Kristen Murphy, PT, DPT
- she/her
Areas of Special Interest
- Pelvic Health
- Gender Affirming Care
Hi there, my name is Kristen! Here's a little about me...
I received my DPT from East Tennessee State University in December of 2014 and have been practicing Pelvic Health Physical Therapy since February of 2015 here in WNC and am loving it! I completed my Sexuality Counselor and Education certificates through the University of Michigan earlier this year and am in supervision for my AASECT certification. It is a passion of mine to work with people of all genders to treat any and all Pelvic Health or Sexual Health concerns in order to help them feel comfortable and confident in their bodies. I treat my patients from a trauma informed perspective that encompasses the biopsychosocial aspects of patient health and wellbeing.
On a personal note, I love to spend time with my partner and my dog, reading a good book, or getting outside and enjoying a nice walk in the park.
I look forward to working with you!
What is a Pessary?
A pessary is an intravaginal device made of silicone that is inserted to help support the pelvic organs in the case of prolapse (POP) and to apply compression to the urethra in cases of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). For most, this is a low risk, cost-effective way to manage these conditions in patients who either don’t respond to or need more than traditional pelvic PT treatment.
Why Might I Need a Pessary?
- You have SUI or feelings of a bulge in the vaginal canal that cause limitations with daily activities or pain.
- You are looking for short or long-term options for supporting your pelvic organs or stop leaks with exercise.
- You want to avoid surgery to treat your SUI or POP; perhaps because you want to have more children, have health issues making it risky, or you simply want to manage conservatively.
How Do I Get Fit for a Pessary?
At your visit, your provider will assess the pelvic floor muscles and your vaginal canal to determine if you are a candidate. This involves an internal pelvic exam (but no speculums) to take some measurements and assess your unique presentation.
The pessary would be inserted for you the first time, and you will be asked to do a series of activities that normally cause symptoms in order to test the fit. Then, you will be taught how to remove and insert it yourself and practice in the clinic. This ensures you will be able to manage it on your own for cleaning.
How Often Do I Have to Follow-Up?
You will follow up in 2 weeks to assess how you feel about the size, symptom management, and ensure there is no pain or complications. After that, you will follow up in about 3 months. With good independent management, you will only need to be seen 1-2 times per year to manage your pessary and be fit for a new one at least annually.
