See what Mumsnet testers think about INNOVO®’s new pelvic stimulator. Non-testers: win the machine, worth £249! NOW CLOSED

[RebeccaEMumsnet]

This thread is for the ten Mumsnetters who were chosen by INNOVO® to test and keep their new pelvic floor stimulator, which is designed to alleviate stress incontinence.

Stress incontinence is the term used when leaks accidently occur from coughing, sneezing, laughing, jumping or doing heavy lifting. These simple movements put pressure on the bladder and, should your pelvic floor muscles be unable to tighten enough, will cause a leak. Stress incontinence can also be called bladder weakness or urinary incontinence. INNOVO® is a new pelvic floor stimulator that works to strengthen the muscle and put an end to those pesky leaks.

Here’s what INNOVO™ have to say about their product:
‘Innovotherapy is a non-invasive way to restore your pelvic floor, treating the primary cause of urinary leaks rather than just masking the symptoms. Using a hand held controller that is attached to a two part garment, Innovotherapy sends targeted impulses via conductive pads (attached to your upper thigh and buttocks) to safely and effectively activate the muscles of the pelvic floor. It is a proven technology which has been designed to optimally strengthen your pelvic floor with 180 perfect contractions per session, allowing the device to do your pelvic floor exercises for you.
Results from a research study prove that women who experience stress incontinence will experience significant improvements in as little as four weeks by using INNOVO® five days a week for 30 minutes. After 12 weeks of treatment the participants were defined as being ‘dry’ or ‘almost dry’. So it won’t take long to get your confidence back’

Testers were asked to use the product for thirty minutes per day, five times per week, over a twelve week period – the recommended treatment programme from INNOVO®.

Testers, please answer the following questions:

• How did you find the process of learning to use INNOVO®? Did you receive support where needed?
  
• What did you do to pass the time while using INNOVO®?
  
• What did the sensation of using INNOVO® feel like?
  
• Have you noticed an improvement in the strength of your pelvic floor after testing for 12 weeks? If so, when did you first start to notice the improvement? What activities/ actions can you do now that you couldn’t before?
  
• Would you recommend INNOVO® to a friend with bladder sensitivity?
  
  Non testers, in order to be entered into the prize draw where one Mumsnetter will win an INNOVO® worth £249, please tell us how the machine would improve your life by strengthening your pelvic floor.
  
  All testers who complete the feedback process will be entered into a prize draw where one tester will win a £300 Love2Shop Voucher.
  
  Thanks, MNHQ
  
  Standard Insight T&Cs Apply
  
  Members of our Mumsnet Blogger Panel also reviewed the INNOVO® . You can read the reviews by clicking on the blog names below:
  
  [[http://www.hexmumblog.com/2016/07/time-restore-floor/
  Hex Mum]]
  Northern Beauty Blogs
  Mad House of Cats and Babies
  Chammy IRL
  Rachael Jess
  Testing Time Blog
  M's Memories
  Over 40 and Mum of One
  3 Princess 1 Dude
  Thoughts from Random Woman
  Autism Mumma
  Tantrums to Smiles

[NEMSparkle]

Would really love to try this especially as the testers are giving such great reviews!
Baby #2 arrived 11weeks ago and I'm now awaiting a physio and gyne/urology appointment as my pelvic floor is all but useless (and I'm only 30!! Just!!). The GP seems to think surgery may be the only option but we are not sure we have finished our family yet. Another 5years having to deal with my current pelvic floor issues is not something I'm looking forward too, so any help would be fantastic!

[asuwere]

Non-tester.
I would love to win this, reviews look great and would make me feel so much more confident. After 6 pregnancies and 7 surgeries within 9yrs, my pelvic floor has not fully recovered. I do my pelvic floor exercises everyday but don't think they are good enough on their own.

[ThornyBird]

Yes! Yes! Gloria I agree about the bum toning!

[ashleykuch]

Non tester - I have been told I need surgery to help correct my 'trashed downstairs' as my doctor bluntly called it following a forceps delivery but I can't have it until I'm done having children sadly. This would change my life in the meantime I think. I can't go to parks or anywhere for more than 30 minutes unless I know there will be a toilet there and it really affects my ability to do fun things with my toddler. So reading from some of the testers on here, I think it would improve both my life and my little one's immeasurably.

