Continence, Urology and Colorectal (CUCS) Pericalm Vaginal Use
Pericalm Vaginal Use - Information
What is Pericalm?
Pericalm is a medical device that gives neuro muscular electrical stimulation (NMES).
Electrical stimulation contracts the pelvic floor muscles, causing the muscles to feel like they are being gently pulled upwards. By contracting the muscles the Pericalm is used to:
- give initial strength to the pelvic floor muscles.
- help you understand and perform your pelvic floor muscle exercises correctly.
NMES is used for several months, dependant on how weak your pelvic floor muscles are and how compliant you are in using the equipment.
Your Nurse will set and lock a programme on the Pericalm, following your assessment.
Start off by doing 5-10 minutes per day and build up to 20-30 minutes per day.
Is it safe?
Yes, but you must tell the nurse specialist before treatment if you have any of the following:
- A cardiac pacemaker
- vaginal/anal infection or thrush previous or present cancer
- previous or present abnormal smears
- haemorrhoids (nurse will assess and advice)
- or if you are pregnant
What is the best position for this treatment?
Lying on your back or side, which ever you feel most relaxed in.
What if my battery runs out?
You need to buy a new one, the pericalm uses a 9 vault battery.
What do I do with the pericalm unit after I have finished the treatment?
Your pericalm unit is on loan. Please return it with the wires (which connect the unit to the probe) in its bag and box to the nurse. Do not return your probe. When you have finished with your probe it should be disposed of in your household rubbish bin in 2 plastic bags.
How to use Pericalm vaginally
How to use Pericalm vaginally
Remember- do not insert or remove the vaginal probe while the pericalm is on.
- Find a suitable time of day to undertake treatment
- Check all connections are correctly attached
- Insert probe into vagina using water based gel, leaving the ring of the probe outside the vagina
- Turn the pericalm on
- Using the + button on the side where the wires are inserted, slowly increase the MA (milliamps) until you can feel a sensation in your vagina and then a pulsating feeling
- Continue increasing the intensity as high as you can (up to 80MA) but it should not be painful
- If you have taken the MA too high, use the – button to reduce
- Once you start to adjust MA, the clock symbol will flash. This is to let you know your treatment has started
- Leave the programme running until the clock stops flashing or there are no minutes left on the Pericalm
- Turn off the Pericalm
- Remove from the vagina using the ring to pull it out, relax as much as possible to assist comfortable removal
- Wipe / wash vagina and dry
- Wash your probe as in the instructions with the probe packaging
- Do not store your probe in the bag with the Pericalm unit. This is because the Pericalm unit and the bag will be used again by another patient
