What Is EMSELLA?

EMSELLA is a non-invasive treatment that uses high-intensity focused electromagnetic technology to stimulate and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles while you remain fully clothed and comfortably seated.

Leakage with a cough or jump, a sudden urge with leakage, and a mixture of both are different symptom patterns. The brain, bladder, nerves and pelvic floor work together. Understanding the pattern helps guide the treatment discussion.

Stress, urgency and mixed incontinence: why the difference matters · How do the brain, bladder and pelvic floor work together? · What Does EMSELLA Actually Do?

The treatment chair generates electromagnetic energy that stimulates repeated contractions deep within the pelvic floor.

These muscles play an important role in:

Unlike many pelvic floor treatments, EMSELLA does not require an internal treatment probe.

There are:

A typical session takes approximately 30 minutes, and most initial treatment programs involve six sessions, usually scheduled twice weekly. BTL Australia also states that patients can generally resume normal daily activities immediately afterwards.

Yes.

In Australia, BTL identifies EMSELLA® under ARTG 302821.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration currently records ARTG 302821 as an active Class IIa deep-tissue electromagnetic stimulation medical device supplied by BTL Medical Technologies Pty Ltd and manufactured by BTL Industries Limited.

BTL Australia's current Australian information describes EMSELLA® as intended to provide pelvic floor muscle strengthening for genitourinary disorders including urinary incontinence and post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence, among other pelvic-health applications.

Being included in the ARTG does not mean that every person is automatically suitable for treatment.

At ¹EM, treatment begins with individual clinical assessment.

EMSELLA uses High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic technology, commonly abbreviated to HIFEM.

The electromagnetic field generated by the chair stimulates the nerves controlling the pelvic floor muscles.

Those nerves cause the muscles to contract repeatedly.

BTL describes the treatment as creating the sensation of Kegel-type contractions induced by the device itself.

Instead of consciously trying to perform each contraction yourself, the electromagnetic field generates repeated pelvic floor muscle activation during the treatment session.

The objective is to strengthen and re-educate muscles involved in pelvic floor function.

What Does EMSELLA Actually Do?

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and supporting tissues at the base of the pelvis.

These muscles support structures including the:

They also contribute to bladder and bowel control.

When pelvic floor function becomes reduced, symptoms may include:

Pelvic floor strengthening aims to improve the muscular component of these problems.

One of the best-established applications of HIFEM pelvic floor treatment is urinary incontinence.

This can include selected patients experiencing:

Leakage when abdominal pressure increases, such as during:

A sudden need to urinate that can sometimes result in leakage before reaching the bathroom.

A combination of stress and urgency symptoms.

Urinary leakage that can occur in men following prostate surgery.

A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis of seven studies found HIFEM treatment was associated with improvements in urinary incontinence episodes and validated symptom scores, although the researchers also noted variation between studies and the need for larger high-quality trials.

Related article: Can EMSELLA Help With Urinary Incontinence?

Yes.

Women may consider EMSELLA for pelvic floor strengthening in several different circumstances.

These can include:

The reason for treatment still matters.

For example, urinary urgency can have several possible causes and should not automatically be assumed to result from pelvic floor weakness.

At ¹EM, Dr Emir assesses the symptoms before recommending treatment.

Yes.

Men have pelvic floor muscles too.

These muscles contribute to:

EMSELLA has been specifically studied in men experiencing urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy.

Related article: Does EMSELLA Help Men as Well?

Related article: Can EMSELLA Support Men With Erectile Dysfunction?

Potentially, after appropriate postpartum recovery.

Pregnancy and childbirth can place considerable demands on the pelvic floor and some women subsequently experience:

At ¹EM, EMSELLA is not performed during pregnancy or within the first three months after childbirth.

After three months, Dr Emir assesses healing, delivery history, symptoms and overall treatment suitability before recommending a program.

Related article: Can I Have EMSELLA After Pregnancy or Birth?

EMSELLA can also be relevant for selected women during perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause.

Hormonal and age-related changes can contribute to:

EMSELLA specifically addresses the pelvic floor muscle component.

It does not treat every symptom associated with menopause.

For example, vaginal dryness or other genitourinary tissue changes may require a different or additional treatment approach.

Related article: Is EMSELLA Suitable for Women Going Through Menopause?

No.

