Using Elitone
Do I need a prescription?
Elitone® is FDA-cleared for use without a prescription.
How do I use Elitone?
Elitone is used at your convenience in the privacy of your home. A GelPad is placed on your perineal (pubic) area and then connected to a tiny controller. After putting on your clothes, clip the controller to your waistband, and press a button to start the treatment. During treatment, you can walk around and continue your daily routine. After 20 minutes of treatment, the controller turns off automatically.
A User Manual accompanies the device and includes easy-to-follow instructions, plus our How to start using ELITONE video is a great resource.
What does the therapy feel like?
Women report a tingling sensation where the GelPad contacts the skin. Internally, you should feel stimulation for 6 seconds then 6 seconds of “rest.” This sequence repeats 100x during the treatment. A few minutes into the treatment, your skin may feel a little numb. Elitone is specially developed with PMW technology to send signals safely and comfortably through the skin to reach the muscles and treat urinary incontinence [unlike low-frequency devices like TENS for pain management].
- Elitone treatment is based on a proven pelvic floor therapy called electrical muscle stimulation (e-stim). The device’s signal is similar to the current your brain uses to tell muscles to contract. Internally, you should feel a tightening for 6 seconds.
- Elitone URGE treatment is based on neurostimulation around the bladder directly. You may feel a pulsing for 6 seconds, but not a tightening.
How long do the effects of Elitone last?
Treatment outcomes vary by individual. Most women see a continued reduction in leaks after the initial 6-week therapy. After achieving your goal, we recommend periodic maintenance sessions. For some women this may be a couple of sessions per week. For others it’s a few sessions per month. Listen to your body and treat as needed.
Do I need to shave?
Most women do not need to shave or wax, but trimming hair is often helpful. The gel used in the GelPads can be applied over hair and will not pull hair when removed. However, there does need to be good skin contact. Some women in our clinical study said they shaved or trimmed hair for best results.
Will this feel like Kegel exercises?
Some women report similarities to Kegel exercises with Elitone, but not all. A common reason for ineffective Kegels according to one study is 25% of women do not perform Kegels correctly. They either contract the wrong muscles or fail to hold the contraction long enough, often because the muscles are already so weak. Elitone does the Kegels longer and stronger than you can on your own. Elitone also focuses on the muscles surrounding the urethra, instead of the entire pelvic floor structure. Elitone URGE will not feel like Kegels.
Will I get faster results if I use it more?
Perhaps. The biggest factor we saw with the speed of improvement is the degree of intensity coupled with consistency of treatment. You can treat more than the recommended schedule, but remember your pelvic floor muscles need to recover after a “workout,” and just as with regular exercise, it’s possible to fatigue the muscles, reducing the benefit.
What is the GelPad made out of?
Rest assured, as an FDA-cleared device, it has passed all biocompatibility tests. The gels in the GelPads are non-toxic hydrogels, which means it is mostly salt-water. The gel is slightly sticky and originates from the wound-care industry, which means that it does NOT pull hair and is very gentle.
Will this improve sex?
We get this question a lot. A stronger pelvic floor does often lead to more sexual sensation or better orgasms. While we cannot make any specific claims regarding Elitone, many customers (and their partner) notice a difference in the bedroom.
Are there any side effects?
Elitone is FDA-cleared as a treatment for stress urinary incontinence in women, and Elitone URGE for urge incontinence. This means that it was found to be both safe and effective. The most common side effects are skin irritation and muscle fatigue, and these most often occur when the device is used more than the recommended amount. Both are typically addressed by taking a few days off from treatment.
When you receive your Elitone it is important to thoroughly read the User Manual. It explains proper operation and how to avoid misuse.
To read a complete list of contraindications click here.
Is Elitone right for me?
Which Elitone is right for me? (stress, mixed, and/or urge incontinence or OAB)
Feel free to take a quiz to determine which is right for you here.
When I have stress incontinence (bladder leaks with physical movement)?
