Pregnancy and birth are not only an exciting event for the parents-to-be with many changes, but the body is also subject to certain adjustments and adaptations. To give the growing baby the space it needs, both the connective tissue and the muscles are stretched considerably. Around one in four women have problems holding their urine after a vaginal delivery – a widespread but unfortunately often taboo subject. Emsella® therapy is a gentle way to train the pelvic floor muscles in a targeted and intensive manner and thus treat bladder weakness after childbirth. The procedure works entirely without surgery or injections. You can find out what this is all about and who Emsella® is suitable for right here.
The different types of urinary incontinence
Urinary incontinence (colloquially known as bladder weakness) is one of the most common conditions worldwide and occurs in all age groups, with the risk increasing with age. In Germany alone, it is estimated that between six and eight million people are affected. On average, women struggle with urinary incontinence around two to four times more often than men. Stress incontinence accounts for around half of all cases in women.
There are different types of incontinence. Depending on the factors considered, a variety of different forms can be determined. The following three main types of urinary incontinence should be mentioned:
Stress incontinence: loss of urine during physical exertion (e.g. climbing stairs, sport, jumping, coughing, sneezing, laughing) due to a sudden increase in pressure in the abdomen
Urge incontinence: bladder storage disorder in which the bladder muscle contracts even with small amounts of fluid; strong urge to urinate, which leads to loss of urine
Mixed incontinence: combines symptoms of stress and urge incontinence; one of the two forms of incontinence is usually more significant
Bladder weakness after childbirth: these are the reasons
Involuntary loss of urine after childbirth is usually due to stress incontinence. The trigger is usually the pelvic floor muscles, which have been overstretched as a result of pregnancy and have slackened as a result. During pregnancy, the hormone relaxin, among other things, ensures that the ligaments and muscles in the pelvic area become more elastic to support the delivery.
The pelvic floor muscles form the floor of the abdominal cavity and support the bladder muscles in closing or opening the urethra. A sagging pelvic floor can no longer perform this function optimally, which can lead to uncontrolled urine leakage after the birth. Other influencing and risk factors that can play a role in the development of bladder weakness during and after pregnancy are
Emsella®: intensive muscle training for the pelvic floor
Like other muscles, the pelvic floor muscles can also be trained and thus strengthened to counteract bladder weakness. Postnatal exercise after pregnancy does not go as planned for all women or in some cases is not possible at all for certain reasons, which can lead to persistent symptoms such as stress incontinence.
This is where Emsella® comes in: the BTL Emsella® is a medical chair that works with a highly focused electromagnetic field. This so-called HIFEM technology ensures that the pelvic floor muscles contract and relax again. In this way, the pelvic floor muscles are trained 100 percent – to a degree that cannot be achieved with conventional training. Intensive training with Emsella® strengthens the pelvic floor after childbirth and sustainably reduces symptoms of stress incontinence.
One of the great advantages of Emsella® is that patients do not have to do anything during treatment and the body is hardly burdened at all. The patient simply sits down on the chair, relaxed and clothed. During the treatment, slight vibrations or a tingling sensation can usually be felt, but patients do not describe this as unpleasant.
The treatment is finished after about 30 minutes and no further measures need to be taken. Emsella® therefore offers a simple, low-risk and effective method of treating bladder weakness.
When can Emsella® be used after the birth?
After pregnancy and childbirth, the body should be given time to recover and regenerate. As Emsella® is particularly gentle and harmless, treatment can be started as early as six weeks after delivery – as soon as everything has healed. The start time and intervals of the individual treatments are always discussed and determined individually.
Good to know: Emsella® for men
The BTL Emsella® is not only suitable for women after pregnancy. Men who want to specifically train their muscles also benefit from the treatment. Emsella® helps to strengthen the inner core and performance. This can be a good option for athletes who want to integrate intensive training into their schedule.
In addition, Emsella® can be useful for both men and women with a sexual dysfunction in order to positively influence the individual sensation of pleasure and increase sexual health. The treatment is suitable for both young and older patients.
last update: 19.09.2023
