Is This Smart Pelvic Floor Trainer Worth It?
The Elvie is $199. Is it worth it?
In my previous life at media brands focused on women’s health, I interviewed several gynecologists and pelvic floor physical therapists for work, and one particular quote from a source always stuck with me: “Just because it’s common, doesn’t mean it’s normal.” I think about this every time I’m jumping rope, or running, or waking up in the middle of the night to pee, or laughing hysterically and my bladder threatens to leak like a Dollar Store water balloon.
While urinary incontinence is often underreported (shocker, no one wants to admit to peeing their pants sometimes), some reports estimate that “Among adult women in the United States (approximately 80 million individuals), over 60% report some degree of urinary incontinence, with one-third experiencing leakage at least monthly.”
Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer not to pee when I laugh, which led me to testing the Elvie Trainer. But can a “smart” trainer actually make a difference in your pelvic floor health, or should you just commit to doing your Kegels instead? Here’s what I’ve learned in the two years I’ve added the Elvie to my health routine.
obligatory note: i’m not a doctor! what works for me may not work for you. do not take this substack as qualified medical advice, tysm
What is the Elvie Trainer?
The Elvie Trainer is a smart pelvic floor trainer that uses biometric feedback to gamify your pelvic floor health. Put plainly, you insert the Elvie in your vagina and squeeze; Bluetooth connects the device to the Elvie app for instant feedback on how long or strong your contractions are.
The app asks you a few questions about your goals and suggests a program for you to follow. Each workout lasts less than 10 minutes and cycles through different games targeted to build strength, improve agility, develop core strength, build endurance, increase pace of contractions, and learn control.
Receipts, Proof, Timeline, Screenshots
Editor’s note: This is the section of every IIWI where I’ll share the details about how much I have or have not paid for the product, my scientific and anecdotal testing methods, how long I’ve tested it, and any relevant screenshots.
Receipts
I reached out to PR to test the Elvie Trainer in spring 2023.
Proof
I originally tested the Elvie for three months and continued to consistently use it through August 2023. During testing, I analyzed the app’s workouts, the device’s ergonomics, the tech functionality, and whether I felt like I saw any actual results. I tested the Elvie with the goal of improving my own core strength and pelvic floor functionality.
Important note! I haven’t given birth, so I can’t speak to how this does or doesn’t help with postnatal recovery, pelvic floor prolapse, or similar childbirth-related issues. According to the brand, you should not start using the Elvie postpartum until your doctor clears you (usually around six weeks).
Timeline
During my initial testing phase, I used the Elvie three times a week for three months. After a hiatus, my gynecologist gently told me my pelvic floor strength was kinda shit and I picked the Elvie back up in May 2024. I’ve gone through periods of using it consistently and am currently rededicating myself to it as part of my New Year’s energy.
Screenshots
A quick overview of the gamified workouts in the Elvie app:
Real-life proof of my progress since using the Elvie for nearly two years:
How the Elvie app shows you your “score” for your workouts:
The Deep Dive
Goop jokes aside, the Elvie Trainer promises much more than your average jade egg. But does it deliver? After using the device for nearly two years, here’s why I keep coming back to it:
If You Can’t Track It, You Can’t Change It
Whether your OB-GYN has not-so-subtly suggested you need to do Kegels or you’ve noticed some pelvic floor dysfunction within yourself, you can’t improve without having something to measure your progress. The Elvie does an amazing job tracking your stats over time and encouraging you to do regular workouts. Looking back at where I started, I’m blown away and encouraged by how much stronger and faster I’ve gotten at my exercises—which only motivates me to keep up with it even more.
If you’re truly a self-motivated Type-A human who can commit to doing your Kegel routine regularly without the influence of an outside app or tracker, good for you. But also, I don’t believe you. I just don’t!!
The Games Are Intuitive and Quick
It’s super easy to pick up the goal of each game, and they each last a minute, tops, making the Elvie incredibly easy to integrate into your routine.
The Elvie Is Surprisingly Sensitive
I wasn’t expecting much in terms of the device’s functionality, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how quickly my squeezes translate onto my phone screen. Even two years later, there’s no Bluetooth connection lag.
The Design Works—For Me
I think the design of the Elvie is totally a personal preference, but for me, it works. I like the little “tail” that stays outside of your vagina, making it easy to remove the Elvie. The silicone material feels soft and relatively comfortable, and it’s never freezing cold upon insertion. The body of the device is vaguely egg-shaped, and I’ve never had a problem getting it in, but if you’re concerned, a little lube can help.
What the Elvie Can Improve On
I only have a few things that I find irritating with the Elvie:
Charging can be finicky. You’ll need to place the device in a specific position in order for the battery to charge successfully.
Bluetooth connection gets sketchy without consistent use. Whenever I’ve taken extended breaks from the Elvie (read: it’s gathered dust in my bathroom cabinet), it usually takes me a few tries to get the Bluetooth to reconnect. The app recommends charging the device for five seconds if it’s been inactive for a long time, and that usually works for me. I guess that’s more of an incentive to keep up your program, though?
The shape may not be for everyone. If you prefer a more, ahem, anatomical pelvic trainer, the Perifit looks to be the next best option.
The games get repetitive. In the two years I’ve tested, the games (and the app design itself) haven’t been updated or tweaked at all. If you get easily bored, you may find yourself less motivated by doing the same actions over and over again.
So, Is the Elvie Trainer Worth It?
One hundred percent, this thing has my full endorsement and I want every woman in my life to know the joy of cry-laughing without fear. The Elvie Trainer may seem kind of frivolous—or at the very least, mildly embarrassing to own—but I’ve become an evangelist and have considered gifting it to many postpartum friends if I didn’t think it would be received with weird looks. Here’s why.
Who would get their money’s worth from the Elvie Trainer?
Anyone with a vagina
Seriously
But especially people preparing to give birth or in any stage postpartum
Or anyone who just wants a stronger core and the glamour of better bladder control
If my Elvie bit the dust today, would I pay to replace it tomorrow?
I’d probably try to convince myself I can do Kegels on my own, then I’d forget to do them for weeks on end, then I’d have a gynecologist appointment and feel poorly about my pelvic floor health and be motivated to purchase the Elvie. So, within the year for sure.
Got specific questions about the Elvie trainer? Ask them in the comments!