Frequently Asked Questions about LadySystem® vaginal cones, pelvic floor and urinary stress incontinence

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How do I buy LadySystem®?

LadySystem® is available at the pharmacy counter. Print this PDF list of wholesalers distributing LadySystem® to pharmacies and bring it to your pharmacist; it will help him/her order LadySystem® for you if it is currently out of stock. When prescribed by a healthcare professional, the LadySystem® vaginal cone therapy may be covered by several private insurance plans.

What is the pelvic floor?

The pelvic floor is a small group of muscles and ligaments which supports the bladder and other abdominal organs.

What happens if my pelvic floor loses its tone?

A weakened pelvic floor affects your ability to hold in urine, and small leaks then take place at moments of sudden exertion, such as when coughing, laughing, sneezing, or during heavy exercises. This is the type of leakage which is called urinary stress incontinence, or simply stress incontinence; it affects one out of two women at some time of their lives.

What is the LadySystem® therapy?

LadySystem® pelvic floor therapy is a clinically proven and established method of re-strengthening the pelvic floor muscles using a set of vaginal cones and a system of simple exercises. It works with your body's natural reflex contractions (also called passive contractions or biofeedback), and it focuses the exercise on exactly the right pelvic floor muscles.

LadySystem® is simple and discreet to use and takes up only fifteen minutes to perform at home twice daily while you continue with your normal daily life. LadySystem® exercises the correct muscles in a precise and effective manner, giving fast results. Your symptoms should start to improve noticeably within two or three weeks, and clinical trials have shown that urinary stress incontinence usually resolves within eight to twelve weeks of regular use.

There are five cones of increasing weight (from 4.9 to 55 grams). You carry out the exercise using the highest weight you can support without difficulty. As your pelvic floor muscles become gradually stronger, you will be able to use the next cone up in the series and continue to progress in this way. The stronger your muscles are, the better your bladder is supported, and your symptoms are reduced, until the urinary stress incontinence is eventually resolved. LadySystem® allows you to observe and evaluate your progress, giving you positive feedback so that you stay in control of your own recovery. Make sure to read the LadySystem® Consumer Information leaflet thoroughly before starting the therapy. It is recommended that you consult a healthcare professional to discuss your unique situation.

Has LadySystem® been clinically tested?

Yes, extensively. This therapy has been investigated in clinical trials at major hospitals and clinics throughout the world since 1988. This successful method is recommended by gynaecologists, urologists, physiotherapists and midwives. Most women find the cones simple and easy to use because they work by using your body's own reflex contractions (also called passive contractions). The therapy is completely safe and natural and without any adverse effects.

How do LadySystem® cones work in strengthening the pelvic floor?

When you insert a LadySystem® cone inside the vagina, its weights causes it to move downwards and slip out. This action provokes a mild natural reflex contraction (also called passive contraction or biofeedback) of your pelvic floor muscles in order to retain the cone. This contraction is the specific exercise which restrengthens the muscles. Using progressively heavier cones increases the intensity of the exercise (although hardly noticeable to you), and therefore its beneficial effect in terms of strengthening your pelvic floor.

Will LadySystem® therapy help even if I have quite severe urinary stress incontinence?

Yes, it should help improve your symptoms at the least. You should review your progress with your healthcare professional after an initial 12-week therapy. And then decide whether you should continue the programme to improve further, or whether you may need to include other treatments as well.

Why is urinary stress incontinence so common in pregnancy and childbirth?

Pregnancy and childbirth is the time when your pelvic floor muscles are most likely to be stretched and strained, and gynaecologists and midwives advise new mothers to take care to rehabilitate the pelvic floor as part of the normal process of post-natal recovery. LadySystem® therapy can help you to do so very effectively, by restrengthening the muscles gradually and gently, and thereby preventing pelvic floor problems and associated symptoms such as urinary stress incontinence.

How far inside the vagina should I place the cone?

You should place it so that it is completely inside the vagina, with just the removal cord showing externally. Do not worry about placing it too far inside, the cone will move downwards in its own correct position naturally, when you are in a standing position.

Is it possible to lose the cone inside the vagina?

No, there is no risk of losing the cone. If you find you cannot locate it with the tip of a finger, just stand with your legs slightly apart and relax, and you should find the cone slips to the vaginal entrance of its own.

I have recently had pelvic surgery, how long should I wait until I can use the LadySystem® therapy?

You need to wait until you are completely healed and recovered from your surgery. Follow your healthcare professional's advice on when you should start the LadySystem® therapy.

How soon can I resume jogging and other sport activities when using the LadySystem® therapy?

You should restrict yourself to mild exercise routine such as walking or low-impact fitness activities while your pelvic floor is weak. You can resume exercises such as jogging only once you have completed your LadySystem® therapy and your pelvic floor has recovered its full strength.

Is the LadySystem® therapy of help if I have urinary urgency or urge incontinence?

Yes, toning up your pelvic floor is always a useful first step for most common types of urinary incontinence. A strong pelvic floor helps you to withstand the sudden urge to pass urine, until you can reach the bathroom. Also, if you have mixed stress and urge incontinence, resolving the stress incontinence using the LadySystem® therapy reduces the magnitude of the overall problem, leaving you with fewer symptoms to deal with. It is recommended that you consult a healthcare professional as well, in order to address your urgency symptoms specifically.

I have been diagnosed with a prolapse. Should I use the LadySystem® therapy?

