By Dr. Sue Zhou, Urogynecologist & Women’s Health Advocate
Hello, I’m Dr. Sue Zhou, and today I want to talk about something that affects far too many women—urinary incontinence.
Of all the things we expect to control in our bodies, losing control over our bladder can be one of the most distressing and disruptive experiences. It impacts not only daily routines but also confidence, vitality, and joy. In fact, 1 in 4 women will experience some form of urinary incontinence.
As a urogynecologist with nearly 20 years of experience, I see this every day. Why does it happen? Because the female pelvic floor is designed to support childbirth. The muscles and ligaments are inherently flexible and thin, allowing them to stretch for delivery. But even women who’ve never had children—or only delivered via C-section—can experience weakening of these tissues over time.
Here’s why:
- Pregnancy and vaginal delivery often strain and damage the pelvic floor.
- Muscle tone naturally declines with age; after our 30s, muscle is slowly replaced by fat.
- Weight gain increases intra-abdominal pressure, worsening stress incontinence—leakage during laughing, coughing, exercise, or simply moving.
But are we doomed to live with this? Absolutely not.
Pelvic floor muscle training, such as daily Kegel exercises, is the foundation of management. I recommend this to every woman I evaluate. But knowing which muscles to engage, and whether you’re doing it correctly, is challenging. When done incorrectly—especially by pushing instead of lifting—you may actually make things worse.
That’s where pelvic floor physical therapy comes in. A skilled therapist can help you learn the proper technique and build strength effectively. But the truth is, these exercises must be practiced consistently at home for lasting results—and that’s hard to sustain for many busy women.
So what else can you do?
Here’s where innovation steps in.
Introducing the Emsella Chair, a non-invasive breakthrough that uses high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) energy to stimulate deep pelvic floor contractions. Each 28-minute session delivers the equivalent of 11,000 Kegels—targeted, controlled, and effortless.
Just six sessions can give you the strength and tone of two years’ worth of daily Kegels—restoring bladder control, confidence, and freedom before muscles weaken to the point where surgery is the only option.
Invest in your vitality.
Bladder control is not a luxury—it’s essential to your quality of life. You deserve to move, laugh, and live without worry.
