You have options. From simple exercises to advanced therapy to surgery, there are multiple ways to treat urinary incontinence. The right choice depends on your type of incontinence, severity, lifestyle, and goals.
Below is an honest comparison of all available treatments, including success rates, time commitment, costs, and what to expect.
Quick Comparison
| Treatment |
Success Rate |
Time to Results |
Cost |
Invasive? |
| Kegel Exercises |
40-50% |
3-6 months |
Free |
No |
| Pelvic Floor PT |
60-80% |
6-12 weeks |
$450-1,800 |
No |
| Emsella Therapy |
95% |
2-3 weeks |
$1,800 |
No |
| Medications |
50-70% |
2-4 weeks |
$20-100/mo |
No (side effects) |
| Surgery |
80-90% |
2-6 weeks recovery |
$8,000-15,000 |
Yes |
Kegel Exercises
What they are: Voluntary contractions of pelvic floor muscles to strengthen them over time.
✓ Pros
- Free
- Can do at home
- No equipment needed
- No side effects
✗ Cons
- 70% do them incorrectly
- Hard to know if you're doing them right
- Requires 100-200 daily contractions
- Takes months to see results
- Easy to give up
Best for: Mild stress incontinence in motivated individuals willing to commit to daily exercises.
Bottom line: Free and worth trying, but only works if you do them correctly and consistently. Most people don't see significant improvement.
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
What it is: Specialized physical therapy focused on pelvic floor rehabilitation with biofeedback to ensure proper technique.
✓ Pros
- Personalized approach
- Biofeedback ensures proper technique
- Education about your body
- Higher success than Kegels alone
- Sometimes covered by insurance
✗ Cons
- Requires 6-12 weekly appointments
- 30-45 min daily home exercises
- $75-150 per session
- Time-intensive
- Requires self-motivation
Best for: Moderate incontinence in people with time and motivation for weekly appointments and daily exercises.
Bottom line: More effective than Kegels alone, but requires significant time and effort commitment.
MOST EFFECTIVE
Emsella Therapy
What it is: FDA-cleared electromagnetic technology that creates 11,000 pelvic floor contractions in 28 minutes. Like doing thousands of perfect Kegels while sitting fully clothed.
✓ Pros
- Highest success rate (95%)
- Impossible to do it wrong (technology handles it)
- Fast results (2-3 weeks)
- No daily commitment between sessions
- Fully clothed
- No downtime
- Works for stress AND urge incontinence
- 11,000 contractions per session
✗ Cons
- Upfront cost ($1,800)
- Not covered by insurance
- Requires 6 appointments (3 weeks)
- Results last 6-12 months (maintenance may be needed)
Best for: Anyone with stress, urge, or mixed incontinence who wants the most effective non-surgical option with minimal time commitment.
Bottom line: The highest success rate of any non-surgical treatment. Technology ensures you can't do it wrong. Results come fast. Worth the investment if you want the best outcome.
Learn more about Emsella →
Medications
What they are: Prescription drugs that relax bladder muscles (for urge incontinence) or increase urethral tone (for stress incontinence).
✓ Pros
- Easy (just take a pill)
- Works for urge incontinence
- Fast results (2-4 weeks)
- Sometimes covered by insurance
✗ Cons
- Common side effects (dry mouth, constipation, dizziness)
- Only works for urge incontinence (not stress)
- Must take daily, indefinitely
- Moderate effectiveness
- May not be suitable for older adults
Best for: Urge incontinence when other treatments haven't worked. Not effective for stress incontinence.
Bottom line: Can help urge incontinence but comes with side effects. Doesn't address the root cause (weak muscles).
Surgery
What it is: Surgical procedures to support the urethra (sling procedures) or add bulk to urethral tissues (bulking agents).
✓ Pros
- High success rate (80-90%)
- Long-lasting results
- Often covered by insurance
- May be only option for severe cases
✗ Cons
- Invasive (surgery required)
- 2-6 week recovery period
- Risk of complications (infection, mesh issues, urinary retention)
- Expensive ($8,000-15,000+)
- Should be last resort after other options fail
Best for: Severe incontinence that hasn't responded to other treatments.
Bottom line: Effective but invasive. Try conservative options first (Emsella, PT) before considering surgery.
How to Choose the Right Treatment
By Severity:
- Mild leaks (occasionally): Try Kegels for 3 months. If no improvement, consider Emsella.
- Moderate leaks (daily pads): Go straight to Emsella or pelvic floor PT for best results.
- Severe leaks (affects quality of life): Start with Emsella. If insufficient, consider surgery.
By Type:
- Stress incontinence: Emsella > Pelvic Floor PT > Kegels > Surgery
- Urge incontinence: Emsella + Bladder Training > Medications > Nerve stimulation
- Mixed incontinence: Emsella (treats both types simultaneously)
- Overflow incontinence: See a urologist (may need catheterization or surgery)
By Lifestyle:
- Busy schedule, want fast results: Emsella (6 sessions, no daily work)
- Motivated, have time for daily exercises: Pelvic Floor PT (best DIY option)
- Want to try free option first: Kegels (but most people don't succeed)
- Budget-conscious: Kegels → PT → Emsella → Surgery (escalate as needed)
Ready to Get Started?
Emsella therapy offers the highest success rate with the least time commitment. Get treatment in Milwaukee at Bay View Chiropractic.
Schedule Free Consultation
The Bottom Line
You don't have to just "live with it." Incontinence is highly treatable, and you have multiple options depending on your situation.
Our recommendation for most people:
- Start with Emsella if you can (highest success, fastest results, no daily work)
- Try Pelvic Floor PT if you're motivated and have time for appointments + daily exercises
- Attempt Kegels if budget is tight, but get professional guidance to ensure proper technique
- Consider medications for urge incontinence if Emsella doesn't fully resolve symptoms
- Reserve surgery as last resort after exhausting non-surgical options
Want to learn more?