This highly practical 3-hour training session is ideal for registered healthcare professionals who wish to develop the skills and confidence to insert, remove and replace ring pessaries in primary care as part of the conservative management of pelvic organ prolapse.

The course combines clear, evidence-based teaching with supported hands-on practice using pelvic models, enabling delegates to leave with a strong, realistic understanding of ring pessary care and how this fits into everyday primary care practice.

This training is particularly well suited to clinicians who are new to pessary fitting or who wish to refresh and formalise existing skills within a safe, supportive learning environment.

Who Should Attend?

This course is suitable for registered healthcare professionals involved in, or planning to be involved in, pessary care in primary care settings, including:

- General Practitioners (GPs)
- Practice Nurses (PNs)
- Nurse Practitioners (NPs)
- Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs)
- Physiotherapists
- Pharmacists and Paramedics
- Nursing Assistants (NAs)

Course Content

Duration: 3 hours (Half-day / Morning session)
(Subject to minor changes)

1. Conservative Management of Uterovaginal Prolapse – Theory (Approx. 1.5 hours)

- Overview of uterovaginal prolapse and common symptoms
- Conservative management options in primary care
- The role of ring pessaries: benefits, limitations and patient selection
- Patient counselling, expectation-setting and shared decision-making
- When to review, escalate or refer
- Professional accountability and working within scope of practice

2. Practical Skills Session – Ring Pessary Fitting (Approx. 1.5 hours)

- Vaginal examination in the context of pessary fitting and review
- Ring pessary sizing and selection
- Insertion, removal and replacement techniques
- Safety checks and patient comfort
- Troubleshooting common fitting challenges
- Supported practical skills practice using pelvic models

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session, delegates will be able to:

1. Confidently explain conservative management options for uterovaginal prolapse, including the role of ring pessaries.
2. Undertake a vaginal examination for pessary fitting and review, within an appropriate primary care scope of practice.
3. Safely size, insert, remove and replace a ring pessary using a model.
4. Provide clear, patient-centred counselling around pessary use and follow-up.
5. Recognise when specialist input or referral is required.
6. Work in line with relevant NICE guidance relating to prolapse and pelvic floor dysfunction.

Good to Know

- This course focuses on practical pessary care, rather than formal prolapse assessment or grading.
- Vaginal examination skills are taught specifically to support safe pessary fitting and ongoing care.
- Delegates are encouraged to undertake a period of supported practice in their workplace following the course, in line with local governance — a normal and expected step when developing procedural skills.

Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Ring Pessary Management (PM Session)