Elitone pelvic floor trainer review: I tried this 'zero effort' device for 6 weeks and haven't looked back

The Elitone pelvic floor trainer is the go-to for those with more to spend who want the easy life when it comes to improving the strength of their pelvic floor. Having never used a trainer before, I had some doubts, but the results I saw after six weeks made me a big fan of the brand.

Bladder leaks and drips are no joke and can land anywhere from a minor inconvenience to a life-changing problem, trust me. As a woman in menopause who's birthed two children, I know these issues only too well. I also know I'm far from the only one, with a study by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists finding that at least 60% of us suffer some form of incontinence and other issues related to a weak pelvic floor, mostly due to childbirth and menopause. Finding ways to deal with the issue is vital.

Of course, you can strengthen your pelvic floor without using one of the best pelvic floor trainers. Kegel exercises are proven to help and are completely free to do. But if you're like me and struggle to do them or wish something could just do them for you so you don't have to think about it, these devices can offer hands-free help - and the Elitone is one of the very best. I tried it for six weeks and haven't looked back.

Elitone pelvic floor trainer review

Specifications

• Material: Non-toxic hydrogels
• Dimensions: 20 x 9 cm gel pad
• Charge time: 1 hour
• Battery: USB rechargeable
• Running Time: 3 days of use maximum
• Warranty: 6 months
• Waterproof: No
• Storage: Charging case for controller and cables but not the gel pads.

Who is the Elitone pelvic floor trainer for?

Elitone says the pelvic floor trainer is for everyone - all ages and incontinence severity - but those with a weak pelvic floor postpartum, those going through menopause, and those with urgency symptoms will find particular benefit.

Most pelvic floor trainers are worn internally and require you to do Kegel exercises around the device. Not only is this invasive, but it requires a good knowledge of how to do Kegel exercises before you've even spent money on the device. Not the Elitone - it works by delivering small electrical signals to the pelvic floor muscles, mimicking the effects of Kegel exercises without you actually doing them, making it perfect for beginners and those who'd rather avoid using a device internally.

You will need to use the Elitone pelvic floor trainer at home, however. As the device is made up of a controller and gel pads, it's not very portable - unlike other devices, such as the Elvie pelvic floor trainer, which is woman&home's top pick. The controller itself and charging cables fit nicely into the provided storage case, but the gel pads are too big and don’t fit the case. This makes it a difficult device to travel with, but unless you're looking to take your pelvic trainer on holiday with you, this shouldn't be too much of an issue.

What is the Elitone pelvic floor trainer like to use?

First things first, the Elitone pelvic floor trainer is made up of a controller and 10 gel pads - and is unlike any other one I've tried. The gel pads are stuck to plastic sheets, about the size of a DL envelope. When you peel the gel pad off its plastic sheet for the first time, you’ll see just how sticky the gel is.

Positioning them around your vagina is a little tricky initially, but I soon got the hang of it. The gel pads fit around your anus and vagina, all the way up to your pubic bone. Once in place, the gel pads are comfortable, and you could easily forget you’re wearing them. If you have a lot of pubic hair, there may be some trouble getting the gel to stick to your skin, but I didn’t find this to be an issue. And don't worry, it's not like ripping off a plaster when you remove the gel pads - they peel away from the skin very easily.

Once the gel pad is in place, the gel pad cable can be clipped on. This is attached to the controller at the other end. Switch on the controller by holding down either the plus or minus button and press the plus button until the electrical pulses are at the level you feel comfortable with. The controller has a belt clip so you can attach it to your clothes and go about your business while the Elitone goes through its program. It’s completely silent, which I appreciated, so no one would know you’re wearing it.

When the 20-minute cycle is over, simply remove your Elitone. The gel pads can be used at least three times or until they lose their stickiness, which I found to be around five times and enough for six weeks of usage. Once you've bought the device, you'll need to replace the pads to keep using it. These can set you back between £25 and £30, depending on where you buy them from, so there is some continued cost.

Elitone recommends using the device four or five times a week, spacing out the sessions. I found this doesn’t leave many rest days, so it was difficult to space out the rest days at first. I started out using mine every other day and gradually added in more days once I’d got used to it.

I did have some teething problems with the Elitone. If you hit the plus button to increase the level of stimulation without a slight pause in between each tap, the controller issues a red light warning and switches off. I had to contact support over this as I thought my controller had malfunctioned. The answer was to turn it back on, and if the green light shows, which mine did, to tap the plus button more slowly, which worked for me. But the controller is very sensitive. A few times, I simply picked up the controller and accidentally turned it on.

Once you get the hang of using it, though, and you learn how to handle it with care, it is really simple. Getting used to the intensity of the pulses was more of a learning curve for me than using the controller. I started off light, unsure of how quickly to go all in, but after a couple of weeks, I turned the intensity up and found this completely bearable. I also felt like it was having more effect. In hindsight, I would have turned the Elitone up higher from the beginning if I’d known how comfortable it is.

Despite the teething problems, the only issue I actually found with the Elitone was charging. It needs to be charged very regularly - between every second use, I found, and sometimes every use if I turned the stimulation up high. This was a little inconvenient as I would attach the gel pads and be set to use it, only to find the battery was dead. I'd like to see a longer battery life for this price tag but it does only take an hour to charge.

Results after 6 weeks

I used the Elitone pelvic floor trainer for six weeks, as is recommended to see results, and I really liked it. It's non-invasive and easy to use once you get the hang of it. I also liked that you could go about your day while wearing it, unlike other devices (such as the Juno Femfit pelvic floor trainer and Intimina pelvic floor trainer) where you do prescribed programs a couple of times a week. There are benefits to the little-and-often method and it may work better for some people, of course, but I preferred this way of training my pelvic floor.

But most importantly, it actually works. After six weeks, the main difference I've found (that's truly life changing) is the reduction of urgency symptoms. Anyone who suffers from urgency incontinence knows how inconvenient this can be, so I was very impressed with this. I also have a lot less bladder leakage, which is the end goal for any pelvic floor trainer. All without having to do any Kegel exercises or wear an uncomfortable device.

If you are considering buying an Elitone, keep in mind, after the recommended six weeks of use, most women do feel the need to continue using it, though less frequently, to keep on top of leaks.

Is the Elitone pelvic floor trainer worth buying?

Yes, without a doubt, if your budget can stretch to the £399 price tag, then the Elitone pelvic floor trainer is a winner. With such ease and good results in just over a month, I do think it's worth it - without a doubt. The benefits I've found are completely life-improving, and I'll keep using the trainer for as long as I need to.

However, you do trade money for convenience here. There's no getting away from the fact that this is an expensive device to buy, and the ongoing cost of replacing the gel pads (between £25 and £30) is worth considering as well.