Emsella vs kegels for men: surgery, dribbling, ED, what to try first
For most men, kegels come first. Emsella is FDA-cleared for male leaking, not for erections, and male studies are small. Not affiliated with BTL, Emsella's maker.
Updated ·Written by the Dr. Kegel editorial team · clinical review pending
This guide is for men. Read the version for women →
Short answer
For most men, kegels come first. They're free, taught by physios after prostate surgery, and supervised programs with biofeedback have helped some men with erection problems. Emsella is a paid chair, FDA-cleared for male urinary incontinence but not for erections, with small male studies so far. Consider it only after a proper training trial.
Men usually come to this question from one of three places: leaking after prostate surgery, dribbling after peeing, or a clinic ad promising stronger erections. The answer is different for each. We make Dr. Kegel for Men, a training app, so we have a bias toward kegels — here’s the evidence so you can judge for yourself.
The version of this comparison focused on women’s leaking is here: Emsella vs kegels.
How each one works
Kegels are squeezes you do on purpose: lift the muscles that stop gas and urine, hold, then fully let go. In men, a correct squeeze makes the base of the penis lift slightly. The point isn’t just strength — it’s learning to squeeze at the right moment: as you stand up, cough, lift, or right after you pee.
Emsella is a BTL chair. You sit clothed for about 28 minutes while an electromagnetic field makes the pelvic floor contract. A course is usually six sessions over three weeks, paid out of pocket.
Emsella vs kegels for men at a glance
Prices checked September 2026 from published US clinic prices.
| Kegels | Emsella | |
|---|---|---|
| Who moves the muscle | You | The chair |
| After prostate surgery | Usual first step, often taught by a physio; evidence mixed but low-risk | Cleared for male incontinence; one small uncontrolled 2025 study (27 men) |
| Dribbling after peeing | A squeeze right after you pee often helps | No studies found |
| Erections | Small supervised trial with biofeedback showed benefit | Not FDA-cleared; controlled results not yet published |
| Teaches timing and relaxation | Yes | No |
| Cost | Free, an app, or physio visits | About $1,200–$3,000+ per 6-session course |
| Not suitable for | Men with a tight, painful pelvic floor (relax first) | Pacemakers and other electronic implants; pelvic metal implants |
After prostate surgery
Leaking after radical prostatectomy usually improves over the first year as the body heals. That makes any treatment hard to judge.
- Kegels: a Cochrane review found the evidence for pelvic floor training after prostatectomy mixed; other systematic reviews suggest guided training can help men regain control sooner. It’s cheap, low-risk and teaches the squeeze you use when you stand up or cough. Many teams start it early — some before surgery.
- Emsella: a 2025 study of 27 men with persistent leaking found symptom scores roughly halved and pad use fell after six sessions, with no side effects reported. But there was no comparison group and only one month of follow-up. Controlled trials are registered.
Our take: train first with your team’s guidance, track leaks, and see our prostatectomy guide. If you’ve plateaued after several months, ask your urologist whether Emsella or other options make sense.
Dribbling after peeing
Those few drops after you’ve zipped up (post-void dribbling) are usually urine trapped in the urethra, not a weak bladder. A firm pelvic floor squeeze right after you finish — or gently pressing behind the scrotum and sweeping forward — often clears it. That’s a kegel skill, not something a chair can do for you. We found no Emsella studies for dribbling. See after-dribble.
Erections
Clinics often market Emsella for “stronger erections”. It isn’t FDA-cleared for that. A sham-controlled trial in men with erectile or ejaculatory problems has been registered; we haven’t found published controlled results.
For pelvic floor exercises, a small UK randomized trial found men with erection problems who did supervised pelvic floor exercises with biofeedback plus lifestyle advice did better than men given lifestyle advice alone. That was a supervised program — results from apps or home routines may be smaller.
Either way, see a doctor first: erection problems can be an early sign of heart disease, diabetes or low testosterone. Our erectile dysfunction exercises guide covers what to check.
Pros and cons for men
Kegels
- Pros: free; private; teach timing (stand-up, cough, after-pee squeeze); include relaxation; evidence for erections comes from supervised programs.
- Cons: take weeks to months; easy to do wrong — clenching the glutes or holding your breath; you have to stick with it.
Emsella
- Pros: no effort; clothed; cleared for male urinary incontinence; may help men who can’t produce a voluntary squeeze.
- Cons: small, uncontrolled male studies; not cleared for erections; about $1,200–$3,000+ a course, usually not covered; passive.
Try a free program before you pay for a chair
- Check you need strength, not relaxation. Pain, a slow stream or pain after ejaculation? Take the Tight or weak? check first.
- Learn the squeeze with kegels for men.
- Train daily with our free kegel timer.
- Track leaks in the bladder diary.
- Review in a few months with your urologist. Full details on the chair: Emsella for men.
Disclosure
We make Dr. Kegel for Men, a pelvic floor training app, so we benefit if you choose kegels. We have no relationship with BTL or any Emsella provider, and there are no affiliate links on this page. Last updated September 23, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is Emsella better than kegels after prostate surgery?
There's no good evidence that it is. A small 2025 study of 27 men found fewer leaks after six Emsella sessions, but without a comparison group. Evidence for pelvic floor training after prostatectomy is also mixed, but it's cheap, low-risk and the usual first step. Ask your surgical team.
Can Emsella replace kegels for erectile dysfunction?
No. Emsella isn't FDA-cleared for erectile dysfunction, and controlled results aren't published yet. Pelvic floor exercises have some evidence from a small supervised trial with biofeedback. Neither replaces a medical check — erection problems can signal heart disease or diabetes.
What about dribbling after peeing?
Kegels win here. Dribbling after peeing usually comes from urine left in the urethra, and a firm pelvic floor squeeze right after you finish often clears it. We found no Emsella studies for post-void dribbling.
Can men do kegels and Emsella together?
Yes. If you choose Emsella, keep doing your own training between and after sessions. The chair makes the muscles contract; kegels teach you to squeeze on purpose when you cough, stand up or lift — the skill that actually stops leaks.
How long should I try kegels before considering Emsella?
Give guided training a few months. After prostate surgery, leaking often keeps improving for up to a year, so judge progress with your team rather than by the calendar. Keep a bladder diary so you can see real change.
Sources
- Evaluating the Efficacy of High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic (HIFEM) Therapy for Postprostatectomy Incontinence in Men — PMC, 2025
- Conservative management for postprostatectomy urinary incontinence — Cochrane Library, 2015
- The Impact Of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training On Urinary Incontinence In Men After Radical Prostatectomy – A Systematic Review — Clinical Interventions in Aging
- Randomised controlled trial of pelvic floor muscle exercises and manometric biofeedback for erectile dysfunction — British Journal of General Practice, 2004
- Emsella Chair vs Sham for Male Sexual Dysfunction (NCT05370651) — ClinicalTrials.gov
- Kegel exercises for men: Understand the benefits — Mayo Clinic
This page is general education about exercise, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Talk to a clinician about symptoms that are new, severe or getting worse.