[AngelBlue12]

I was also gutted not to get picked for this - after five big babies I don't think I have a pelvic floor anymore.

My worst thing (other than not being able to run, sneeze or trampoline with the children) is worrying about throwing up and completely wetting myself again I would love to win one as it really would be life changing.

[Cocolepew]

Non tester here.
Im about to phone my gp about my stress and urge continence, I already had a TVT repair a few years ago which helped my stress incontinence. I had a hysterectomy a few years ago and everthing seems to have gone south.
Stress and urge incontinence is ruling my life. I always have to wear a pad, even though I am on medication for an over active bladder.

[hanliying]

-How did you find the process of learning to use INNOVO®? Did you receive support where needed? It is quite straight forward after following the instructions. The only glitch is that you need to push the cord hard to make sure it fits and hear s click sound. Otherwise it will keep giving error message.
-What did you do to pass the time while using INNOVO®? Watching tv
-What did the sensation of using INNOVO® feel like? Quite shocking at first but it is ok past 2-3 minutes
-Have you noticed an improvement in the strength of your pelvic floor after testing for 12 weeks? If so, when did you first start to notice the improvement? What activities/ actions can you do now that you couldn’t before? Slightly feel the difference. One good thing is that it immediately helped relieve my lower back pain.
-Would you recommend INNOVO® to a friend with bladder sensitivity? Yes

[ThreenageMutantWhingerTurtle]

Tester here, and thank you SO much for choosing me for this product test, it's a life changer!

-How did you find the process of learning to use INNOVO®? Did you receive support where needed?
I watched the video, downloaded the app, and used trial and error to get competent with using it. It was simple to understand, and the Innovo design made it easy to get in place. I also had telephone and email support from the lovely Innovo lady, which was invaluable, she was very easy to talk to.

-What did you do to pass the time while using INNOVO®?
I would use the time to grab some space for myself, usually lying on the bed Mumsnetting! Sometimes it was a bit of a struggle to motivate myself to go up to bed earlier, but the payoff was worth it!

-What did the sensation of using INNOVO® feel like?
It was kind of tingly on my legs and bum, and internally was like doing a super powered pelvic floor contraction. The sensation was obviously greater as I was able to increase the intensity, but was never painful or uncomfortable. On one occasion my skin was particularly sensitive (I had my period) and afterwards my thighs were slightly itchy, like a mild case of sunburn, for about ten minutes after, but reducing the intensity for a day or two addressed that easily.

-Have you noticed an improvement in the strength of your pelvic floor after testing for 12 weeks? If so, when did you first start to notice the improvement? What activities/ actions can you do now that you couldn’t before?
Absolutely! After 3 weeks I already noticed that I had less leakage, and now I wear a panty liner for freshness rather than necessity. I can saunter to the loo when I need a wee, rather than inching along, and if the toilets are in use then I can just make my way to the next set of loos without fear of peeing myself! I can also sneeze without damp consequences, which as a hayfever sufferer is invaluable! I may also have been spotted on a trampoline, and set of swings recently, throwing my legs back and forward with careless abandon! Plus I'm sure my bum is looking more toned!

-Would you recommend INNOVO® to a friend with bladder sensitivity?
Most definitely, in fact I already have recommended it to a friend, and if my mother didn't have a pacemaker, which is contraindicated, I would be encouraging her to use it too!

Overall I am hugely grateful! Thank you Mumsnet and Innovo for the chance to use this brilliant piece of kit!

[educatingarti]

Non tester. I'd love to win one of these so that I wouldn't have to worry about wetting myself while coughing or sneezing. As well as the practical improvements, I think it would help my sense of self esteem with my body and physical appearance; this is not terribly high at present.

[nekobus]

Non-tester here.

Reading the feedback, I would love to win one of these! It would make a huge difference to my everyday life - I hate wearing pads but leaks seem to happen at random points in the day! I'd love to feel more confident playing with the kids, running, jumping and skipping and might even attempt the trampoline... Exercise would become easier too which would help with loosing the baby weight (3 years on..)

[dontpokethebear]

Non tester here.
My pelvic floor has long disappeared. It causes me quite a lot of distress and embarrassment, if I'm completely honest, so winning an INNOVO® could be life changing for me.

