Pelvic floor disorders are common but not normal, affecting 1/2 of all women in their lifetime.
Pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) are an underserved, stigmatized and growing women's health issue. One in every four adult women, and half of all women by the age of 80 are affected by pelvic floor disorders.¹
PFDs occur when the muscles and connective tissues are weakened or injured. The disorders include pelvic organ prolapse and urinary and/or fecal incontinence which have significant impacts on quality of life.
Today's Solutions are Limited
Current gynecological prosthetics used to support pelvic organs and relieve symptoms, commonly known as off-the-shelf pessaries, date back to 1,800 BCE.² They have not changed in over 50 years, come in over 100 different shapes and sizes, and are fit by trial-and-error. Currently, pessary fittings are driven through clinician examination using fingers and are not personalized to a patient’s body.
The History of Pessaries
2000-0 BC
500s-1600s
1800s-1900s
1970s
³
⁴
⁵
⁶
From the 1970s to today, off-the-shelf pessaries with subjective trial-and-error fittings leads to:
30%
fitting failure rate ⁷
50%
drop rate within 1 yr ⁸
56%
developing complications ⁹
Bringing precision medicine & 3D printing into pelvic care with Gynethotics™ pessaries & beyond
Gynethotics™ pessaries are the world's first personalizable gynecological prosthetics for unique bodies and needs. Our solution was inspired by personal need, advancements in technology, and other healthcare verticals. 3D printing has already revolutionized many fields of medicine such as custom dental and orthopedics because every body is different.
Our mission is to bring Gynecology into the 21st century by leveraging the latest technological advancements in medical imaging, cloud software, artificial intelligence / machine learning, and 3D printing to deliver a personalized, data-driven, and streamlined experience for patients and clinicians.
Resources & Support
Awareness and education are critical to destigmatizing pelvic health. Empower yourself with knowledge. We highlight these mission-aligned organizations that deliver world-leading education and support for clinicians and patients.
Cosm is the Proud Recipient of:
Partners
It takes a village to make a global impact. Thank you to all of our partners!
-
Nygaard, I., Barber, M. D., Burgio, K. L., Kenton, K., Meikle, S., Schaffer, J., ... & Pelvic Floor Disorders Network. (2008). Prevalence of symptomatic pelvic floor disorders in US women. Jama, 300(11), 1311-1316.
-
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S002253470800237
-
https://www.glowm.com/section-view/heading/Contemporary%20Use%20of%20the%20Pessary/item/25
-
Nygaard, I., Barber, M. D., Burgio, K. L., Kenton, K., Meikle, S., Schaffer, J., ... & Pelvic Floor Disorders Network. (2008). Prevalence of symptomatic pelvic floor disorders in US women. Jama, 300(11), 1311-1316.
-
Downing, K. T. (2012). Uterine prolapse: from antiquity to today. Obstetrics and gynecology international, 2012.
-
Clemons, J. L., Aguilar, V. C., Tillinghast, T. A., Jackson, N. D. & Myers, D. L. Risk factors associated with an unsuccessful pessary fitting trial in women with pelvic organ prolapse. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 190, 345–350 (2004).
-
Lamers, B. H., Broekman, B. M. & Milani, A. L. Pessary treatment for pelvic organ prolapse and health-related quality of life: A Review. International Urogynecology Journal 22, 637–644 (2011).
-
Sarma, S., Ying, T. & Moore, K. H. Long-term vaginal ring pessary use: Discontinuation rates and adverse events. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology 116, 1715–1721 (2009).
-
Greenwood, J., Guner, N., Kopecky, K. A., & Penn, C. E. M. F. I. (2019). The Wife's Protector: The Effect of Contraception on Marriage During the 20th Century. Population Studies Center.