A pessary for running can support leaking that only shows up later in the day. Dr. Carrie Pagliano, a pelvic floor physiotherapist in Arlington, Virginia with 26 years in women's health, joins Kristen to share her own pessary story during perimenopause. She tried a dish, then a ring, then a cube, and explains how each held up on a run. You will hear how stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse relate to passive tissue support, why pelvic floor therapy and muscle training are only part of the answer, and why prolapse advice is hard to give safely on social media.
What listeners will learn
You will learn what a pessary is and who it is for, how to think about leaking that shows up later in the day, which questions help choose between a ring, a dish and a cube, and how to take out a suction pessary.
Timestamps
- [00:00] Welcome to Carrie Pagliano
- [00:54] How Carrie ended up in pelvic health and why she once disliked it
- [04:53] Who pessaries are for, and the consolation prize story
- [09:11] Stress urinary incontinence, urethral closure and why strength is not the only lever
- [11:59] What prolapse is: looseness in the vaginal walls, not organs falling out
- [16:17] Pressure management for runners compared with lifters
- [22:28] Carrie's own pessary story: the dish, the ring and the cube
- [31:11] Suction, the porta potty plan and the easiest poop in years
- [34:52] Taking it out, softer options and the stages of acceptance
- [37:24] Trial and error, fit kits and what marketing promises
- [40:47] Why real prolapse advice is hard to give on social media
- [43:19] Where to find Carrie
- [44:25] Theme song
About Carrie Pagliano
Dr. Carrie Pagliano, PT DPT, is a pelvic floor physiotherapist in Arlington, Virginia with 26 years in women's health. She served on the executive board of the Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy and hosts the Active Mom Podcast.
Theme Song: Patient Zero by Taylor Swift
Key topics covered
- Pessary for running
- Stress urinary incontinence and urethral closure
- Pelvic organ prolapse and passive support
- Pressure management in running and lifting
- Ring, dish and cube pessaries
- Perimenopause and staying active
Resources and references mentioned
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Our Sponsor: SRC Health
SRC makes medical grade compression garments for pregnancy, bladder leaks and mild pelvic organ prolapse. The Restore short is the one Kristen reaches for most in clinic. It supports your pelvic organs while you and your pelvic floor physiotherapist do the strengthening work.
Blueberry Therapy has carried SRC garments for years. Shop the full range at Blueberry Shop, same price as buying direct and shipped from the clinic in Canada. Use the code SRC15 for 15% off.
Many extended health plans cover compression garments with a prescription, so check your benefits before you assume you are paying out of pocket.
Work with Blueberry Therapy
If you leak when you run and want to talk about a support device, book a pelvic floor physiotherapy assessment at Blueberry Therapy.
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