Book excerpt: This book provides a comprehensive review of the evidence concerning pessaries and the practicalities of using them. It is a valuable resource for health care practitioners treating patients with incontinence and prolapse. It includes a brief history of pessaries and provides profiles of the inventors of some of the more commonly used pessaries, along with a description of their original purposes. There are illustrations to guide selection, fitting and care, as well as providing materials which can be photocopied and handed out to patients. This work is an essential handbook for all urogynecologists, urologists, gynecologists, family physicians and specialty nurses.