Frequently Asked Questions

Using ELITONE

ELITONE® is FDA-cleared for use without a prescription.

ELITONE is used at your convenience in the privacy of your home. A GelPad is placed on your perineal (pubic) area, 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.

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.

Treatment outcomes vary by individual. Most women see a continued reduction in leaks after the initial 6-week therapy. We recommend periodic follow-up treatment sessions. For some women, this may be 3–4 sessions after a few months. For others, this may be a weekly maintenance session. After using ELITONE, some women have a better understanding of their pelvic floor muscles and can perform Kegels more effectively on their own for maintenance.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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 sends 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 wakings 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)

Have a sling?

Yes. ELITONE can be used with the sling in place.

Have an IUD?

It depends. ELITONE can be used with hormonal IUDs (Mirena, Kyleena, Liletta, and Skyla) but cannot be used with the copper IUD (Paraguard).

Have a hip implant?

No. If you have a metal hip implant, ELITONE can not be used.

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 Indications and Contraindications for other situations.

When I am overweight?

Yes. Our studies have found no correlation between weight/BMI and efficacy.

When I have prolapse?

For 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.

Please review the Indications and Contraindications for other situations.

The GelPads are designed to fit female anatomy. In the future, we hope to offer a similar product for men. Contact us to stay in the loop and be notified when available or to be a study participant.

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.

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

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 Shop page. We do not advertise sales on any other website, and other discount websites will likely have fake codes.

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 Splitit to provide flexible payment options. (See below for how to sign up.)

Another option is to pay with HSA/FSA accounts.  (See below 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. Also, muscle is never static, which means that if you don’t actively contract the muscles, symptoms will get worse. There will be a point where muscles and ligaments are too stretched and will not recover, so we encourage you to get treatment early.

PayPal Credit offers quick loans subject to an eligibility check and approval (it won’t affect your credit to check). PayPal offers installments from 3-12 months with 0 interest on plans for 6 months or less. Put items in your cart.

  • From the Checkout Page → Proceed with PayPal. You will be taken offsite to complete the transaction.
  • Log into PayPal and choose:
    • PayPal Credit (revolving line of credit) → “Pay Now” button
      • Enter Personal information (date of birth, SSN last 4 digits, phone, annual income after taxes) → Agree
      • Review terms → Agree and Apply → “Pay Now”
    • Pay Later/ Pay in 4 – Eligible US buyers can pay in four interest-free payments within two months → “Pay Now” button

Splitit is different because it is NOT a loan and requires no credit check. Splitit charges your VISA or MasterCard in monthly intervals until the full payment is paid. There are no fees or interest from Splitit.

  • At the time of purchase, you will only be charged for the first payment. The remaining balance will be reserved on your credit card. After each monthly payment, the amount reserved from your available balance will be reduced to the new remaining balance (the authorized reserve amount might appear as “pending” but will not show up on your statements).

Put items in your cart. From the Checkout Page → Proceed with Splitit

Some insurance providers cover the cost of ELITONE and ELITONE URGE, but we do not process insurance payments. You would purchase the device, and then submit the invoice to your insurer for reimbursement.

Insurance companies have different coverage requirements.  You may need a prescription and evidence that you’ve tried a prescribed plan of Kegel exercises for at least 4 weeks, so it may be helpful to have your doctor complete a Detailed Written Order.

When calling to discuss ELITONE with your insurer, ask whether they cover “non-implanted pelvic floor electrical stimulators” HCPCS/DME code E0740.

Medicare: ELITONE and ELITONE URGE is approved for reimbursement by Medicare. There are monthly out-of-pocket copays. With Medicare, the new product is rented for 13 months and then owned. You will need a prescription and documented 4 weeks of pelvic floor muscle exercises, and often chart notes.

Additional reimbursement information may be helpful.

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 year.

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.

We are now shipping to the United Kingdom.