BTL Australia's current intended-purpose information for EMSELLA includes pelvic floor strengthening in relation to several genitourinary disorders, including urinary incontinence, urinary incontinence following radical prostatectomy, postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction, erectile dysfunction and other pelvic-health applications.

However, the level of clinical evidence is not identical for every potential use.

The evidence base is currently strongest around pelvic floor treatment and urinary continence.

At ¹EM, we therefore start with the patient's clinical problem rather than assuming that every pelvic or sexual-health symptom should be treated with EMSELLA.

No, although they share the goal of activating the pelvic floor muscles.

You consciously contract your pelvic floor muscles yourself.

For them to work effectively, you need to:

The chair uses electromagnetic stimulation to produce repeated contractions during the treatment session.

You do not need to voluntarily initiate every contraction yourself.

Pelvic floor exercises can still be useful alongside EMSELLA where clinically appropriate.

No.

They are different approaches and can sometimes complement one another.

Pelvic floor physiotherapy can provide assessment and management of factors including:

EMSELLA provides intensive electromagnetic stimulation of the pelvic floor muscles.

At ¹EM, the appropriate approach depends on what is actually contributing to your symptoms.

You remain fully clothed and seated.

As treatment begins, you usually feel:

BTL describes the treatment sensation as tingling and pelvic floor muscle contractions.

The contractions can become quite strong as treatment intensity increases.

The sensation can feel unusual at first because most people are not accustomed to their pelvic floor repeatedly contracting without consciously initiating each contraction.

Treatment should generally feel intense rather than painfully uncomfortable.

Related article: What Does EMSELLA Treatment Feel Like?

No.

You remain fully clothed throughout EMSELLA treatment.

There is no need to expose the treatment area and nothing is inserted internally.

BTL specifically describes EMSELLA as a treatment performed while the patient remains fully clothed.

For many patients, this makes treatment considerably easier to approach.

A typical session takes approximately 30 minutes.

BTL Australia's current patient guidance recommends approximately six sessions, generally scheduled twice weekly.

At ¹EM, the standard initial program is therefore generally:

6 sessions

2 sessions per week

Approximately 3 weeks

Your individual clinical situation and progress are still reviewed.

Related article: How Many EMSELLA Sessions Are Recommended?

EMSELLA is a muscle-strengthening treatment.

The objective is repeated stimulation over a treatment course rather than expecting one isolated session to provide the complete effect.

Published EMSELLA® research commonly uses six treatments.

For example, a study involving 35 women with stress and mixed urinary incontinence used six 28-minute sessions twice weekly and reported improvements in symptom scores and pad use after treatment and at one-month follow-up.

Some patients notice changes during their treatment course.

BTL Australia states that some patients may observe improvement after a single session, with results typically continuing to develop over subsequent weeks.

Clinical studies have also reported improvements following completion of a six-session course and during subsequent follow-up.

The changes worth monitoring depend on why you are having treatment.

For urinary incontinence, these might include:

There is generally no required downtime.

BTL Australia states that patients can resume daily activities immediately after treatment.

Most suitable patients can therefore return to:

Temporary pelvic floor muscle awareness or fatigue can occur because the muscles have been repeatedly stimulated.

Related article: Is There Any Downtime After EMSELLA?

For appropriately selected patients, published HIFEM studies have generally reported good tolerability.

A 2025 systematic review found no significant safety issue highlighted in most included studies, although it also noted heterogeneity and the need for stronger future research.

EMSELLA is still not suitable for everybody.

Important treatment considerations include:

BTL Australia's current EMSELLA information specifically instructs providers not to apply therapy in patients with electronic or metal implants.

At ¹EM, implant-related questions are not cleared by An online answer or reception.

Where appropriate, Dr Emir reviews the specific implant, location, relevant records and applicable device restrictions before determining whether treatment can proceed.

Related article: Who May Not Be Suitable for EMSCULPT NEO or EMSELLA®?

Related article: Is EMSELLA Safe?

No.

A pacemaker is an active implanted electronic device and is not compatible with this type of strong electromagnetic treatment.

Tell the ¹EM team about any implanted medical device before treatment.

Tell us exactly what you have.

Metal implants can make treatment unsuitable and should not be independently cleared online.

The specific implant, its location and applicable device restrictions need to be considered before treatment proceeds.

Because pelvic floor symptoms do not all have the same cause.

