Yep, we just went there. Female incontinence…it’s a thing AND I’m going to talk about it. (This may be the point that you question: “I thought that I was following this woman for style content??)
Here’s the thing: I have three kids. I was lucky enough to not have a c-section (read between the lines here). After having my first baby, I definitely noticed that I began to experience a few “surprises”…definitely when sneezing and sometimes even when exercising. I now understand why my mother crossed her legs every time she sneezed.
Being an avid runner (I ran half marathons after each of my three kids births) and an active mom, at first this was inconvenient. I couldn’t play a game of tag without a restroom break nor jump on a trampoline for more than a minute. Don’t get me wrong, I understood the value of kegels and, like many women who have had children, vowed to practice them at every red light I hit while driving the daily carpool. (Isn’t that a thing? No?)
Fast forward a couple years. My kids are now all in elementary school and, well…we’ve all gotten older. And my “surprises” have gotten worse. I’ve begun to feel more nervous about attending a mid-day exercise class and certainly wouldn’t go out for a run with a full bladder, nor fully hydrated. As an exercise enthusiast, I began to realize that this was impacting my daily life.
So, I bought Depends pads. From Costco (go big or go home, right?!). These were definitely not the answer I was seeking! They’re huge (or, at least the ones found at Costco are huge) and not concealed when wearing my leggings AT ALL. I donated the entire box (less one) to a women’s shelter.
Then I started researching physical therapy. Yes, this is a thing. And yes, you can even buy weights for toning your pelvic floor (I’ll allow your imagine to figure out how this works for yourself). Down the rabbit hole I went! Why? Because I’m a young woman with, hopefully, more than half of my life in front of me still. And my problem was getting worse. I want to remain active for the rest of my life without having to wear giant pads and (even worse) smelling like urine every time I coughed, was surprised, or went for a jog.
Enter the BTL Emsella device and Blue Haven Medical Spa.
As a part of my work, I get invited to a number of events. I really enjoy this opportunity to try new services, learn about advancements in technology, and experience local finds. This fall, I had the pleasure of attending the RealSelf House of Modern Beauty event in Seattle. This event (hosted in cities around the country) is a fantastic opportunity to learn about various products and services within the beauty industry – everything from extracting your own stem cells to make a regenerating serum to education around cosmetic procedures. It was at this event that I was first introduced to the BTL Emsella device…known in the industry as “The Kegel Throne.”
“What is a kegel throne?” you ask. Basically, you sit on the BTL Emsella device (fully clothed, completely non-evasive) and, for less than 30 minutes, high frequency electromagnetic pulses target the pelvic floor. In essence, these pulses deliver the equivalent of nearly 12,000 kegels in one session! This is not a gimmick, BTL Emsella is an FDA-approved treatment to address female incontinence.
After having experienced one session…fully clothed, speaking with device experts and RN technicians, in the middle of the showroom no less, I was eager to do more. The recommended treatment for significant improvement is a series of 6, 30-minute sessions. A quick internet search netted me few results in the Seattle area but, lucky for me, Blue Haven Medical Spa is located in the Green Lake neighborhood, basically my back yard!
The Blue Have team could not have been more welcoming, which is important as you are talking about a moderately (ok, very) embarrassing topic such as incontinence. I primarily worked with Annie, an ARNP board certified practitioner with years of experience in medicine and medical aesthetics. Annie immediately put me at ease and expertly answered all of my questions. She would stay and chat or leave me to surf the internet, respond to emails, or mindlessly scroll social media during my 30 minute sessions.
Was it painful? Not in the least. It was definitely a “different” sensation…a series of vibrations followed by tapping, targeting the perineum area (again, haven’t included this word in my blog to date!). Perhaps uncomfortable at first, you quickly get used to it. Because the device uses electromagnetic pulses, you are advised to remove any jewelry and (here’s a biggie) you cannot use this therapy if you have any metal implants…read: no IUD devices.
I know what you are all wondering next…did it work? I am more than pleased with the results! While I haven’t trampoline tested yet (due to the winter weather in Seattle), I have done a series of workouts involving jumping and running. I purposely did these without first visiting the restroom and NOTHING. Think burpees, jumping jacks, rock-star jumps, and sprints without any leaking. The occasional sneeze? Not a problem.
The results of the BTL Emsella therapy are cumulative; therefore, you do need to do the entire suggested protocol to achieve the best results. However, you are not required to do any follow-up appointments to maintain the results (again, this may vary based on the person). I would highly recommend this therapy for any “friends” (wink, wink) who may experience the occasional, or not-so-occasional any more, issues with incontinence.
{outfit details} leggings: nike | top: girlfriend collective | running shoes: brooks (c/o) | jacket: add down
I partnered with Blue Haven Medical Spa to share my experience with all of you. This was 100% my idea and I reached out to the spa to collaborate. Please dm, email, or comment below with all of your questions. Clearly I am an open book and I am honored to share more of my experience using the BTL Emsella device at Blue Haven.
Thank you for reading. ~Jenn