With up to 6 million people in the UK experiencing issues related to a weak pelvic floor - whether through childbirth, age, or menopause - the Elvie pelvic floor trainer has a big audience. The big question is though, what makes this one different in the sea of devices designed to strengthen the pelvic floor? And is it worth it? Health writer 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 playing Just Dance is fun but dancing by yourself is a bit boring. The Elvie Trainer, a strong contender for one of the best pelvic floor trainers, sets out to gamify Kegels to encourage you to do them right and more often. Its app motivates you to do regular pelvic floor exercises and to try your best.
Given that this is one of the award-winning and bestselling pelvic floor trainers, I tested the device to find out if it's all it's cracked up to be.
Elvie pelvic floor trainer review
Specifications
- Material: Silicone
- Weight: 24g
- Dimensions: (HxWxD) 80x35x33mm
- Charge time: approx. 1 hour
- Battery: USB rechargeable
- Running time: Several weeks of use
- Warranty: 2 years
- Waterproof: Yes
- Storage: Comes with a charging case
Rated 4.5 stars by our independent reviewer, the Elvie pelvic floor trainer is an excellent choice for those new to pelvic floor training or wanting to try something less time-consuming than a daily device. While it's on the pricier end of the spectrum, it's worth it if the budget can stretch.
Who does the Elvie pelvic floor trainer suit?
The Elvie Trainer comes with a premium, discreet charging case and you can tuck it in a handbag, should you need to travel with it. You don’t generally need to carry it around though because the expectation is to use it three times a week. This came as some relief after testing ones that expect daily exercises.
The disadvantage is that it’s not part of your daily routine, making it harder to remember to do the Kegels. Helpfully, the app can send push notifications to remind you, but as I learnt when I tested the Junofem Femfit device, there are advantages to having a daily device.
The Elvie is very simple to use, and as it only expects you to do the exercises a couple of times a week, it's a suitable device for those totally new to doing kegel exercises and those who want a better way to stick to their routine.
What is the Elvie pelvic floor trainer like to use?
The Elvie Trainer is petite and cute. It’s about the size of a (very) heaped teaspoon, but with the handle bent back on itself. The whole thing is covered in soft-touch silicone that’s waterproof and flexible. You may want to use a touch of your best lube when using it for the first time though. It comes with a charging case the size and shape of a toilet roll tube, but plain white and with a premium feel.
The bent-over “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 bit too small, and can slip down, it comes with an optional silicone cover that makes it a bit bigger.
You could leave it in and it would go unnoticed, but I can’t see the need to do so. You pop it in for a few minutes, do your exercises, then take it out and give it a quick wash with body-safe soap.
I liked the shape and size. It’s cute and waterproof and didn’t slip down thanks to the shape. The only thing I disliked about the design is that there’s no external button. A firm squeeze on the device body wakes it and ensures it pairs with the app… but occasionally the app loses connection mid-exercise and you have to take it out and squeeze again. A button on the end of the “spoon handle” would have been more convenient.
Downloading the Elvie Trainer app was easy but it did take a couple of attempts to initially pair the device. As discussed, you firmly squeeze it to wake it.
Each time you use the app, it starts by calibrating - an excellent idea. You’re reassured that the device is in the right position and the app sets attainable goals, pushing you just as far as you can reach.
The app exercises are pretty standard. You do a few fast pelvic floor squeezes and some slower ones where you hold the muscles. A gem on the screen represents how hard you’re squeezing as you try to hit targets. You alternate between these two exercises a few times, which is good because it doesn’t get boring. At the end, there’s a single squeeze-as-hard-as-you-can exercise which reminded me of the fairground High Striker game where you whack a lever with a mallet to try and ring the bell. Yes, you too can be a circus Strong Woman with the Elvie Pelvic floor trainer.
All in all, the feedback from the exercises was less precise than the multi-sensor visualisation you get from other devices, but I felt it was good enough. I was motivated to exercise and that’s what really matters.
What are noise and charging like with Elvie?
The Elvie pelvic floor trainer is silent - unlike vibrating pelvic floor exercisers like the Intimina KegelSmart 2 and Satisfyer Love Birds 2. You can use it anywhere.
Charging is also easy. The premium case that holds the device is also the way to charge it, taking away the need for numerous USB chargers floating around the house (although you do need one to charge the case). The battery lasts several weeks between charges and when it does need charging, it only takes about an hour to get back up to full charge.
The device seems 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 couple of days but if it’s left a week, the app says: “Elvie Trainer has been inactive for a while. Please charge Elvie Trainer for five seconds to turn on.” That’s clever (if a bit embarrassing that I went a week without using it) but inconvenient if you don’t have a USB cable to hand.
Is the Elvie pelvic floor trainer worth it?
I’m torn between recommending the Elvie Trainer or the Junofem Femfit. The Elvie is simple to use and the app is fun. Plus, the makers only expect you to use the device a couple of times a week, making it a better fit for busy lifestyles than others you need to use every day. The Femfit boasts multiple sensors for detailed feedback to help hone your technique - but it’s pricey and can slip out of position too easily for my liking.
Having tested both, I concluded that the Femfit is technically better at pelvic floor training but it feels like a medical device you need to invest serious time and energy into using. Personally, I know I’m more likely to use the Elvie because I just liked using it more. It’s straightforward, not fiddly, so it's worth the price tag in my eyes.
