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

[MummyBtothree]

Non Tester - I'm 37 and after having had three heavy babies I experience leakage on a daily basis, sometimes heavier which causes major embarrassment and incontinence for example if I laugh pretty hard. I've had to make excuses to go home from a bbq because I wet myself laughing, luckily nobody else was aware but it does eat away at my confidence and makes me feel like a wreck. I would absolutely love to try one of these machines, from reading the reviews I think it would give me a certain degree of quality of life back.

[denise632]

Im a non tester. I would love to have been involved. I have pretty much stopped running, trying not to laugh - sneeze, cough etc since having my kids and i spend a fortune on pads #helpme

[Starlightnight]

Non tester but very familiar with the subject.
I am 42 with 4 DCs and have had 5 surgeries on my pelvic floor.
I have tried both prescribed and a purchased pelvic floor strengthening devices. Both helped but were not the easiest or most convenient to use.
The electrical one (a cheap one not like the INNOVO®) was the better of the two with even the surgeon noticing the difference after a few months.
I have more trouble now after a diagnosis of Crohn's Disease which has really weakened what pelvic floor I had left and has also given me new challenges to deal with. I am now unable to use either of my current gadgets and rely on good old PFEs which take a long time to actually work. It is really good to see a new product out there which is addressing issues for women like me that have limited ability to use the current gadgets and I have really enjoyed reading the feedback for this one it has given me hope.

[ElizaW922]

It's about being able to relax with friends, laugh like a drain, do whatever without feeling paranoid.

[soozieee]

Non tester here, I am now at a point where I can't even go for country walks any more as I constantly need the loo. It started with not being able to run without the dreaded dribble, then walking fast, now just normal steady walking for ten minutes and the dribbles start. No help was forthcoming from the doctors office. This machine could change my life and allow me to get active again.

[cake17uk]

Non-Tester I would love to win one as am fed up of not being able to run or cough or sneeze without being worried I'm going to have a real accident. seems to have gotten worse over the last couple of years too as I'm getting older

[goldenretriever1978]

Non tester - doing a hearty sneeze worry free would be nice!

[DameBabsLoveCheese]

I'm a tester - I unfortunately lost my log in details until today and have been on a wifi free holiday over the last couple of weeks!

I've had 3 large babies ranging from 8lb4 to 9lb 6.5oz and so was desperately in need of some pelvic floor TLC!

How did you find the process of learning to use INNOVO®? Did you receive support where needed?

I watched the video that I was sent the link to which was really useful. It was tricky at first to know where and how to position the pads but soon became second nature. I had previous use of an internal device to improve the pelvic floor so this non invasive device was a very welcome relief!

-What did you do to pass the time while using INNOVO®?

I painted my nails and forced myself to relax. Something which isnt always easy with 3 kids and 2 stepkids!

-What did the sensation of using INNOVO® feel like?

I didnt mind it but it wasnt the nicest feeling in the world. It was like a very low level tattoo needle!

-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?

I didnt notice a great improvement untik about 3 weeks in when it was the week before my period. I do a lot of running and bizarrely in the week preceeding my period, I get awful incontinence when doing any form of physical exertion. This has almost completely disappeared. It's magic!

-Would you recommend INNOVO® to a friend with bladder sensitivity?

Absolutely yes, I think they should be giving them out in the labour ward. My youngest son is 6 now and I can't tell you how much netter the last 6 years would have been if I'd be stress incontinence free for all this time!

Thank you for picking me- I have loved being part of this trial.

[tab1967]

I would love to win this, I have had four large babies so that has not helped. I had an operation years ago due to a weak bladder but sadly it no longer helps. I have lost weight in the hope it would help but sadly that has not helped either. So fingers crossed for this, would love to not have to wear Tena lady pads all the time.

[vanpopple]

This would be good, as i never seem to tone up by doing circuits and running. Ive been looking for something that is small and easy to use.

[Sooner]

Non tester:

This thread shows just how big of an issue this is. I know there are far worse health problems to have but I would love to find something that would properly help my pelvic floor.

I would like to exercise again but can't afford the gym to use the non-impact machines and running is a disaster. I tried once and had to run back home after a few minutes after a huge leak. Same happened on my second attempt so I've given up. It made me so sad as I was finally doing something about my weight gain.

This product, judging by the fab reviews, would help so much, both physically and bringing back my confidence and not being scared at every laugh, sneeze, cough - let alone jumping and running.

I think it's great that this issue is being addressed though and technology is starting to come through to help.

[snare]

Non- tester - I would love to try this to help my weak bladder and pelvic floor

[woodwaj]

Any update on when the lucky winner would be announced?? Also interested in a payment plan! I know they do it but id like the spread the cost a little more!

[Dessallara]

Would love to try it out so much!

[eirrac63]

Non-tester: this would make life so much more pleasant, not having to plan everything so carefully, not having to me careful of what clothes I wear just in case I cough and sneeze and despite doing exercises it is hard to fit them in.

[cluckyhen]

Non tester but this would help me so much. I love my sports but have noticed more and more that I am leaking when participating and I don't want to wear big pads (why do they not have a g-string verion for oops moments)

[Trills]

Are you sure that pelvic stimulator is not a euphemism?

Like "personal massager"?

[PacificDogwod]

Trills!!

You are not taking this seriously enough

[poodlefluff]

Non-tester here!
It would make a huge difference to be able to exercise without worrying about pads. Please choose me - I'm training for a half-marathon and having one less thing to worry about i.e. my continence, would be wonderful!

[clarabella12]

this would be interesting if it worked! I've had three kids and certainly need it.

[e4b4]

I have continence issues due to having Multiple Sclerosis. This would be a great help to get things working again!

[joannecc]

Non tester, I'd love one of these, I suffer from stress in continence, I'm 43 and concerned it's just going to get worse. My mum in her 70s is terrible with it and I dont want to be like that. I'd hope that this could improve my life by not worrying where the nearest toilet is all the time

[cjh123]

Non Tester..
I would love to try the Innovo and would be highly motivated to use it for thirty minutes a day to help improve my stress incontinence which has been such a problem since having 3 daughters. I am strict on doing my kegel exercises but not sure if I am doing them correctly so this bit of kit would ensure what I do is having a positive impact. The thought of not being able to exercise, walk, sneeze, cough etc without an embarrassing leak is keeping me focused for a 'dry' future, but a helping hand from Innova would be extremely welcome and fantastic.

[SirleyYoung]

You know the feeling when you sneeze and tinkle right after....yes, even after giving birth im still struggling with that. I also have horrible whatever and the combination has given me some pretty embarrassing moments...would love to stimulate myself out of that ;)

[OksanaFitzgerald]

Non Tester here..
I really wanted to test this and I would be delighted to win it! it would make a huge difference to me getting fit and improve my pelvic floor muscles.