Contiform Pessary for Stress Incontinence Available on NHS Prescription
Stress incontinence is normal, in fact it is the most common type of female urinary incontinence, affecting as many as one in three women. But just because it’s normal doesn’t mean you should have to live with it.
Whether caused by childbirth, perimenopause, menopause, or the natural effects of ageing, stress incontinence has more solutions than ever before and surgery isn’t the only one. Among the most effective non-surgical solutions is the Contiform pessary which has been listed on the NHS Drug Tariff since 2015.
What Is the Contiform pessary?
Who is it for?
Contiform is designed specifically for women experiencing stress incontinence - the type of leakage that catches you out during everyday moments like laughing, sneezing and physical activity. If that sounds familiar, Contiform could be exactly what you've been looking for.
It's worth noting that Contiform works specifically for stress incontinence rather than urge incontinence, where the need to urinate comes on suddenly and is hard to control. If you're not sure which type of incontinence you have, a quick conversation with your GP will point you in the right direction.
Is Contiform available on the NHS?
Contiform has been available on NHS prescription since 2015. To get a prescription, book an appointment with your GP to discuss stress incontinence and ask about Contiform specifically. Your GP can either prescribe it directly or refer you to a continence nurse or pelvic health physiotherapist, depending on your local area.
The specific ordering codes (SKU numbers) provided by the manufacturer, Pioneer Medical Europe Ltd, to be used on prescriptions are:
- Starter Pack (All Sizes): SKU184
- Replacement Unit Small: SKU16134
- Replacement Unit Medium: SKU16227
- Replacement Unit Large: SKU16270
Contiform sizes - finding the right fit
Every woman's anatomy is different, so finding the right size is key to getting the most comfort and effectiveness from your pessary. Contiform comes in three sizes - small, medium, and large. To make finding your fit as easy as possible, we recommend the starter pack. It includes all three sizes, so you can find the one that suits you best with no fuss. Both the starter pack and individual sizes are available on prescription.
Contiform vs surgery
For many women, stress incontinence can feel so disruptive that surgery seems like the only real solution. However, it's worth knowing that there are effective, non-surgical options available before taking that step.
Tension-free Vaginal Tape (TVT) surgery is a common surgical route for stress incontinence, but it carries risks like any surgical procedure, and many gynaecologists now actively encourage patients to explore other options first. Devices like Contiform, combined with a consistent pelvic floor exercise routine, can deliver significant results without the need for an operation, recovery time, or the risks associated with surgery.
If your symptoms are manageable with a pessary and pelvic floor training, you might find you never need to progress to surgical intervention at all. Many women do. And if you do eventually decide surgery is the right path, you'll know you've explored every alternative.
Using Contiform alongside pelvic floor training
Pelvic floor training will always be the gold standard for pelvic health, but it takes time, and for women, that’s not always an easy thing to find.
The Contiform vaginal pessary works immediately upon insertion, giving you instant relief from the annoying and disruptive symptoms of stress incontinence.
When you are ready to work on long-term pelvic floor strength, our pelvic floor trainers and exercisers are designed to make every second count, with built-in biofeedback, so you can be confident you're exercising correctly - no guesswork, no wasted effort.
Where to buy Contiform
Contiform is available on NHS prescription, so if you're experiencing stress incontinence it's worth speaking to your GP first. Alternatively, if you'd prefer to try Contiform straight away without a GP appointment, you can buy the starter kit or individual size directly from Kegel8.
