With a staggering 6 million people in the UK experiencing issues related to a weak pelvic floor – whether that’s due to childbirth, age or the menopause – the Elvie pelvic floor exerciser has a huge audience. The big question, though, is what makes it stand out in the sea of devices designed to strengthen the pelvic floor? And is it worth it? Health author and mum-of-three Mandy Ruther finds out.
Gamification is when you turn something into a game to motivate users. To take the idea literally, it’s why play Just dancing is fun, but dancing alone is a bit boring. The Elvie Trainer, a strong contender for one of the best pelvic floor trainers, aims to gamify Kegels to encourage you to do them more often and correctly. The app motivates you to do pelvic floor exercises regularly and to do your best.
Since this is one of the most awarded and best-selling pelvic floor exercisers, I put the device to the test to find out if it lives up to all those expectations.
Elvie Pelvic Floor Trainer Review
Specifications
- Material: Silicone
- Weight: 24 grams
- Dimensions: (HxWxD) 80x35x33mm
- Charging time: approx. 1 hour
- Battery: USB rechargeable
- Playing time: Multiple weeks of use
- Guarantee: 2 years
- Water resistant: Yes
- Storage: Comes with a charging case
The Elvie Pelvic Floor Trainer has been rated 4.5 stars by our independent reviewer and is a great choice for those new to pelvic floor training or those looking to try something that takes less time than a daily device. While it is on the pricey side, it is worth it if your budget allows.
Who is the Elvie pelvic floor trainer suitable for?
The Elvie Trainer comes with a premium, discreet charging case and can be slipped into a handbag for travel. However, you generally won’t need to take it with you, as it’s expected to be used three times a week. This was a relief after testing devices that expect daily exercise.
The downside is that it’s not part of your daily routine, making it harder to remember to do Kegels. The app can send you push notifications to remind you, which is handy, but as I learned when I tested the Junofem Femfit device, there are advantages to having a daily device.
The Elvie is very easy to use and because you only need to do the exercises a few times a week, it is a suitable device for people who are completely new to doing kegel exercises and for people who want to find a better way to stick to their routine.
(Image credit: Elvie)
What is it like to use the Elvie pelvic floor trainer?
The Elvie Trainer is small and cute. It’s about the size of a (very) full teaspoon, but with the handle bent backwards. The whole thing is covered in soft silicone that’s waterproof and flexible. You might want to put a little of your best lube in there when you first use it. It comes with a charging case that’s the size and shape of a toilet roll, but plain white and with a premium feel.
The curved “spoon handle” is soft and very flexible. When you insert the rest of the Elvie Trainer, it curls forward and sits against your labia without discomfort. If you find the trainer is a little too small and can slide down, it comes with an optional silicone sleeve that makes it a little bigger.
You can leave it in and you won’t see it, but I don’t see the need to do that. You put it in for a few minutes, do your exercises, then take it out and wash it quickly with body safe soap.
I liked the shape and size. It’s cute and waterproof and didn’t fall off because of the shape. The only thing I didn’t like about the design is that there is no external button. A firm squeeze on the body of the device wakes it up and pairs it with the app… but every now and then the app loses connection mid-exercise and you have to take it out and squeeze it again. A button on the end of the “spoon handle” would have been more convenient.
The Elvie pelvic floor trainer is small and compact.
(Image credit: Future)
Downloading the Elvie Trainer app was easy, but it did take a few tries to initially pair the device. As discussed, you give it a firm squeeze to activate.
Every time you use the app it starts calibrating – a great idea. You are assured that the device is in the right position and the app sets achievable goals, pushing you as far as you can.
The exercises in the app are pretty standard. You do a few quick pelvic floor exercises and a few slower ones where you hold the muscles. A gem on the screen indicates how hard you are squeezing as you try to hit targets. You switch between these two exercises a few times, which is good because it doesn’t get boring. There’s a single squeeze-as-hard-as-you-can exercise at the end that reminded me of the carnival game High Striker where you hit a lever with a hammer to try to ring a bell. Yes, you too can be a circus Strong Woman with the Elvie Pelvic floor trainer.
Overall, the exercise feedback was less precise than the multi-sensor visualization you get from other devices, but I found it good enough. I was motivated to exercise and that’s what really matters.
How is the sound and charging on Elvie?
The Elvie pelvic floor trainer is silent – unlike vibrating pelvic floor trainers such as the Intimina KegelSmart 2 and Satisfyer Love Birds 2. You can use it anywhere.
Charging is also simple. The premium case that the device comes in also acts as the means of charging it, eliminating the need for countless USB chargers littering the house (although you will need one to charge the case). The battery lasts for several weeks between charges, and when it does need to be charged, it only takes about an hour to be fully charged again.
The device appears to have a standby mode and also an off mode. What I mean is that you can pick up the Elvie and use it within a few days, but if it hasn’t been used for a week the app will say, “Elvie Trainer has been inactive for a while. Charge Elvie Trainer for five seconds to turn it on.” That’s clever (although a little embarrassing given that I haven’t used it for a week), but inconvenient if you don’t have a USB cable handy.
Screenshots of the Elvie pelvic floor trainer in use.
(Image credit: Elvie)
Is the Elvie Pelvic Floor Trainer Worth It?
I’m torn between the Elvie Trainer and the Junofem Femfit. The Elvie is easy to use and the app is fun. Plus, the makers only expect you to use it a few times a week, making it a better fit for a busy lifestyle than other devices you have to use every day. The Femfit has multiple sensors for detailed feedback to help you improve your technique, but it’s pricey and can slip out of position too quickly for my taste.
After testing both, I concluded that the Femfit is technically better at pelvic floor training, but it feels like a medical device that requires serious time and effort. Personally, I know I’ll use the Elvie sooner, because I just found it more comfortable to use. It’s simple, not complicated, so in my opinion it’s worth the price.
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