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Electrogalvanic stimulation

Published 13 March 2026 ·Last reviewed 13 March 2026 by the editorial team ·How we create our content

A composite account, drawn from many real anonymised experiences. It is not any one person's story.

What this experience covers

This experience looks at electrogalvanic stimulation (EGS) as a treatment for chronic rectal pain, particularly levator ani syndrome. It is a composite drawn from many anonymised accounts and represents common patterns, not any single person’s story.

EGS is not a widely known treatment. Most people who encounter it have already been through other approaches — pelvic floor physiotherapy, medication, lifestyle changes — and are looking for something else that might help.

The pattern

How it works

Electrogalvanic stimulation uses a low-voltage electrical current applied to the pelvic floor muscles, typically via a probe placed in the rectum. The current is designed to fatigue the chronically tensed muscles, helping them relax. Think of it as a forced reset for muscles that have been in spasm.

What sessions feel like

People describe the experience as unusual but not painful:

A tingling or buzzing sensation in the pelvic floor area
Gradual muscle fatigue — a feeling of the muscles “letting go”
Sessions lasting around 30 to 60 minutes
Mild discomfort from the probe but not significant pain
A feeling of relaxation in the area afterwards that can last hours or days

The treatment course

EGS is typically offered as a series of sessions — commonly three to six treatments over several weeks. People describe the effects as cumulative rather than immediate.

The range of outcomes

Experiences vary significantly:

Some people describe dramatic improvement — a significant reduction in chronic rectal pain that had been unresponsive to other treatments
Others describe moderate improvement — enough to make the condition more manageable
Some notice little or no benefit
A few describe temporary improvement that fades over weeks

The treatment is not widely available and is typically offered at specialist centres.

What people wish they had known

That the treatment is awkward but not painful
That results are cumulative — do not judge after a single session
That it works best alongside other approaches, not as a standalone treatment
That it is not available everywhere and may require travel to a specialist centre

Everyone’s situation is different. If you want to talk through yours in a private, judgement-free space, our chat is here.

When to contact your doctor

Seek medical attention if you experience:

Pain that is severe or getting progressively worse
Loss of bowel or bladder control
New symptoms after treatment
Any concerns about the treatment or your condition

When to seek care Heavy bleeding or feeling faint? Get emergency help now. Emergency: 911

Not sure how urgent it is? Get help today.

Emergency
Heavy bleeding, black tarry stools, feeling faint, severe pain or trouble breathing.

Call 911 or go to the ER.
Today
Fever, pain getting worse, a hot swollen lump, or trouble passing urine.

Call your doctor or go to urgent care.
Soon
Bleeding or bowel changes nobody has checked, or anything lasting 3 weeks.

Book a doctor’s appointment.

Feeling overwhelmed? Call or text 988, any time.

See all the signs

For this topic, get medical advice if you notice:

Severe or worsening pain
Heavy bleeding
Fever
Black stools
Fainting or dizziness
Pus or unusual discharge
Inability to pass stool or gas
Unexplained weight loss

Recording how you feel is not the same as being checked. These are the signs that need a doctor’s attention.

Call 911 or go to the emergency room now if you have:

bleeding that will not stop, a lot of blood (the toilet water turns red, or you pass large clots), or any bleeding with feeling faint or dizzy
fainting, a racing heart or trouble breathing
confusion or slurred speech, extreme shivering, no urine in a day, or blotchy skin
sudden severe belly pain, or a swollen, hard belly with vomiting or not passing stool or gas
you cannot pass urine at all, or your bladder feels full and painful and you can’t empty it
redness, swelling or severe pain spreading quickly around your anus, genitals or groin, especially with a fever or feeling very ill
a fever with a painful swelling near your anus if you have diabetes or a weakened immune system (for example, from chemotherapy or transplant medicines)
black, tarry stools

Call your doctor or go to urgent care today (or the ER if you can’t be seen today) if you have:

a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, chills, vomiting, or feeling generally unwell
pain that is getting worse over days, or severe pain that stops you sitting or sleeping
a hot, swollen or very tender lump near your anus or at the top of the crease between your buttocks, or foul-smelling discharge
trouble urinating
bleeding that is getting heavier or more frequent, or blood mixed into your stool
feeling much more tired than usual, looking pale, or getting out of breath more easily than you used to
not passing stool for several days, or new belly pain

Make an appointment with your doctor if:

you have never had these symptoms checked by a doctor or nurse — whatever your age
you have had rectal bleeding for more than 3 weeks
your bowel movements have been looser, thinner or more frequent than usual for 3 weeks or more, or you have lost weight without trying
symptoms have not settled after a week or so, or keep coming back
you notice a new lump near your anus, between your buttocks or in your belly, or an itch or discharge that does not clear
you have new leakage or trouble controlling your bowels
you are 45 or over, or have a family history of bowel cancer or inflammatory bowel disease, and any of these symptoms are new for you

If you are unsure, it is always reasonable to ask. If things feel overwhelming, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or chat at 988lifeline.org, any time. If you don’t feel safe, call 911.

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Discreet symptom tracking

Symptoms that come and go? Keep track, day by day.

For hemorrhoids, fissures, fistulas and other anal and rectal problems. A short, discreet email asks how things have been, and saves each answer, so you can look back at every flare and every good week in your own words. If you haven’t had your symptoms checked, see your doctor first.

About ten seconds a check-in. No app, no password.
Nothing in the subject or preview says what it’s about.
Each Sunday, a link to your week, ready for your next appointment.

Start tracking →

Your notes

Your check-in

Takes about ten seconds.

20:00

Example. Nothing on the lock screen hints at symptoms or conditions.

Explore more

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