For example:

Simply strengthening every patient's pelvic floor without understanding the presentation would not be appropriate.

At ¹EM, treatment begins by establishing:

Depending on your presentation, the assessment may include discussion of:

If your situation requires individual medical judgement, Dr Emir can provide clinical assessment before the treatment plan is confirmed.

Related article: What Happens During a ¹EM Consultation?

EMSELLA is a non-invasive pelvic floor treatment that uses high-intensity focused electromagnetic energy to produce repeated pelvic floor muscle contractions while you remain fully clothed and seated.

Yes. EMSELLA is often informally described as a pelvic floor treatment chair because the electromagnetic applicator is built into the seat.

It repeatedly stimulates and contracts the pelvic floor muscles with the goal of strengthening and re-educating them.

It may help selected patients with urinary incontinence, particularly when pelvic floor function is contributing to leakage.

No. EMSELLA can also be used in appropriately selected men, including men undergoing pelvic floor rehabilitation following prostate treatment.

No. Treatment is performed while you remain fully clothed.

No. EMSELLA does not use an internal treatment applicator.

Most patients experience tingling and strong pelvic floor contractions. Treatment is generally well tolerated.

Approximately 30 minutes.

The standard initial ¹EM program is generally six sessions, usually scheduled twice weekly over approximately three weeks.

There is generally no required downtime, and most patients can return to normal activities immediately.

Yes.

Potentially, once appropriate postpartum recovery has occurred. ¹EM does not perform treatment during pregnancy or within the first three months postpartum.

Yes, potentially, particularly when pelvic floor weakness or urinary incontinence is contributing to symptoms.

Yes. BTL Australia identifies EMSELLA under ARTG 302821.

No referral is required to request a consultation with ¹EM.

EMSELLA is designed to make intensive pelvic floor strengthening straightforward.

You sit down.

You remain fully clothed.

The chair uses high-intensity focused electromagnetic energy to repeatedly activate your pelvic floor muscles.

A session takes about 30 minutes.

There is generally no required downtime afterwards.

For the right patient, it offers a practical, non-invasive way to strengthen muscles that play an important role in bladder control and pelvic health.

The first step is determining whether strengthening those muscles is appropriate for the symptoms you are actually experiencing.

If urinary leakage, pelvic floor weakness, postpartum changes, menopause-related bladder symptoms or men's pelvic health concerns are affecting you, you do not need to work out the diagnosis yourself before getting in touch.

At ¹EM, your initial assessment is designed to understand your symptoms, assess treatment suitability and explain whether EMSELLA® should form part of your personalised plan.

CTA heading: Discover What EMSELLA® Could Do for You

CTA description: Start with a complimentary ¹EM consultation to understand your pelvic floor symptoms and find out whether EMSELLA® is appropriate for you.

CTA button: Book Your Complimentary Consultation

Internal links to add:

1. BTL Aesthetics Australia. EMSELLA® Patient Information.

BTL's current Australian patient information describes EMSELLA® as a non-invasive HIFEM treatment for incontinence, performed while fully clothed. It states that a typical session lasts approximately 30 minutes, that approximately six sessions twice weekly are commonly recommended, and that patients may resume daily activities immediately afterwards.

2. Therapeutic Goods Administration. ARTG 302821.

The TGA currently records ARTG 302821 as an active Class IIa deep-tissue electromagnetic stimulation medical device supplied by BTL Medical Technologies Pty Ltd.

3. Leonardo K, Rahardjo HE, Afriansyah A. Noninvasive High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic Therapy in Women With Urinary Incontinence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Neurourology and Urodynamics. 2025. PMID: 39760417.

Seven studies were included. HIFEM was associated with improvements in urinary incontinence episodes and validated symptom scores compared with control treatment, although the authors noted heterogeneity and potential bias.

4. Is the High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic Energy an Effective Treatment for Urinary Incontinence in Women? Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management. PMID: 39640007.

Thirty-five women with stress or mixed urinary incontinence underwent six 28-minute EMSELLA® sessions twice weekly. Significant improvements in urinary symptom scores and pad use were reported following treatment and at one-month follow-up.

This article provides general health information and does not replace individual medical assessment. Pelvic floor, urinary and sexual-health symptoms can have different underlying causes. Treatment suitability depends on your symptoms, medical history and applicable contraindications.