Stress incontinence
Leakage with coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting, running or jumping. Pelvic floor weakness and urethral support are often involved.
Emsella
Pelvic floor treatment in Sydney
Emsella for Pelvic Floor Weakness and Urinary Leakage
Emsella is a chair-based treatment that uses high-intensity focused electromagnetic energy to stimulate pelvic floor muscle contractions. It may support women and men whose bladder control is affected by pelvic floor weakness, including leakage with coughing, exercise or everyday movement.
You remain fully clothed for a session of about 28 to 30 minutes and can usually return to normal activities afterwards. Emsella is convenient, but it does not replace a diagnosis, supervised pelvic-floor training or specialist care when symptoms point to another bladder or pelvic condition.
Start with the symptom pattern
Not all urinary leakage has the same cause
Knowing when leakage occurs helps decide whether muscle stimulation is relevant or whether bladder training, pelvic-health physiotherapy, medicine or another investigation should come first.
Urgency incontinence
A sudden compelling urge followed by leakage, often with frequency or waking at night. Bladder behaviour and medical causes need consideration.
Mixed incontinence
A combination of stress and urgency symptoms. Treatment usually focuses first on the symptom that is most disruptive.
Overflow leakage, difficulty emptying the bladder, recurrent infection, pelvic pain or new neurological symptoms need medical assessment rather than automatic pelvic-floor strengthening.
Who may benefit
A practical option when weakness contributes to symptoms
Emsella may be considered when urinary control is affected by reduced pelvic floor strength or difficulty performing a strong, coordinated contraction. Common contexts include childbirth, menopause, ageing and selected post-prostate treatment recovery.
- Leakage with impact or pressureFor symptoms triggered by exercise, coughing, sneezing or lifting.
- Difficulty isolating the pelvic floorThe chair produces contractions without an internal probe or voluntary effort.
- Preference for a non-invasive formatNo incisions, anaesthetic or undressing are required.
- Women and selected menFemale evidence is more developed; evidence in men remains smaller and is often post-prostatectomy.
Strengthening is not always the answer
A pelvic floor can be weak, poorly coordinated, overactive or unable to relax. People with pelvic pain, painful sex, constipation with straining or a known hypertonic pelvic floor may need relaxation and coordination work rather than stronger contractions.
A pelvic-health physiotherapist can assess muscle tone and technique directly. Emsella may complement a rehabilitation plan, but it should not be assumed to replace that assessment.
How the chair works
Electromagnetic stimulation while you remain clothed
A coil inside the seat generates a changing electromagnetic field. Positioning and intensity affect where the contractions are felt.
Motor-nerve stimulation
The field activates peripheral motor nerves serving the pelvic floor, producing repeated involuntary contractions.
Progressive intensity
Energy is increased according to comfort and muscle response. Treatment can feel like strong rhythmic lifting, tingling or vibration.
Course-based treatment
Six sessions over about three weeks is a common starting schedule. The appropriate course and maintenance plan vary.
Evidence in context
Promising symptom improvement, with limits in the research
A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis indexed on PubMed included seven studies of HIFEM treatment in women with urinary incontinence. Pooled results suggested fewer leakage episodes and improved symptom scores compared with controls.
Quality of life may improve
Many included studies reported reduced symptoms and better day-to-day quality of life after treatment.
Muscle findings were less certain
Pooled changes in measured contraction and resting tone were not significantly different from controls.
Studies were heterogeneous
Protocols, participants and outcome measures varied, and the review identified possible bias.
Results cannot be guaranteed
Better-quality blinded trials and longer follow-up are still needed, particularly for different symptom groups and men.
What to expect
Your Emsella treatment course
The chair itself is straightforward. The more important work happens before and after: confirming suitability, setting useful goals and reviewing whether symptoms actually change.
Assessment
Leakage pattern, bladder urgency, childbirth or prostate history, pelvic pain, medicines, implants and previous treatment are reviewed. A bladder diary or validated symptom questionnaire can create a more useful baseline.
Chair session
Remove electronic devices and metal objects as instructed, then sit fully clothed in the centred treatment position. Intensity rises gradually while the pelvic floor contracts and relaxes.
Review and next steps
Most people resume normal activity immediately. Muscle fatigue or soreness can occur. Progress should be judged by leakage frequency, pad use, urgency and confidence, not sensation during the session alone.
