Published clinical research in men has reported improvements in urinary incontinence, pad dependence, nocturia, quality of life and, in smaller early studies, aspects of erectile and sexual function following high-intensity focused electromagnetic pelvic floor treatment.
Read continence and sexual-function findings separately
A continence questionnaire measures a different outcome from an erection or sexual-function questionnaire. Keep each result attached to its own study population, sample size, protocol and follow-up; improvement in one outcome should not be reported as improvement in the other.
Can EMSELLA Help With Sexual Function or Erection Quality in Men? · EMSELLA after prostate surgery: what the male incontinence pilot study found · Measuring pelvic-floor progress: what is useful to track?
The strongest direct EMSELLA evidence in men currently relates to urinary incontinence after prostate surgery.
Published studies have reported outcomes including:
reductions in urinary incontinence severity
fewer pads required per day
some patients becoming pad-free
improvement in nocturia
reduced impact of urinary leakage on daily activities
improved sleep and energy scores
improved emotional and social quality-of-life measures
improvements in selected measures of erection maintenance and sexual function
The evidence is encouraging, but the male EMSELLA literature remains smaller than the female urinary-incontinence evidence base.
At ¹EM, we use these results to inform treatment discussions, not to promise that every patient will achieve the same percentages.
EMSELLA results in men at a glance
Clinical outcome | Published finding |
Post-prostate urinary symptom severity | 53.1% average improvement after six sessions in a 2025 EMSELLA® study |
Post-prostate urinary symptom severity at one month | 60.6% average improvement |
Pad use | 42.7% reduction immediately after treatment and 53.7% at one month in the 2025 study |
Pad-free patients | 13 of 27 men reported no longer requiring pads at one-month follow-up |
Nocturia | 46.2% improvement reported in a small 2024 male HIFEM study |
Erection maintenance | 37% improvement reported in a small 2024 male HIFEM study |
Sleep/energy | 53.3% improvement in a 10-man post-prostatectomy pilot |
Emotional impact | 42.5% improvement in the same pilot cohort |
Social limitations | 42.2% improvement in the same pilot cohort |
Daily role limitations | 31.4% improvement in the same pilot cohort |
These figures come from different studies involving different men, treatment schedules and outcome measures. They should not be combined into an expected result for one individual patient.
What is the strongest EMSELLA study in men so far?
A 2025 clinical study evaluated 27 men with persistent urinary incontinence following radical prostatectomy.
The men underwent:
6 EMSELLA sessions
approximately 28 minutes per session
2 sessions per week
Their average urinary incontinence score, measured using the ICIQ-SF, decreased from 10.58 before treatment to 5.43 after the sixth session.
At one-month follow-up, the score had fallen further to 4.16.
That represented average improvements of:
53.1% after treatment
and
60.6% at one month
compared with baseline.
What happened to pad use?
Pad dependence also decreased substantially in that 2025 study.
Among participants using pads at baseline, average use decreased from 2.57 pads per day to:
1.45 pads per day after the six-session course
and
1.13 pads per day at one-month follow-up.
That represented average reductions of approximately:
42.7% after treatment
and
53.7% at one month.
Some men stopped using pads altogether.
After six sessions, 9 of the 27 men reported no longer requiring pads.
At one month, this had increased to 13 of 27 men.
These are particularly useful clinical outcomes because they represent something patients experience in everyday life rather than simply a change in a questionnaire score.
Did results continue improving after treatment finished?
Yes, in that study.
Both urinary symptom scores and pad use improved further between the end of the six-session treatment course and the one-month follow-up.
This is consistent with the idea that pelvic floor muscle adaptation can continue after the final treatment session.
It is one reason ¹EM does not consider the result on the day of session six to necessarily be the final result.
What did the 2024 Azparren study find?
A 2024 pilot study by Javier Azparren and Judson Brandeis evaluated 10 men with persistent urinary incontinence following prostatectomy.
The men received:
six HIFEM sessions
28 minutes per session
twice weekly over three weeks
This is particularly relevant to the standard initial EMSELLA schedule used at ¹EM.
Every participant showed improvement in the study's quality-of-life assessment.
What happened to urinary incontinence and pad use?
Before treatment, all 10 men were using absorbent pads, averaging approximately 2.5 pads per day.
Following treatment:
average pad use decreased by approximately 40%
two of the ten men became completely pad-free
The study also reported a 30.4% improvement in the measured impact of urinary incontinence.
