Electronic pelvic floor toners

Hi liz21379, not sure of the technicalities but sounds like a great idea, I'm 12 weeks post op and not sure I've ever found my pelvic floor

Hello liz. I've seen this one advertised recently. I have a different make and used it before my surgery, in fact it was before my prolapse so it didn't help there unfortunately. I have used it since but not noticed any difference with the muscle tone in my vagina. I know a few Urogynaecologists say don't waste your money but I'm sure other ladies will give you some advice.

I've got one. It was recommended to me by my physiotherapist. It is expensive but I found it was the only thing that woke my pelvic floor muscles up. It's not going to cure a prolapse but does help strengthen the other muscles.

Hi liz. I would definatley recommend you invest in one, if you can afford to. I got mine over 6 years ago, a different model though recommended by my Physiotherapist. I would like to invest in a newer model but as you say it's a bit steep, mine was about £30 then. They are great for strengthening your muscles and it makes me feel a lot tighter down there. Also if you get days where you feel like you can't do the exercise, it does it for you. Physio's I've seen over the years use them at their clinics. Also 10 seconds is great, some days mine are between 5-10. One thing you must do though is find out how soon after surgery you can use it. Good luck x

Hi guys - thanks everyone for your help (and entertainment) think I'm going to try a mid ranged one at £50 see how it goes as it's got good reviews - will let you all know the outcome x

I have to nail my colours to the mast as you will see from my name, so whilst I declare an interest, I also want to mention a few things that might help your choice one way or another. I wasn’t sure if I should answer, but I want to just state a few things here that will help you make a choice, any choice that is right for you.

I’ve read a lot of comments on this thread and what I would say is this. You know yourself, you know if you are diligent and methodical with manual pelvic floor exercise. If you are, then manual pelvic floor exercises, especially those taught by a Physiotherapist will work fine for you, as long as you continue to do them. If however, like many of us, you know you are not diligent to keep up the routine of regular manual exercise then please do buy an electronic machine. Electronic machines take the guess work out of locating the muscles, exercise more deeply and are easy to do in our hectic multi-tasking lives.

The common denominator we all have on here is that at some point our pelvic floor muscles have become weak or been damaged, either through childbirth, weight gain, menopause, constipation, high impact sport, heavy lifting at work etc. or any number of things. Surgery cannot fix a weak pelvic floor, only the symptoms. So following your surgery, the weak pelvic floor remains. If you do not change your habits/lifestyle – the symptoms could return. As anyone will tell you, repeat surgery is usually less successful than the first. So as you have gone through this major surgery, make it last a lifetime and strengthen up, because many women cannot face further surgery and resign themselves to pads and pain from a very early age if a prolapse returns or another pelvic organ prolapses.

This does not have to be the case.

Following the surgery, please please strengthen up your pelvic floor muscles. Ideally a 3-month Boot Camp daily, thereafter 2 – 3 times a week. I like to use the analogy that you would not expect to keep your teeth without cleaning them daily - your teeth would fall out. Your pelvic floor is the same, if you don’t exercise it the pelvic organs could prolapse again or other organs prolapse.  

When a pelvic floor is weak it is difficult to actually engage the muscles to work. They have deteriorated to such an extent the brain cannot trigger them to move. With an electronic pelvic toner the muscles have to work. The electrical pulse stimulates the redundant muscle into action. This makes the muscles work, it strengthens them, improves blood flow and builds them to make them strong and supportive again. This treatment was initially used for patients with Bell’s Palsy, to help treat their paralysed facial muscles.

The probe is designed to reach the optimum layer of muscles, but also there are alternative probes to stimulate muscles at the back part of the pelvic floor. We are all different, and have different needs but please consider if a certain probe may be better for your needs. If you’ve had treatment for a rectocele there are probes that direct the pulses that can be more beneficial in this instance.  

 Look at a machine that has the capability to have different levels of pulses on different sides of the vagina. Sometimes one side has less sensation than another, and a machine that can be adjusted to give the weaker, less sensation side more stimulation is ideal.

Also consider one that offers a choice of programmes – there are 12 different muscles in the pelvic floor muscle group, these all need different forms of stimulation. There are slow twitch fibres and fast twitch fibres – these all play a par in how well a pelvic floor functions.

Top tips for you and other women here?

Pelvic floor exercise – however you choose whichever model you choose, just do it, and don’t suddenly remember 6 months down the line that you forgot, because you cannot take these chances. Cones, electronic machines, Physio exercises – whatever works for you – but remember a kegel exerciser stuck at the back of your knicker drawer will help no one! USE IT!

Weight – watch it. This is critical to your pelvic floor. Losing 10% of your body weight improves PF strength by 50%

Posture – Improve your posture. Sit up, BBC – bum at the back of the chair. Sit on your ‘sit’ bones, not your tail bone. Shoulders back.

Constipation – beat it. Naturally if possible as laxatives and meds weaken the muscles. Get a toilet stool to change the angle for an easier bowel movement.

Vit D3 – if you are exercising, boost the levels of this vitamin. Women with a weak pelvic floor tend to have low levels of this vitamin and boosting it does help make exercising more effective

No high impact exercise, no sit ups, no crunches. Check out Aussie Physio Michelle Kenway for safe pelvic floor exercises.

I hope this helps you Liz.

All the best!