Cleaning and Reprocessing a Pessary Fitting Kit Between Patients: A Practice Guide

A pessary fitting kit can be used again and again, but only if every ring is properly cleaned, reprocessed and stored between patients. In short: clean each fitting ring right after use, reprocess it the way the manufacturer's instructions for use (IFU) and your facility's infection-prevention policy require, then dry, inspect and store it so it is ready for the next fitting. This guide walks through a simple, repeatable routine your team can follow.

If you are new to fitting kits, our 2026 buyer's guide to clinical pessary fitting kits covers how to choose one, and the ring pessary fitting guide for healthcare providers covers sizing and insertion. This post focuses only on what happens to the kit between patients.

Why reprocessing matters so much

Fitting rings are placed in the vagina to find the right size, then removed. Because they touch mucous membranes, they are generally treated as "semi-critical" items under the widely used Spaulding classification. That category typically calls for at least high-level disinfection, and many facilities choose to sterilize.

The exact level your practice uses should come from three places:

• The device IFU supplied with your kit
• Your facility's infection-prevention and reprocessing policy
• Professional guidance, such as the CDC Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities

A clear, written routine protects patients, protects staff and helps keep your kit in good shape.

What the SciMed fitting kit is made for

Our Clinical Pessary Fitting Kit contains seven ring pessaries in sizes 1 to 7 (51–89 mm outer diameter). It comes in three configurations: all With Support, all Without Support, or Mixed (4 With Support + 3 Without Support). According to the product listing:

• Each ring is made of medical-grade silicone (USP Class VI).
• The devices are reusable and autoclavable between patients.
• Each device can be steam autoclaved at 134°C / 273°F for 18 minutes minimum.
• Each device arrives individually pouch-sealed with size, lot and expiry markings.
• The kit includes a provider IFU, a clinical fitting reference card and a reusable carrying case (varies by configuration).

Always confirm cycle settings against the IFU in the box and your sterilizer manufacturer's instructions.

A step-by-step routine between patients

1. Contain and transport

After a fitting, place used rings straight into a closed, labeled container for soiled items. Do not put them back into the carrying case. Keep used and clean rings fully separate so there is never any doubt about which is which.

2. Clean promptly

Cleaning is the most important step. Disinfection and sterilization do not work well on a device that still has visible soil on it.

• Wear the PPE your facility requires for handling soiled instruments.
• Rinse the ring under running water to remove lubricant and secretions.
• Wash with a detergent or enzymatic cleaner approved by your facility, following the cleaner's label.
• Use a soft brush on With Support rings, paying attention to the openings in the support membrane and the area where the support meets the rim.
• Rinse thoroughly so no cleaning solution is left behind.

3. Inspect

Look at each ring under good light before reprocessing. Set aside any ring that shows:

• Cracks, tears or splits in the silicone
• A sticky, tacky or unusually soft surface
• Discoloration or residue that does not wash off
• Warping or loss of shape

A damaged fitting ring should be removed from service and replaced. Note the size so you can reorder it.

4. Package (if sterilizing)

If your policy is to sterilize, package each ring in a sterilization pouch suitable for steam. Label the pouch with the size, the date and the load or cycle number your facility uses for tracking. Keeping one size per pouch makes it easy to grab the right ring at the next fitting.

5. Reprocess

Run the ring through the method your facility has chosen and validated:

• Steam sterilization: the product listing states the devices are autoclavable at 134°C / 273°F for 18 minutes minimum. Use chemical indicators and follow your sterilizer's monitoring program.
• High-level disinfection: if your facility uses a chemical high-level disinfectant instead, confirm with the IFU that it is compatible with silicone, and follow the disinfectant label exactly for contact time, rinsing and testing.

6. Dry and store

Let pouches dry fully before handling. Store clean rings in a clean, dry, closed space away from sinks and soiled areas. The reusable carrying case works well for organizing clean, packaged rings by size, as long as the case itself is kept clean.

7. Document

Many facilities keep a simple log: date, ring size, method, cycle or load number, and the staff member's initials. This helps with audits and makes it easy to trace any problem.

Quick reference table

Step	What to do	Who decides the details
Contain	Closed, labeled soiled container	Facility policy
Clean	Rinse, detergent or enzymatic wash, brush, rinse	IFU and cleaner label
Inspect	Check for cracks, tackiness, warping	Staff, per IFU
Reprocess	Steam sterilize or high-level disinfect	IFU, facility policy, CDC guidance
Store	Clean, dry, closed, sorted by size	Facility policy
Document	Log date, size, method, cycle	Facility policy

Practical tips for busy clinics

• Consider a second kit. If you do several fittings in one session, one kit may not turn around fast enough. A second set lets one kit be in use while the other is being reprocessed.
• Keep the most-used sizes stocked. If you notice certain sizes get used far more often, it can be worth keeping spares of those sizes. Our post on what real pessary fittings tell us about sizing may help you plan.
• Train everyone the same way. A one-page checklist posted in the reprocessing area keeps the routine consistent across staff.
• Never send a fitting ring home. Fitting rings belong to the kit. Patients should receive a new, individually packaged pessary in the confirmed size.

Fitting rings versus the patient's own pessary

It helps to keep these two things separate in your mind. The fitting kit is clinic equipment, reprocessed and reused. The pessary a patient goes home with is her own device. Once you have found the right size and style, dispense a new pessary from sealed packaging. The listing notes that dispensed devices are billable under HCPCS A4562 and are HSA/FSA eligible.

Home cleaning advice for patients is a different topic. Patients should follow the instructions given by their clinician and the IFU for their own device.

Need a second kit, replacement sizes or net-30 terms for your clinic? Email sales@scimedstore.com or WhatsApp +1-669-265-9353.

Frequently asked questions

Can the SciMed fitting kit rings be autoclaved?

Yes. The product listing states each device is autoclavable at 134°C / 273°F for 18 minutes minimum. Always confirm settings against the IFU in the box and your sterilizer manufacturer's instructions.

Is high-level disinfection enough, or do we need to sterilize?

Fitting rings contact mucous membranes, so they are generally treated as semi-critical items that need at least high-level disinfection. Your facility's infection-prevention policy, the device IFU and CDC guidance should decide which method you use.

How do we know when a fitting ring needs replacing?

Inspect every ring after cleaning. Remove it from service if you see cracks, tears, a sticky surface, warping or residue that will not wash off, and order a replacement in the same size.

Can we store clean rings in the carrying case?

Yes, as long as the rings are fully dry and packaged according to your policy, and the case itself is kept clean and stored away from soiled areas. Never put used rings back in the case before reprocessing.

Can a patient take a fitting ring home?

No. Fitting rings stay with the kit. Once the right size is confirmed, the patient should receive a new, individually packaged pessary.