Again, this was a very small pilot study, so these percentages should be interpreted as encouraging early findings rather than expected individual results.
What happened to daily activities?
Urinary leakage can affect considerably more than bathroom use.
The Azparren study used the King's Health Questionnaire to examine how incontinence affected men's everyday lives.
The role limitations domain, which measures limitations placed on normal daily activities, improved by approximately 31.4% following treatment.
That matters because successful continence treatment is not simply about achieving a better questionnaire score.
Patients often want to:
exercise without worrying about leakage
leave home without planning around pads
travel more confidently
participate in social activities
sleep without repeated disruption
return to normal routines following prostate treatment
What did the study show about sleep and energy?
The largest improvement in the Azparren pilot was observed in the sleep/energy domain.
The score improved by approximately 53.3%.
This should not be interpreted as EMSELLA being a treatment for insomnia or fatigue.
Rather, urinary incontinence and nocturnal urinary problems can disrupt sleep and quality of life.
Improving the urinary problem may therefore reduce some of that secondary burden.
What about emotional wellbeing?
The same pilot study reported approximately 42.5% improvement in the emotional domain of the King's Health Questionnaire.
Urinary incontinence can affect:
embarrassment
anxiety about leakage
confidence outside the home
willingness to exercise
social participation
intimacy
Improving continence can therefore have consequences beyond the bladder itself.
EMSELLA should not, however, be marketed as a treatment for depression or another mental-health disorder.
The published result refers specifically to the emotional burden associated with urinary incontinence in this small group of men.
What happened to social confidence?
The social limitations domain improved by approximately 42.2% in the same 10-man pilot study.
Again, the correct interpretation is:
reducing urinary symptoms may reduce the degree to which incontinence interferes with social life.
It is not a promise that EMSELLA directly produces confidence or psychological wellbeing.
Has EMSELLA shown improvement in nocturia?
Yes, in early male HIFEM research.
A 2024 study led by Judson Brandeis evaluated men with urinary symptoms accompanied by erectile dysfunction.
Twenty men had complete data available for analysis following HIFEM pelvic floor treatment.
Their urinary symptoms improved from a moderate average level to a mild average level.
Among individual symptoms, researchers reported approximately:
46.2% improvement in nocturia
38.2% improvement in urinary intermittency
30% improvement in urinary frequency
following treatment.
Does that mean EMSELLA treats every case of nocturia?
No.
Nocturia means waking during the night to urinate.
It can have many possible contributors, including:
bladder dysfunction
prostate-related urinary symptoms
fluid intake
sleep disorders
cardiovascular conditions
diabetes
medications
other medical problems
Pelvic floor dysfunction may be part of the picture in some men, but it should not be assumed to explain every case.
At ¹EM, significant nocturia or urinary frequency is assessed clinically rather than automatically treated as weak pelvic floor muscles.
What has EMSELLA shown for erection quality?
Early research has reported improvements in selected measures of male sexual function.
In the 2024 Brandeis study, men reported a 37% improvement in their ability to maintain an erection through completion of intercourse following HIFEM pelvic floor treatment.
Other reported changes included:
24.2% improvement in satisfaction with sexual intercourse attempts
10.7% improvement in ejaculation frequency
18.9% improvement in frequency of orgasm or climax
These findings are interesting, but the study was small and observational.
They should therefore be considered early evidence, rather than proof that every man with erectile dysfunction will respond to EMSELLA.
Why might pelvic floor strength affect erection quality?
Certain male pelvic floor muscles contribute to erection rigidity and maintenance.
Pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation has separately been studied as a treatment strategy for erectile dysfunction.
EMSELLA provides intensive electromagnetic stimulation of these muscles without requiring the patient to voluntarily produce every contraction.
The biological rationale is therefore credible.
However, erectile dysfunction can also arise from:
vascular disease
cardiovascular risk factors
diabetes
neurological disease
hormone abnormalities
medications
prostate treatment
psychological factors
several factors simultaneously
At ¹EM, Dr Emir assesses whether pelvic floor dysfunction appears relevant rather than assuming all erectile dysfunction has the same cause.
Related article: Can EMSELLA Help With Sexual Function or Erection Quality?
What does the wider male magnetic-stimulation evidence show?
The evidence is broader than the small EMSELLA studies alone.