Most common types of urogenital prolapse are the result of a weakened pelvic floor, so re-strengthening the pelvic floor with the LadySystem® therapy can always be beneficial. Whether LadySystem® will be right for you will depend on the severity of the prolapse, and it is recommended that you consult your healthcare professional for specific advice on this.

Should I carry out Kegel exercises as well as using the LadySystem® therapy?

The LadySystem® vaginal cone therapy will help you perform Kegel exercises by targeting and strengthening the specific and proper pelvic floor muscles by means of natural reflex contraction or biofeedback.

Can the LadySystem® therapy be used at any age?

Any adult who can stand and walk, and who is physically and mentally able to manipulate the cones can use the LadySystem® therapy.

Can the LadySystem® therapy be used in preventive fashion?

Yes, the LadySystem® therapy has a preventive action. It can be used prior to or after childbirth to maintain the pelvic floor's strength and prevent the development of urinary stress incontinence symptoms. Make sure to read the LadySystem® Consumer Information leaflet thoroughly before starting the therapy. It is recommended that you consult a healthcare professional to discuss your specific situation.

I am finding it difficult to move from one cone to the next, what should I do?

Each time the new cone slips out, just place it back inside the vagina, and make a slight effort to retain it. Repeat this action for a few minutes each time, and you should find that you can hold it a little longer each day. You may also find it helpful to insert the cone in while lying on a bed. Then pull gently on the nylon cord while trying to make a contraction to hold the cone in. Do this for a few minutes each day until you are able to retain the cone while standing.

Can I use the LadySystem® therapy during my menstrual cycle?

LadySystem® vaginal cone therapy may be temporarily postponed during menstruation as it may be difficult to retain the cone on heavier flow days.

Can the LadySystem® therapy help with my reduced sexual sensitivity?

Yes, reduced sexual sensitivity is a common symptom of a weak pelvic floor. Once you have carried out the LadySystem® therapy, your pelvic floor muscles will be firmer.

If I use the cone for more than 15 minutes each time, will my pelvic floor muscles improve more quickly?

No, clinical studies suggest that no additional benefit is acquired by using the cones for more than 15 minutes twice a day.

Will it cause any problems if I keep the cone in for more than 15 minutes?

No, but you may have overtired your muscles. Afterwards, if you find you can no longer support the same number cone, or if you are experiencing a slight muscular ache, take a rest from the exercises for a few days until the muscles rest and recover. Otherwise, you can continue doing the exercises as usual, keeping the recommended duration of 15 minutes twice per day.

Do I need to reach the No. 5 cone to resolve my pelvic floor weakness?

No, you should just try and get your muscles to their optimum strength, and for different women that will mean reaching a different maximum cone number. If you have progressed in cone number during your therapy, but find you can no longer move to the heavier on, just stay with the heaviest one you can comfortably hold in the vagina without much effort on your part. Then continue with this cone until you complete your initial 12-week programme. Make sure to read the LadySystem® Consumer Information leaflet thoroughly before starting the therapy. It is recommended that you consult a healthcare professional to discuss your specific situation.

Are there other ways of treating urinary stress incontinence?

Yes, there are other alternatives to the LadySystem® therapy: (1) Pelvic floor exercices (Kegel), (2) electrical stimulation, (3) surgical intervention:

• Pelvic floor exercises (also known as Kegel exercices) can be effective when they are performed correctly. The LadySystem® therapy helps conduct Kegel exercises by targeting and strengthening the proper pelvic floor muscles through passive contractions (biofeedback).
• Electrical (or neuromuscular) stimulation involves the use of a mild electrical impulse to induce rhythmic contractions of the pelvic floor muscles. It can be an effective therapy, but you will need to find a clinic which offers it. A full course of treatment normally lasts several weeks or months and may need to be repeated.
• Surgery is an option which is invasive and which most specialists do not consider a first-line treatment. It is usually advised only in the most severe cases. Interestingly, when surgery is indicated, specialists often advise the use of vaginal cone therapy in the weeks before and after, in order to optimize the results of the surgery.

LadySystem® pelvic floor therapy is simple and is free of any adverse effects. It is easy to use and requires minimal effort, working naturally with your own body to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. A few minutes each day is all it takes, while you are able to continue with daily activities.

Do the LadySystem® cones contain latex?

No, the LadySystem® cones do not contain latex. Please note that the materials used in the manufacture of LadySystem® meet with all standards of pharmacological safety.

For how long do I need to carry out the LadySystem® therapy?

You should initially carry out the LadySystem® therapy from 6 weeks to 3 months on average, after which your symptoms should either have resolved, or significantly improved. Thereafter, many women choose to use LadySystem® for a few days at periodic intervals to ensure they keep their muscles in good shape throughout their lives.

In general, even in the absence of symptoms, it is recommended to have your physician evaluate your pelvic floor tone during your annual check-up. However, if you notice any symptoms returning, you should start the LadySystem® therapy again to get your pelvic floor muscles back to full strength. We would recommend that you check your pelvic floor muscle strength at least every six months, or more often upon discussion with your physician or healthcare professional. To do this, try using the heaviest cone you reached during your LadySystem® therapy. If you find you can no longer hold it in, resume the therapy using a lighter cone until you are once again able to hold in your heaviest cone.

Do I pay sales taxes when I buy LadySystem® at the pharmacy?

No. LadySystem® is now free of GST/HST and QST. Pharmacists have been notified, therefore they should not charge you any sales tax when you buy LadySystem®.