Where Emsella fits
Emsella, pelvic-floor physiotherapy and other care
Urinary incontinence often responds best to a plan rather than one device. Supervised pelvic-floor muscle training remains an established first-line treatment for women with stress or mixed incontinence.
| Approach | What it contributes | When it may fit | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supervised pelvic-floor training | Teaches voluntary strength, relaxation, coordination and a home programme. | First-line care for many stress or mixed urinary symptoms. | Requires correct technique, regular practice and follow-through. |
| Emsella HIFEM chair | Produces external electromagnetic pelvic floor contractions without an internal probe. | Weakness, difficulty activating muscles or preference for a fully clothed treatment. | Cannot diagnose the cause or teach voluntary control by itself. |
| Bladder training and medical care | Addresses urgency, frequency, infection, medicines and bladder behaviour. | Urgency-predominant, mixed or unexplained symptoms. | The correct pathway depends on diagnosis and may require several strategies. |
| Specialist procedures or surgery | Targets selected structural or persistent continence problems. | Symptoms that remain troublesome after conservative treatment or need structural correction. | Greater intervention, recovery and procedure-specific risk. |
Safety screening
Who should not use the Emsella chair?
Because the chair creates a strong electromagnetic field and repeated muscle contractions, screening for implants, pregnancy and medical conditions is essential.
Tell the clinician before treatment if you have:
- Pregnancy or possible pregnancy
- A pacemaker, defibrillator or neurostimulator
- An implanted electronic device or drug pump
- Metal in the pelvis, lower spine or treatment field
- A metal-containing IUD or another pelvic implant
- Recent surgery that strong contractions could disrupt
- A bleeding disorder or anticoagulant treatment
- Significant heart, lung, neurological or malignant disease
- Fever, acute illness or reduced sensation in the area
Arrange medical review first
Blood in the urine, burning or fever, recurrent urinary infections, difficulty starting or emptying the bladder, new pelvic pain, a vaginal bulge, new leg weakness or numbness, or sudden loss of bladder or bowel control should be assessed before Emsella is considered.
Medical Aesthetics 360
Emsella consultations in Sydney
Assessment is available across Chatswood and Hurstville. Recommendations are based on the symptom pattern, relevant medical history and whether chair treatment, pelvic-health physiotherapy or medical review is the more appropriate next step.
Hurstville Clinic41-43 Dora Street
Hurstville NSW 2220
Hurstville MediSpaShop 2/15 Dora Street
Hurstville NSW 2220
Chatswood ClinicSuite 203/38B Albert Avenue
Chatswood NSW 2067
Common questions
Emsella FAQs
What is Emsella?
Emsella is a chair-based device that uses high-intensity focused electromagnetic energy to stimulate repeated pelvic floor contractions. It is non-invasive and used while the patient remains fully clothed.
Which types of urinary leakage may respond?
The strongest practical fit is often stress leakage associated with pelvic floor weakness, with possible use in selected mixed symptoms. Urgency-predominant, overflow or unexplained leakage needs appropriate bladder and medical assessment.
Is Emsella the same as doing Kegel exercises?
No. The chair produces involuntary contractions through electromagnetic stimulation. Pelvic-floor exercises teach voluntary control, coordination and relaxation that can be continued at home. The two approaches may complement each other.
Does Emsella replace pelvic-floor physiotherapy?
Not necessarily. Physiotherapy can identify weakness, overactivity, poor relaxation and coordination, then teach a personalised programme. This is particularly important for pelvic pain or a hypertonic pelvic floor.
How long is an Emsella session?
A session is usually about 28 to 30 minutes. Allow additional time for the first visit, screening and correct positioning.
Do I need to undress?
No. Treatment is performed through clothing. Metal objects and electronic devices should be removed or managed according to the clinic's safety instructions.
Is Emsella painful?
Most people feel strong rhythmic contractions, tingling or vibration rather than pain. Intensity is increased gradually. Tell the clinician if the sensation is painful or feels incorrectly positioned.
Is there downtime or soreness?
Most people return to normal activity immediately. Temporary muscle fatigue, soreness, spasm or joint and tendon discomfort can occur. Persistent or concerning symptoms should be reported.
How many sessions will I need?
Six sessions, often delivered twice weekly over approximately three weeks, are a common starting course. The schedule and any maintenance depend on symptoms, response and the wider continence plan.
When might I notice improvement?
Some people report an early change, while others notice improvement during or after the full course. Tracking leakage episodes, pad use and urgency provides a more reliable measure than relying on sensation alone.
Can men have Emsella?
Men may be considered, including selected patients with urinary leakage after prostate treatment once medically cleared. The evidence base in men is smaller than in women, so expectations should remain individual.
Can I have Emsella while pregnant or with an IUD?
Emsella should not be used during pregnancy. All IUDs and pelvic implants must be disclosed because metal-containing devices may be incompatible with treatment. Confirmation of the device type is required.
How much does Emsella cost in Sydney?
Cost depends on the recommended course and whether reviews or maintenance are included. A quotation should clearly state the number of sessions and what happens if further medical or physiotherapy assessment is advised.
Continue exploring
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Explore related technology, body-treatment information and Medical Aesthetics 360 clinic details.
Information is general and does not replace assessment by a GP, urologist, gynaecologist, continence nurse or pelvic-health physiotherapist. Suitability, treatment course and results vary. Seek urgent medical attention for sudden loss of bladder or bowel control with weakness or numbness.