pelvic organ prolapse

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 Cundiff GN, Amundsen CL, Bent AE, et al. The PESSRI study: symptom relief outcomes of a randomized crossover trial of the ring and Gellhorn pessaries. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2007;196:405.e1-405.e8.

PII: S0002-9378(07)00252-9

doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2007.02.018

American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 196, Issue 4 , Pages 405.e1-405.e8, April 2007

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