The Lister Hospital
Chelsea Bridge Road, SW1W 8RH London
Electrical stimulation of the pelvic floor
A treatment to reduce the symptoms of an overactive bladder, using an electrical stimulation device to help exercise and strengthen your pelvic floor muscles.
Treatment for an overactive bladder
This is a treatment for both women and men. It involves passing a small electrical current through your pelvic floor muscles (the muscles around your bladder).
It can help reduce urgency and frequency symptoms associated with an overactive bladder.
Need to know
This treatment can be carried out by or under the supervision of a specialist nurse. A machine may be available for you to carry out this treatment at home. You will be given a probe to use with it.
The probe is placed in the vagina for women or in the anus for men. An electrical current runs through the probe, which helps strengthen your pelvic floor muscles while you exercise them. If you find it hard to do pelvic floor muscle exercises on your own, electrical stimulation can help. The device will measure and stimulate the electrical signals in the muscles.
Your consultant or specialist nurse will let you know what to expect and how to prepare. Electrical stimulation may be recommended at the same time as another treatment. You may have a course of treatment, using the machine regularly for up to eight weeks.
If you are loaned an electrical stimulation machine to use at home, you will be given detailed instructions on how to use it.
This treatment should help improve your ability to control your bladder. Your consultant or specialist nurse will let you know the next steps and if you need further treatment.
Paying for medical treatment
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Our Exercise stimulation locations
The Wellington Hospital
8A Wellington Place NW8 9LE London
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place W1U 5NY London
The Shard Outpatients
The Shard, 32 St Thomas Street SE1 9BS London
Patient stories
Yvette's story: From back pain to hip replacement surgery
Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David’s gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist, former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.