[Summersalmostgone]

Non tester here too.
I was having a few drinks at home with my husband last night in an effort to 're-connect', after the toll small children have taken on our marriage. He said something that made me laugh and I ended up wetting myself. Mortifying!

[Intotheclouds]

Non tester-
This machine would change my life drastically. Ever since having my first child I would easily pee when I laughed/coughed/sneezed at any moment. It has only gotten worse and more of an occurrence since having my second child. I have to constantly wear pads in case I have an accident which happens at least twice a day! But also having to wear a pad everyday means that I also get thrush quite a lot as I can't 'breathe' properly down below.
Having one of these machines would mean I would get my life back. I would be able to take up running and trampolining again as I had to give them up due to incontinence. It would also mean I would get to run around after my two children with out having to be constantly thinking about weather I'm going to have an accident or not. And that I wouldn't have to carry a spare pair of undies and pads around with me.

[CrotchetQuaverMinim]

When is the draw for the non-testers to win one going to be? I could so use this, and in the summer holidays, I would easily have time to use it, too.

[AlfieandAnnieRose]

Non tester. After having my baby this year I feel I have lost all confidence in my body. It would be great to think my pelvic floor could go back to how it used to. I have to wear a pad everyday for leakage and it feels looser in that area too.
The reviews from the testers sound amazing, that there's an actual fix for this issue is almost a relief. Now I just need to try one out!

[yearofthehorse]

6 kids here, if only I'd known. I can't actually find my pelvic floor muscles at all so have nothing to exercise and am so upset that I've had to give up running and tennis. I feel old before my time, would so love one one of these.

[NakedFamilyFightClub]

Non tester.
I was hoping I'd get picked to try this. Running is tricky and jumping and sneezing are impossible without leaks. I only have one DC and it makes me wonder what state I'll be in after a second. I'm really considering buying one once I've saved up due to these reviews.

[Dlah]

Non tester here

Only just come across this, so never had the chance to apply to be a tester.

Unfortunately things have got to the stage where it's starting to affect my confidence and ability to function without that constant worry in my mind of 'am I protected enough against leaks' so frustrating, I'm not even 30 yet, let alone in my 60-70's when you might expect something like this more so.

It's such a taboo and can leave you feeling quite lonely as its not something you want to shout to the world, I'd love the chance to have a discreet way of sorting or at least improving this problem, it really would mean the world

Thank you

[serendipity1980]

Oh my goodness, as a non tester I didn't realise so many wine have same issues as me. I regularly leak a bit before I usually regain some control before dashing to loo. However, I do have accidents where I have to change clothes not just knickers. Fortunately no one has noticed so far. I would love to win an Innovo! My life would be transformed!

[SmileyShazza]

Non Tester - I applied but didn't get selected (unfortunately)

I really think this would help change my life so much. Although I'm grateful for fast births with both my kids a fast birthday does have quite a severe effect on your pelvic floor and mine is shot to pieces!

If I had one of these I could really give my all during exercise classes - at the moment when the dreaded star jumps come out I have to do half jumps. not because I'm not fit enough but because I know if I try to do even one full jumping jack I'll end up peeing myself - not what you want 5 minutes into a one hour exercise class!

I wouldn't be in fear of getting a cold and the sneezing that accompanies it. I always end up with a very bad cough when I get a cold - say no more! I can live with the cold but not with the bladder of a 90 year old.

My husband recently said to me I should take our 5 year old to the local trampoline centre as a treat - needless to say he has no idea how much having two kids effects us ladies. I would simply love to jump about without a care in the world but no amount of Tena ladies can cope with that!

I could go on. I really think this machine sounds like it could be a godsend for me and help give me back the control and confidence I so greatly miss.

[greathat]

None tester here. I applied but didn't get picked. Desperate for this. As a teacher sometimes it the best part of 3 hours before I get a chance to go for a wee. As a secondary teacher I'm always paranoid that a student will notice something and it will have an even bigger impact on my life

[123itsme]

Haven't got a sob story to try and blag a free one so looks like I'll just have to buy one instead. Any chance of a Mumsnet discounted price though ? If we buy direct, rather than through a well known site that takes a 20% commission?

[loosechange]

Non tester. From what the testers have said I could cough and sneeze without bracing!