Pessary Tips for Women With Arthritis or Weak Hands: Easier Insertion, Removal and Cleaning

If arthritis, stiff fingers or weak hands make your pessary hard to handle, you are not alone, and you do not have to give up on caring for it yourself. Small changes to timing, posture and setup can make insertion, removal and cleaning much easier. A pessary with a removal knob can also help, because it gives your finger something firm to hook onto.

This guide is about making the job gentler on your hands. For the basic step-by-step method, see our guide on how to insert, remove and clean a vaginal pessary at home. Always follow your clinician's advice and the instructions that come with your device.

Why weak hands make pessary care harder

A ring pessary is smooth and round. To take it out, you need to find the edge with one finger, hook it, and pull it gently down while it folds. That takes a bit of finger strength and a bit of feel.

With arthritis, hand pain, numbness or a weak grip, a few things get in the way:

• Your finger may slip off the smooth edge.
• Bending and squeezing the ring to fold it can hurt.
• Reaching and holding a position for long can tire your hands, wrists and back.
• Wet silicone is slippery, which makes cleaning fiddly.

Pick your moment: plan around your "good hand" times

Many people with arthritis notice their hands feel better at certain times of day. For some it is mid-morning, once the early stiffness has worn off. For others it is after a warm shower or bath.

• Use your best time of day. If your clinician has given you a schedule for removing and cleaning your pessary, try to set it for a time when your hands usually feel their best.
• Warm your hands first. Holding a warm (not hot) washcloth or running your hands under warm water for a minute can make fingers feel looser.
• Do not rush. Rushing makes muscles tense, and that makes everything harder.
• Skip flare days if you can. If your hands are having a bad day, it is fine to ask your clinician whether you can move your routine by a day.

Get comfortable: positions that take strain off your hands

The right position means you do not have to reach as far, so your fingers do less work. Try a few and see what suits you:

• Sitting on the toilet, knees apart, leaning slightly forward.
• One foot raised on a sturdy step stool or the edge of the bathtub, while holding on to something steady.
• Lying on your back in bed with knees bent and apart and a pillow under your hips. This is often the most relaxed position and is good if standing is tiring.

Safety comes first. Use a non-slip bath mat, keep a grab bar or firm surface within reach, and never balance on one leg if you feel unsteady.

Easier insertion tips

Insertion usually takes less finger strength than removal, but folding the ring can still be uncomfortable for sore joints.

• Use a little lubricant on the leading edge if your clinician recommends one. This helps the pessary slide in with less pushing.
• Fold against a surface. Some people find it easier to press the ring into a fold against their thigh or a clean towel on the counter, rather than squeezing it hard between finger and thumb.
• Use your stronger hand to guide the ring and your other hand only to help steady yourself.
• Breathe out slowly as you insert. Relaxed pelvic muscles make it easier.

If folding is truly painful, tell your clinician. They may suggest a different approach or offer help in the clinic.

Easier removal tips

Removal is the part most people with weak hands find hardest. These tips can help:

• Bear down gently, as if starting a bowel movement. This can bring the pessary a little lower and closer to your finger.
• Hook, do not pinch. Curl one finger over the edge and use a steady, slow pull. Hooking uses less grip strength than pinching.
• Pull at a slight angle so the ring tilts and folds as it comes out, rather than coming out flat and wide.
• Pause if it hurts. Stop, relax, breathe and try again in a few minutes.

If you cannot get your pessary out, please do not force it. Our guide on what to do if a pessary feels stuck explains calm next steps, and your clinician can always help.

How a removal knob helps

The SciMed Knobbed Ring Pessary With Support was made for exactly this problem. It has a small removal knob on the front edge, about 10 mm, made of soft silicone. Instead of feeling for a smooth ring edge, you hook a finger over the knob, fold and pull. It gives a cleaner grip.

Insertion is the same as a standard ring with support. It is made of medical-grade silicone (USP Class VI), is latex-free and BPA-free, and comes in sizes 0 to 8 (44 to 95 mm). You order the same size as your standard ring pessary. For more detail on the design, read our knobbed ring pessary guide.

Task	Standard ring	Knobbed ring
Insertion	Fold and insert	Same as standard ring
Finding a grip to remove	Feel for the smooth edge	Hook a finger over the knob
Sizing	Sizes 0 to 8	Same size as your standard ring

Before switching to any new pessary, check with your clinician that the style is right for you.

Cleaning with sore or weak hands

Cleaning should be gentle on you as well as the pessary. Follow your clinician's advice and the manufacturer's instructions for what to use. These tips are about making the job easier:

• Sit down at the sink on a stool so you are not standing and bending.
• Put the plug in the sink or lay a towel in the bottom, so a slippery pessary cannot slide down the drain.
• Use a soft brush with a thick handle. Thick handles are easier for stiff fingers to hold. Foam grip tubes from a pharmacy can make thin handles fatter.
• Pat dry on a clean towel rather than trying to grip and rub.
• Keep a storage case nearby so the clean pessary goes straight into a clean, dry place.

Ask for help: it is not giving up

Some days, or some hands, need help. That is okay.

• A trusted partner or family member can learn to help, if you are comfortable with that. Ask your clinician to show them how.
• Your clinic can remove, clean and reinsert your pessary at regular visits if self-care is not working for you.
• A pelvic floor physical therapist or occupational therapist may be able to suggest positions or aids that suit your hands.

Tell your clinician if you notice pain, bleeding, unusual discharge, trouble passing urine or stool, or if you simply cannot manage your pessary. They can adjust your plan.

Questions about sizing or which ring suits your hands? Email sales@scimedstore.com or WhatsApp us at +1-669-265-9353.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still use a pessary if I have arthritis in my hands?

Many women with arthritis do. Small changes to timing, position and grip can help a lot, and a pessary with a removal knob can make removal easier. If you cannot manage it yourself, your clinician can help with care at the clinic.

Does the knob on the knobbed ring feel uncomfortable when worn?

The knob is a small, soft, contoured silicone grip of about 10 mm, designed for the finger-access position. If anything feels uncomfortable, talk to your clinician.

What size knobbed ring should I order?

Order the same size as your standard ring pessary. Sizes 0 to 8 are available. If you are not sure, ask your clinician or email sales@scimedstore.com for sizing help.

Is insertion different with a knobbed ring?

No. Insertion is the same as a standard ring pessary with support. The knob helps with removal, when you hook a finger over it, fold and pull.

What should I do if I cannot get my pessary out?

Do not force it. Stop, relax and try again later, or contact your clinician. They can remove it safely and talk with you about options that suit your hands.