Garrison would like to address a recent FDA statement pertaining to vaginal mesh used for pelvic organ prolapse to ease any patient concerns surrounding it.
The FDA order applies ONLY to a specific procedure to treat pelvic organ prolapse- mesh placed through the vagina using vaginal mesh kits. This is not a procedure offered at Garrison Women’s Health. The order does NOT apply to transvaginal mesh for treating stress urinary incontinence (midurethral sling, sometimes called a TVT) or mesh placed abdominally (sacrocolpopexy via laparotomy or endoscopy) for prolapse repair. This summary from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) clarifies the announcement made on April 16.
We understand that this news can be unsettling for women who have had surgery involving mesh or who are contemplating surgery with mesh in the future. Please know that there are several ways in which mesh is used in the vagina, and this recent statement applies to only one.
Like any surgical tool, mesh is not perfect, but there are FDA-approved, well-researched uses of the technology in gynecologic surgery that have helped many women get their lives back after suffering with urinary leakage and pelvic organ prolapse.
At Garrison Women’s Health, we strive to offer the best procedures available to help our patients achieve their goals and live comfortably. Our surgeons put considerable effort into ascertaining that adequate safety and efficacy data exist to support the use of a procedure.
We want to always be able to offer the best procedures available to help our patients achieve their goals and live comfortably. If you have any questions or concerns around vaginal mesh and its approved uses, please do not hesitate to contact us and schedule an appointment with Dr. Chase, MD.