Like so many middle-aged women, I suffered from embarrassing bladder leaks for years. Then I found this £60 gadget that meant I could finally get rid of the pads – and regain my freedom

It was after giving birth for the third time, at the age of 36, that Samantha Bowley first began having ‘little accidents’.

Having never experienced the problem before, she found herself suddenly losing control of her bladder almost without warning.

It would happen when she exerted herself – during an exercise class, or simply bending down to scoop up one of the kids.

Sometimes, it struck with something as simple as a cough or a sneeze.

At first, friends reassured her it was ‘just one of those things’ that happens to women after childbirth.

But what began as the occasional urgent dash to the bathroom gradually worsened. Soon, Samantha found herself avoiding going out in public altogether – and steering clear of light-coloured clothes for fear of visible leaks.

‘I was constantly worried about whether I’d make it to the bathroom in time,’ says Samantha, now 58, an accounts assistant from Northamptonshire.

‘I became incredibly self-conscious, always thinking people might notice – or worse, smell urine.

‘It didn’t just affect my physical comfort – it knocked my confidence and left me feeling isolated.’

Like an estimated one in three women in the UK, Samantha was experiencing urinary incontinence – a condition that can trigger a sudden urge to urinate, often resulting in leakage before reaching the toilet.

But earlier this year, she finally found a solution – one that has allowed her to regain control and even wear the clothes she loves again: a wearable pelvic floor trainer.

Incontinence is typically caused by a weakening of the pelvic floor muscles, which support the bladder and urethra. This can occur during pregnancy, childbirth and menopause, when hormonal changes also thin the tissues around the urethra, making leaks more likely.

For some, bladder leaks are a minor inconvenience. But for others, like Samantha, the impact can be life-altering.

‘I have always been outgoing and used to love going to the gym,’ she says. ‘But my bladder leaks made me anxious about losing control, and I began avoiding the activities I once loved.’

The turning point came during a yoga class, when a movement triggered a severe leak that left her humiliated.

‘I rushed out of the class, went to the toilet, then straight home. I was too embarrassed to go back in,’ she recalls.

Put off by worrying stories about surgery and treatment side-effects, Samantha avoided seeking help from her GP. Instead, she relied on incontinence pads to manage the problem.

While effective at absorbing leaks, these products do not treat the underlying cause – meaning her condition persisted. Over time, she began planning her life around toilet access and eventually stopped going to the gym altogether.

Experts say there are several treatment options available, but most agree that pelvic floor muscle training should be the first step. Strengthening these muscles improves support for the bladder and urethra and can significantly reduce symptoms.

Lifestyle changes – including losing excess weight, cutting back on caffeine and reducing alcohol intake – can also help. Vaginal oestrogen, applied locally, may improve symptoms in some women, particularly after menopause, but is usually used alongside other treatments.

Pelvic floor trainers have been around for years, with Kegel weights among the best known. While different brands make varying claims, they are generally designed to improve the strength and coordination of the pelvic floor muscles – which play a crucial role in bladder control.

It was while researching non-surgical options that Samantha came across one such device, called SomaFlex.

The £60 product, made from medical-grade silicone, is inserted vaginally like a tampon and can be worn for extended periods, including during exercise and swimming. It is designed to apply gentle internal pressure, encouraging the user to engage and train their pelvic floor during everyday activity.

‘I started using the trainer in late January and within a couple of weeks I noticed a significant improvement,’ Samantha says. ‘The results felt life-changing. I no longer felt a constant panic about finding a toilet, and the leaks that had dominated my daily life became far more manageable.’

She also believes it may prove more cost-effective in the long term, having previously spent up to £20 a week on pads.

However, there is currently limited high-quality clinical evidence showing that devices like this are more effective than standard pelvic floor exercises or other established treatments.

Edel McCann, a pelvic health physiotherapist at the London women’s health clinic Leto, says the gold-standard treatment for many women is a personalised, supervised pelvic floor training programme.

‘This should be combined with lifestyle advice, bladder and bowel education and management of contributing factors,’ she explains.

‘Pelvic floor devices can play a useful supporting role, but they are most effective as part of an individualised plan.

‘Before using any device, it’s important to understand whether the pelvic floor needs strengthening, coordination, endurance – or even relaxation.

‘Devices such as SomaFlex can help improve awareness of the pelvic floor muscles, but they should complement, not replace, professional assessment and guidance.’

For Samantha, the transformation has been profound.

‘For the first time in years, I felt in control of my bladder again,’ she says. ‘The pads were gone – and with them, the constant worry and embarrassment.

‘I’ve gone back to the gym, doing weights, squats and yoga without fear. I feel stronger, fitter and more confident.

‘Most importantly, I’ve got my freedom back. I can travel, socialise and go about my day without constantly planning around my bladder. It’s given me a new lease of life.

‘I even wore a bikini on my last holiday – something I never would have done before.

‘My husband has noticed the difference too. I’m happier, more confident – and wearing bright colours again.’

Her message to other women is simple. ‘There’s a belief that bladder leaks are just part of getting older, but it doesn’t have to be,’ she says.

‘There is effective treatment. Don’t be embarrassed to seek help – you don’t have to live with it.’