Smile Makers Pelvic Partner | £59.95 | Tester: Kate Sellers

Pelvic Partner is a clever bit of kit designed to help you strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. We put it to the test...

One in three women will be affected by pelvic floor disorders, yet nearly half of us haven’t had any education about how to look after our pelvic floor. That’s where pelvic floor trainers come in.

Pelvic floor trainers are usually tools used internally to strengthen the muscles that support our bladders, bowels and core muscles. When we got the chance to test one out, we jumped at the opportunity. Read on for our review of Smile Maker’s Pelvic Partner…

Pelvic Partner technical details

• Rechargeable
• Suitable for postpartum, menopause + incontinence support
• 8 progressive levels
• Special features: app-free, with haptic feedback
• Compatible with water-based lubricants

Who is the Pelvic Partner for?

As we’ve mentioned above, it’s great for those who want to rebuild pelvic floor strength due to specific issues. Smile Makers are keen to spread awareness of pelvic floor training for all women, though – not just those who are postpartum or experiencing incontinence – as it is a key muscle group for our core and overall health.

Do I need to download an app to use Pelvic Partner?

No – unlike many other similar pelvic floor trainers, this one is ‘analogue’. It gives you direct feedback through the device, rather than telling you via an app.

How does it work?

Pelvic Partner is an internal pelvic floor trainer, which means that it goes inside the vagina. It’s shaped – shall we say – ergonomically, to help. You can also use lube if you need. Once it’s in, you turn it on and squeeze until it vibrates to let you know that you’ve activated the correct muscles in the right way. You then hold for 3-5 seconds, and then release until the vibration stops. That’s one rep. Smile Makers suggest doing 2-3 sets of 10-15 reps per session.

Image: Kate Sellers

Pelvic Partner in-use review

I’ll be honest, WR readers, this really does look a lot like a sex toy when you first open the box. But maybe this shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone, as it is designed to go inside you! On that point though, be reassured it was very easy and comfortable to use.

It’s an app-free design, which I understand sets it apart from other products on the market. It also means you can just pop it in and get going without any faff. It has a really simple squeeze and vibrate method, giving you instant feedback on how effective your muscles are, with eight different levels to work through as you get stronger.

I have definitely noticed an improvement in pelvic strength after using it for a few weeks, and have found it to be more effective than when I’ve done kegels on their own. Because it has 360-degree sensors, you know that you’re activating all of your pelvic floor muscles when it vibrates, which isn’t always easy to work out on your own. I will say that the vibrations are quite strong, so take from that what you will!

Overall, I was impressed by its effectiveness and ease of use, especially at its price point, which is lower than others on the market.