A 2026 rapid evidence assessment examined extracorporeal magnetic stimulation for urinary incontinence in adult men.
Researchers identified:
9 studies
181 men treated with magnetic stimulation
4 randomised controlled trials
Most participants were men experiencing urinary incontinence following prostatectomy.
The review found that magnetic stimulation:
produced earlier continence than pelvic floor muscle therapy in several studies
performed better than sham treatment in randomised studies
reduced urinary leakage
improved quality-of-life outcomes
produced a 48% reduction in 24-hour pad use in one study, with improvement maintained at 12.5 months
However, the authors concluded that the evidence remains limited and that larger, better-quality trials are needed.
This review included electromagnetic stimulation technologies more broadly and was not limited specifically to the EMSELLA device.
Is there randomised sham-controlled evidence?
Yes, for extracorporeal magnetic pelvic floor stimulation in men.
A 2025 quadruple-blind randomised trial involved 40 men with urinary incontinence following radical prostatectomy.
Twenty received active magnetic stimulation and twenty received sham treatment.
After eight weeks, researchers reported:
75% improvement rate with active treatment versus 26.3% with sham
45% continence rate versus 15.8% with sham
improvements in nocturia
fewer incontinence episodes
improved quality of life
improvement in some sexual-function measures
improved anxiety scores
No serious treatment-related side effects were reported.
This trial used a different magnetic-stimulation chair rather than EMSELLA, so it should not be presented as direct EMSELLA evidence.
It does, however, strengthen the broader evidence that extracorporeal magnetic pelvic floor stimulation can produce clinically meaningful effects in men following prostate surgery.
What results are most convincing for men?
At present, the clearest male clinical case is post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence.
The evidence includes:
direct EMSELLA studies
magnetic-stimulation randomised trials
reductions in validated incontinence scores
reduced pad dependence
increased numbers of pad-free patients
improved quality of life
The evidence for sexual and erectile function is promising but less mature.
That distinction is important.
At ¹EM, we can be confident discussing EMSELLA as a pelvic floor rehabilitation option for appropriately selected men with urinary continence problems, particularly after prostate treatment.
For erectile dysfunction, we explain that pelvic floor strengthening may form one part of the treatment strategy where pelvic floor function is contributing.
Does every man get these results?
No.
The published percentages describe groups of participants in clinical studies.
Individual response can depend on factors including:
cause of the symptoms
severity at baseline
time since prostate treatment
underlying pelvic floor function
age
neurological function
other medical conditions
adherence to rehabilitation
treatment protocol
the outcome being measured
A result such as 53% average improvement does not mean every patient improves by exactly 53%.
Some patients improve more.
Some improve less.
Some may not achieve a clinically meaningful response.
How quickly were results seen?
Several direct EMSELLA male studies measured meaningful changes after completing the treatment program.
In the 2025 post-prostatectomy study, improvement was documented after six sessions and increased further at the one-month review.
This is consistent with pelvic floor strengthening being a progressive process rather than an instant treatment effect.
Related article: How Soon Will I Notice Results?
How many sessions were used in the clinical studies?
Different studies have used different protocols.
The 2025 post-prostatectomy EMSELLA study used:
6 sessions
2 sessions per week
28 minutes per session.
The Azparren post-prostatectomy pilot used the same basic six-session, twice-weekly schedule.
The Brandeis study examining combined urinary and sexual outcomes used a longer protocol of 10 weekly sessions.
At ¹EM, the standard initial EMSELLA program is generally six sessions twice weekly, with the clinical plan based on the individual presentation rather than copying every research protocol.
Related article: How Many EMSELLA Sessions Are Recommended?
How does ¹EM measure whether a man is improving?
We focus on the problem that brought you to treatment.
For urinary incontinence, relevant changes can include:
daily pad use
number of leakage episodes
amount of leakage
leakage during exercise
leakage with coughing or movement
nocturia
effect on work and social activity
overall bladder confidence
For men with combined sexual-health concerns, relevant discussion may include:
erection rigidity
ability to maintain an erection
urinary leakage during intimacy
other pelvic floor symptoms
The goal is not simply to complete a treatment package.
It is to determine whether the symptoms affecting your life are improving.
Who might benefit most from discussing these results?