Elitone is designed to tone the pelvic floor muscles underneath the bladder. Many women have both stress and urge incontinence, and Elitone does send out signals known to treat both types (but more for stress incontinence). When you have urgency or an overactive bladder, a stronger pelvic floor can also help you get to the toilet without an accident. If you have both types (mixed incontinence), we recommend the original Elitone device, which is FDA-cleared for stress incontinence. If you have NO stress incontinence symptoms, we recommend Elitone URGE.
When I have urge incontinence or OAB (feel an urgency to rush to the bathroom)?
Elitone URGE is designed to calm the overactive bladder. It sends out neurostimulation for calming signals and is FDA-cleared for urge incontinence. It does not send any muscle-contracting signals. If you only have urge incontinence or OAB leaks or are mostly bothered by this type, then we recommend Elitone URGE. Many women say the original Elitone helps with their urgency and night waking as well (see the Reviews page).
What really is the difference between the two Elitone devices?
Elitone and Elitone URGE act and look similar. They use the same GelPads and are 20-minute treatments used once a day for the initial treatment period. The difference is in the signal output.
- Elitone sends out 4 seconds for stress (muscle toning) + 2 seconds for urge (calming)
- Elitone URGE sends 6 seconds for urge (calming)
Indications for Use / Contraindications
Indications for use:
Elitone is a non-implanted muscle stimulator designed to treat stress urinary incontinence in women. It applies stimulation to the pelvic floor muscles and surrounding tissues.
Elitone URGE is a non-implanted muscle stimulator designed to treat urge urinary incontinence in women. It applies stimulation to the pelvic floor muscles and surrounding tissues.
Do NOT use if you:
- Are pregnant or attempting to become pregnant. The safety of electronic muscle stimulators during pregnancy has not been established.
- Have an electronic implant (e.g. cardiac pacemaker, implanted defibrillator) or suffer from heart problems.
- Have active cancer, epilepsy, or cognitive dysfunction.
- Had pelvic floor surgery within the last six weeks.
- Have complete denervation of the pelvic floor.
- History or symptoms of urinary retention, extra-urethral incontinence, or overflow incontinence.
Consult your healthcare provider before using the device if:
- You have any serious illness or injury not mentioned in this guide.
- You have an underlying neurological condition (e.g. Multiple Sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease).
- You tend to hemorrhage, following acute trauma or fracture.
- You take insulin for diabetes.
- You suffer from muscle or joint problems, including pelvic pain or a paravaginal defect.
- You suffer from suspected or diagnosed heart disease.
- You underwent a recent surgical procedure where muscle contraction may disrupt the healing process.
- You have any doubts about using the device.
Can I use Elitone if I have implants/procedures?
Have a sling?
Yes. Elitone can be used with the sling in place.
Have an IUD?
Yes. Elitone can be used with IUDs.
Have a hip implant?
Yes. Elitone can be used with hip implants.
Had a hysterectomy?
Yes. A hysterectomy would not affect the use of the Elitone device because your pelvic floor muscles are still intact.
Please review the above Indications and Contraindications for more.
Is Elitone right for my body/condition?
When I am overweight?
Yes. Our studies have found no correlation between weight/BMI and efficacy.
When I have prolapse?
For the early stages of prolapse, many doctors recommend Kegel exercises. The Elitone does Kegel exercises longer and stronger than you could on your own, so if your doctor has recommended that you do Kegel exercises, Elitone could help. Please check with your doctor.
If I have fecal incontinence?
We do not have FDA clearance for this. However, if your doctor has recommended Kegel exercises, Elitone does Kegel exercises longer and stronger than you could on your own and may help. GelPads can be positioned further backward to suit your needs. Please check with your doctor.
Please review the Indications and Contraindications above for other situations.
Can men use Elitone?
The GelPads are designed to fit female anatomy. In the future, we hope to offer a similar product for men. Please see https://elitone.com/clinical-study/ if you had or will have a prostatectomy.
Can Elitone be used during pregnancy and after childbirth?
You should not use the device during pregnancy.
After childbirth, Elitone is perfect to help you “get your normal back” quickly. We recommend waiting 6 weeks after you deliver but consult your doctor about using Elitone earlier.
