What is the EMSELLA chair?
The EMSELLA chair is a non-invasive device that strengthens the pelvic floor muscles with electromagnetic pulses while you sit fully clothed. At Ultimate Male, we keep a close eye on ways to help men take control of their health, from hormone optimization to newer sexual wellness technologies. EMSELLA comes up often with men dealing with pelvic floor weakness, urinary leakage or changes in sexual function.
The chair uses high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology to set off rapid, deep pelvic floor contractions, far more per session than you could manage with manual Kegels. A study listing on ClinicalTrials.gov describes each 28-minute session as designed to deliver the equivalent of 11,200 Kegel exercises.
It is FDA-cleared, which is not the same as FDA-approved. The maker, BTL Industries, holds a 510(k) clearance for non-invasive electromagnetic stimulation of the pelvic floor to rehabilitate weak muscles and restore neuromuscular control in male and female urinary incontinence. Erectile dysfunction is not part of that cleared use.
During a session of about half an hour, you sit comfortably while the chair targets the deep pelvic floor muscles to:
- Rebuild muscle strength
- Improve bladder control
- Support sexual function, where the evidence is still early
It is quick, usually comfortable, and needs no surgery or recovery time.
Who is it for?
EMSELLA is most often discussed for men who want to strengthen a weak pelvic floor without surgery, including:
- Men 35+ experiencing urinary leakage or urgency
- Men recovering from prostate surgery
- Men noticing changes in erectile function
- Anyone looking to improve core and pelvic floor strength
If you are tired of rushing to the bathroom, avoiding intimacy or feeling out of control, it is worth a conversation. Leakage and erection changes after prostate surgery have their own recovery path, which our page on erectile dysfunction after prostatectomy explains.
Two cautions first. Tell the clinician about any implanted device, such as a pacemaker or metal hardware near the hips or pelvis, before any electromagnetic treatment. And new leakage, blood in the urine or pelvic pain deserve a medical evaluation, because they can signal problems a chair will not fix.
The benefits of EMSELLA for men
The benefits are clearest for bladder control and less certain for erections, so it helps to look at each one separately.
1. Non-invasive pelvic floor strengthening
No surgery. No downtime. You walk in, sit down and the chair does the work, triggering repeated deep muscle contractions while you relax.
2. Improved bladder control
Urinary leakage is where EMSELLA has the most evidence. In a 2025 study of 27 men with ongoing leakage after prostate removal, six sessions cut leakage severity scores by about 53 percent, and by about 61 percent at the one-month check, while daily pad use fell. The study had no comparison group, so larger controlled trials are still needed.
3. Support for sexual wellness
The pelvic floor muscles are active during an erection, which is why strengthening them is a reasonable idea. In a randomized trial of pelvic floor exercises with biofeedback, 40 percent of men with erectile dysfunction regained normal function and another 34.5 percent improved. Whether an electromagnetic chair produces the same benefit is not yet proven; a sham-controlled trial of EMSELLA for male sexual dysfunction is still recruiting. For now, treat it as a possible add-on rather than a stand-alone ED treatment.
4. Time-efficient and comfortable
Each session lasts about half an hour. The protocol used in the 2025 study was six sessions, twice a week, which works out to about three weeks. That is an easy fit for most schedules.
5. What the research does and does not show
Most published EMSELLA research has been in women. The data in men is smaller: the 27-man study above and a few pilot reports, with no long-term controlled results yet. How long the benefit lasts is also unproven, which is why maintenance sessions are sometimes discussed.
What to expect during a session
If EMSELLA is part of your plan, a session is simple. You sit fully clothed on the chair in a private room, and the clinician sets the intensity.
During the treatment:
- You’ll feel a pulsing, tingling sensation in your pelvic area. It is strong but usually not painful, and the intensity can be adjusted.
- There’s no need to undress or prep.
- You can return to work or the gym right after.
The device’s FDA summary lists possible side effects including temporary muscle soreness or spasm, temporary joint or tendon pain, skin redness and increased sensitivity during intercourse.
Why choose Ultimate Male?
Ultimate Male focuses on men’s health, with clinics in San Gabriel and Downey. Device availability changes, so ask the clinic whether EMSELLA sessions are currently offered before you plan around them. What every visit does include is a proper look at the problem behind the question:
- A one-on-one consultation with a PA-C or MD who looks at urinary symptoms, erections and hormones together
- Same-day, on-site labs when they would change the plan
- The full range of erectile dysfunction treatments, from oral and topical medicines to Trimix and Quadmix injections and PRP
- Shockwave therapy, another drug-free option, with a straight explanation that it is not FDA-cleared for ED and is still considered investigational
- Home pelvic floor training, which our pelvic floor exercises for ED guide walks through step by step
Take the first step
If bladder leaks or changes in sexual performance are affecting your life, start with an evaluation rather than a device. A short visit can sort out whether the cause is muscular, vascular, hormonal or something that needs a urologist.
Call or text (626) 319-5261 for a free 10-minute phone call, ask whether EMSELLA is currently available, or book a visit to talk through every option for your pelvic floor and erections.
Some symptoms cannot wait for an appointment. If you cannot pass urine at all, or an erection lasts more than four hours, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