This evidence may be particularly relevant if you are a man experiencing:
persistent urinary leakage after prostatectomy
ongoing pad use after prostate treatment
stress urinary leakage
reduced pelvic floor control
nocturia alongside other pelvic floor symptoms
combined urinary and erectile concerns
difficulty effectively performing pelvic floor exercises
You do not need to determine yourself whether the pelvic floor is responsible.
That is part of the clinical assessment.
What if I have only erectile dysfunction and no urinary symptoms?
You can still discuss pelvic floor function with Dr Emir.
Pelvic floor muscles contribute to erectile mechanics, and early HIFEM research is encouraging.
However, the evidence base is currently stronger for urinary continence than for ED.
Erectile dysfunction can also be an indicator of broader vascular or medical issues.
It therefore deserves appropriate assessment rather than immediately being treated as isolated pelvic floor weakness.
Is EMSELLA a replacement for my urologist?
No.
Men following prostate surgery should continue appropriate specialist and cancer follow-up.
EMSELLA is a pelvic floor rehabilitation treatment.
It does not replace:
urological assessment
cancer surveillance
investigation of new urinary symptoms
investigation of haematuria
evaluation of urinary retention
appropriate management of erectile dysfunction
other treatments recommended by your medical team
At ¹EM, EMSELLA is used within a clinical pathway rather than as a substitute for necessary medical care.
What are the limitations of the evidence?
The male evidence is encouraging, but patients deserve to understand its limitations.
Several EMSELLA studies have:
small sample sizes
short follow-up periods
no control group
observational designs
different treatment protocols
The 2024 Azparren study included only 10 men.
The 2024 Brandeis analysis included complete data from 20 men and was not sham controlled.
The newer 2025 direct EMSELLA® study included 27 men.
The broader 2026 evidence review concluded that results were generally positive but that the field still needs larger, high-quality controlled trials.
This means we can reasonably describe the evidence as promising and increasingly supportive, particularly for male urinary incontinence.
It would be premature to claim guaranteed results.
Frequently asked questions
Has EMSELLA been clinically studied in men?
Yes.
Published studies have evaluated HIFEM and EMSELLA® in men with urinary incontinence, particularly following radical prostatectomy, as well as men experiencing combined urinary and sexual-function concerns.
What is the strongest result for male urinary incontinence?
A 2025 EMSELLA study reported an average 53.1% improvement in urinary incontinence scores after six sessions, increasing to 60.6% at one month.
Does EMSELLA reduce pad use?
Clinical studies have reported significant reductions in pad dependence.
In the 2025 EMSELLA study, average pad use fell approximately 42.7% after treatment and 53.7% at one month.
Have men become pad-free after EMSELLA?
Yes, in published studies.
In the 2025 study, 9 of 27 men reported no longer requiring pads after treatment, increasing to 13 of 27 at one month.
Can EMSELLA help nocturia?
Early male HIFEM research reported improvement in nocturia.
However, nocturia can have several different causes and should be medically assessed rather than automatically attributed to pelvic floor weakness.
Has EMSELLA shown results for erections?
Early research has reported improvements in erection maintenance and other sexual-function measures.
The evidence remains less developed than the evidence for urinary incontinence.
Can treatment improve sleep or quality of life?
A small 2024 post-prostatectomy pilot reported improvements in sleep/energy, emotions, social limitations and daily role limitations as urinary symptoms improved.
These are quality-of-life outcomes associated with reduced incontinence burden rather than direct treatment of sleep or emotional disorders.
Is there randomised evidence?
Yes, broader extracorporeal magnetic pelvic floor stimulation has been tested against sham treatment in men after prostatectomy and has demonstrated superior continence and quality-of-life outcomes.
That trial did not specifically use the EMSELLA device.
Are results guaranteed?
No.
Clinical study results describe averages and outcomes across groups of patients. Individual treatment response varies.
How many EMSELLA treatments are usually recommended?
At ¹EM, the standard initial course is generally six sessions, usually twice weekly over approximately three weeks.
Do I need to have had prostate surgery?
No.
Men can experience pelvic floor problems for other reasons.
However, the strongest direct male clinical evidence currently relates to post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence.
The male evidence is becoming increasingly compelling
The clinical picture has moved beyond simply saying:
"Men have pelvic floor muscles too."
We now have published male data showing measurable changes in:
urinary incontinence severity
pad dependence
nocturia
quality of life
everyday activity limitations
selected sexual-function outcomes
The strongest evidence is currently for urinary incontinence and post-prostate rehabilitation.