For those planning on getting pregnant and wondering if they should wait until after childbirth, we encourage you to have a strong pelvic floor BEFORE you deliver so that you can recover quickly. Elitone trains you about which muscles to contract during Kegels, so you can keep your pelvic floor fit on your own during pregnancy.
Will Elitone help with prolapse?
The pelvic floor muscles do a lot to support everything above it, including the uterus and bladder. As the muscles get weak, often the organs above it start to drop (prolapse).
If the condition is mild, doctors often recommend Kegel exercises to help support the organs. If this is the case, Elitone may help because that’s the purpose of the device. However, if the prolapse condition is severe, Elitone is less likely to help. Please consult your doctor.
Purchasing Elitone
What does it cost? Is there a coupon?
The Starter Kit is $399 which includes the device and 2 GelPad packs (enough for the initial treatment).
The Bundle is $503 which includes the device and 6 GelPad packs.
You can buy from the SHOP page. If there is a sale, coupon codes will be shown on the Order page. We do not advertise sales on any other website, and other discount websites will likely have fake codes.
How can I afford this?
We understand this is a major purchase and also know that early intervention yields the best results. We believe so strongly in early, conservative treatment that we’ve partnered with PayPal and Affirm to provide flexible payment options. (See below FAQs for those options.)
In the end, you’re already paying for your incontinence. An NIH study showed that the average annual cost of not getting treatment is $750/year from pads and extra laundry. Unfortunately, without treatment, incontinence symptoms typically get worse. And the worse your symptoms become the less likely a full recovery is possible.
How do I pay in monthly installments?
Both PayPay and Affirm offer quick loans subject to an eligibility check and approval (it won’t affect your credit to check). You must set up an account with them, but they make it easy. Note: You may need to click “see more” on PayPal to see PayPal Credit which is up to 6 months no interest (not Pay Monthly which does have interest). Also, if you get denied monthly options on one platform, try the other one! See below instructions from the Checkout page..
- PAYPAL: Log into PayPal and look for your options (not all options will be available to everyone):
- PayPal Credit: No interest if paid in 6 months or less. Enter: date of birth, SSN last 4 digits, phone, annual income after taxes → Review & Agree
- If you don’t see an option for PayPal Credit, you may need to hit (SEE MORE)
- Choose longer than 6 months to bring payments down, but this includes interest.
- PayPal Credit: No interest if paid in 6 months or less. Enter: date of birth, SSN last 4 digits, phone, annual income after taxes → Review & Agree
- AFFIRM: Create an Affirm account after they ask a few questions. Learn more at Affirm.
- Pick your plan and that’s it. Likely there is interest.
Is Elitone covered by insurance?
Some insurance providers cover a portion of the cost of Elitone and Elitone URGE. Please note that in most cases this is a long process, and has many requirements including prescription and documented 4 weeks of pelvic floor muscle exercises, and often chart notes. Please also note that Medicare Advantage is NOT the same as Medicare and often presents more hurdles, including in-state-specific requirements.
Please see the reimbursement information that may be helpful.
How can I pay with FSA and HSA?
Flexible spending accounts (FSA) and health savings accounts (HSA) are programs that allow you to set aside money (before taxes) for specific healthcare expenses. Many accounts don’t “roll over” from year to year, so Elitone can be a great option to use up funds before the end of the year. You may get reimbursed with the help of this letter
We’ve teamed up with Sika Health to help you redeem your FSA/HSA funds for eligible Elitone purchases. Simply shop as usual then choose the Sika payment method at checkout. No receipts, no reimbursements, no hassle.
Can Elitone be shipped internationally?
We are now shipping Elitone to the United Kingdom, unfortunately, we cannot ship Elitone URGE overseas.
Shipping Speed and Packaging?
We usually ship next business day USPS or UPS. Depending on your distance from CT it can take typically 3-5 business days to be delivered.
Rest assured, packages ship in plain brown boxes and are reasonably small (roughly 10 x 6 x 3 inches).