Sexual-function findings are promising and continue to be investigated.
For ¹EM, that means the treatment decision can be based on a growing clinical evidence base while still being personalised to the individual man.
Find out whether these results are relevant to you
Clinical-study percentages are useful.
What matters more is whether pelvic floor strengthening makes sense for your symptoms, medical history and goals.
At ¹EM, Dr Emir can confidentially assess urinary leakage, previous prostate treatment, pelvic floor function and associated sexual-health concerns and determine whether EMSELLA® is appropriate.
CTA heading: See Whether EMSELLA® Could Help Your Pelvic Health
CTA description: Book a confidential complimentary men's health consultation to review your symptoms, understand the evidence and determine whether EMSELLA® should form part of your personalised plan.
CTA button: Book a Men's Health Consultation
Internal links:
Men's Health at ¹EM:https://menshealth.1em.com.au/
EMSELLA® at ¹EM:https://emsella.1em.com.au/
Related article: Does EMSELLA® Help Men as Well?
Related article: Can EMSELLA® Help With Sexual Function or Erection Quality?
Related article: How Soon Will I Notice Results?
Related article: How Many EMSELLA® Sessions Are Recommended?
Related article: Is EMSELLA® Safe?
References
1. Tosun H, Akinsal EC, Bas U, et al. Evaluating the Efficacy of High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic Therapy for Postprostatectomy Incontinence in Men. Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management. 2025. PMID: 40909763.
Twenty-seven men with persistent urinary incontinence following radical prostatectomy underwent six EMSELLA® sessions twice weekly. Mean ICIQ-SF scores improved by 53.1% after treatment and 60.6% at one month, with substantial reductions in daily pad use. No adverse events were reported.
2. Azparren J, Brandeis J. HIFEM Procedure Enhances the Quality of Life in Elderly Men with Post-Prostatectomy Incontinence: A Pilot Study. Medical & Surgical Urology. 2024;13:340.
Ten men with persistent post-prostatectomy incontinence received six HIFEM sessions. Significant improvements were reported in urinary incontinence impact, pad use, sleep/energy, emotional burden, social limitations and daily role limitations.
3. Brandeis J. Improving Male Pelvic Health: Efficacy of HIFEM Muscle Stimulation for Urinary Function and Sexual Dysfunction in Men. Reproductive System & Sexual Disorders. 2024.
Twenty men with complete outcome data were analysed following HIFEM treatment. Improvements were reported in nocturia, urinary frequency, erection maintenance, intercourse satisfaction, ejaculation and orgasm-related measures.
4. Brandeis J. Application of HIFEM Therapy Improves Orgasmic, Urinary and Erectile Function by Stimulation of Pelvic Floor Muscles. The Journal of Sexual Medicine. 2024;21(Supplement 1).
A separate published conference abstract involving 28 men reported significant improvements in urinary and sexual-function measures after HIFEM pelvic floor stimulation. The disclosure states that the study received industry funding.
5. Wong R, Welk B. A Rapid Evidence Assessment for Extracorporeal Magnetic Stimulation to Treat Urinary Incontinence in Men. Canadian Urological Association Journal. 2026;20(2):63-70. PMID: 41191830.
Nine studies involving 181 men treated with extracorporeal magnetic stimulation were identified. Evidence was limited but generally positive, with several studies showing earlier continence recovery, reduced pad use and improved quality of life.
6. Unal B, Sarsan A, Yildiz N, Alkan H. Efficacy of Magnetic Stimulation in Men With Urinary Incontinence After Radical Prostatectomy: A Randomized, Quadruple-Blind, Sham-Controlled Clinical Trial. Neurourology and Urodynamics. 2025;44:1140-1148.
Forty men were randomised to active or sham extracorporeal magnetic stimulation. Active treatment produced significantly greater improvement and continence rates and improved multiple urinary and quality-of-life outcomes. This study evaluated magnetic stimulation using a device other than EMSELLA® and therefore supports the broader treatment mechanism rather than serving as direct EMSELLA® evidence.
Medical disclaimer
This article provides general information about published clinical research and does not predict an individual treatment result. Study populations, protocols and outcomes differ, and several male EMSELLA® studies remain small. Individual suitability and expected benefit depend on symptoms, medical history, previous prostate treatment, pelvic floor function and other clinical factors.
