What are Kegel Balls?
Kegel Balls: Kegel balls are small weighted spheres worn inside the vagina, where the pelvic floor muscles must gently squeeze to hold them in place — turning ordinary movement into a workout. They can support pelvic floor training and pleasure, but they are not right for everyone, and a doctor or pelvic floor physiotherapist is the right first stop if you have any pelvic symptoms.
Also known as: Ben Wa balls, love balls, vaginal balls, Kegel weights.
The name situation first: WebMD settles it plainly — "Kegel balls are the same thing as Ben Wa balls" (WebMD). The two names lean different directions, though: Ben Wa balls is the classic term for the pleasure side, while "kegel balls" is what people say when they mean pelvic floor training. This entry covers the training side.
The mechanism is elegantly simple. To keep the weighted balls from slipping out as you move, your pelvic floor muscles have to contract and hold — the same muscles worked by kegel exercises. A stronger pelvic floor supports bladder control, and as WebMD notes, "Stronger pelvic floor muscles may also improve sexual sensations by raising blood flow to the area" (WebMD). The honest caveat: large studies on the balls specifically are scarce, and plain kegel exercises remain the better-proven core of pelvic floor training — the balls are one tool, not the treatment.
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Who Should Not Use Kegel Balls
This is the section that matters most, because kegel balls genuinely aren't for everyone. WebMD's list of people who should skip them: anyone pregnant, healing from childbirth, recovering from surgery, dealing with a UTI or other pelvic infection, experiencing pain when using the balls, diagnosed with overactive pelvic floor muscles, or living with atrophic vaginitis, prolapse, or significant vaginal dryness.
The overactive-pelvic-floor point deserves its own sentence, because it's counterintuitive: holding the balls in as you move keeps the muscles in near-constant contraction, and per WebMD, "some studies suggest this may cause certain pelvic muscles to get too tight and become overactive" (WebMD). You can't self-diagnose an overactive pelvic floor — which is exactly why anyone with pelvic pain, pressure, urgency, or incontinence should see a doctor or pelvic floor physiotherapist before starting, and stop and check in if those symptoms appear during use. For diagnosed pelvic floor problems, a professional may recommend entirely different tools, from pessaries to biofeedback training.
Using Them Well
Choose big and light to start: larger balls need less muscular effort to retain than small ones, which makes them the beginner pick, and grippy silicone is easier to hold than slippery metal or glass, which can come later. A retrieval cord is worth insisting on. Apply water based lube to the balls and yourself, lie down to insert them — much like inserting a tampon — relax, and leave the cord hanging out for removal.
The dose is smaller than most people expect: start with just a few minutes a day, gradually working up to around 15 minutes, and per WebMD's guidance, "Don't keep them in for more than 30-45 minutes a day to prevent strained or overactive pelvic floor muscles" (WebMD). Remove them at any discomfort. Two absolute rules round it out: these are vaginal toys only — WebMD is blunt: "never insert Kegel balls into your anus" (WebMD), since without a flared base they can travel beyond retrieval — and they are personal items, never shared, since shared toys can pass on STIs.
| Kegel balls | Plain kegel exercises | |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | Weighted balls, lube, retrieval cord | None at all |
| Evidence | Limited studies, mixed reviews | Well established for bladder control and pelvic strength |
| Overdoing risk | Sustained holding can overtighten muscles | Lower, since contractions are deliberate and released |
| Extra appeal | Sensation and pleasure while wearing | Free and doable anywhere, invisibly |
| Best first step | Learning a correct kegel — a doctor or pelvic floor physio can confirm your technique | |
Curious to try? Browse our beginner friendly kegel balls and take your time choosing. Every HotCherry order ships discreetly. And if you want help picking, our kegel balls guide walks you through it step by step.
Key Things to Know
- Kegel balls work by making the pelvic floor hold weight in place, supporting the same muscles that kegel exercises train — though plain kegels remain the better-proven method.
- They are not for everyone: pregnancy, postpartum healing, surgery recovery, pelvic infections, pain, prolapse, dryness, and overactive pelvic floor muscles are all reasons to skip them and see a professional instead.
- Overuse can make pelvic muscles too tight — start with a few minutes daily, build toward 15, and never exceed 30 to 45 minutes a day.
- Bigger and lighter is the beginner formula, since larger balls take less effort to hold, and grippy silicone beats slippery metal or glass for a first set.
- Two hard rules: never anal use, since there is no flared base, and never shared, since toys can pass on STIs.
- New pelvic pain, pressure, or urinary urgency during use means stop and talk to a doctor or pelvic floor physiotherapist.
FAQ
How do I choose my first set of kegel balls?
Pick a single ball or connected pair that is larger and lighter — bigger balls need less muscular effort to retain, which makes them far more comfortable for beginners. Smooth body safe silicone with a soft retrieval cord is the ideal starting combination; slippery metal and glass can come later once your technique is confident.
How long should I wear kegel balls?
Start with just a few minutes a day and build gradually toward about 15 minutes, keeping total wear under 30 to 45 minutes a day per WebMD's guidance, since longer wear risks straining or overtightening the pelvic floor. Remove them immediately at any discomfort, and a pelvic floor physiotherapist can tailor timing to your specific needs.
Are kegel balls safe for everyone?
No — and this is worth taking seriously. Skip them if you are pregnant, healing from childbirth or surgery, have a UTI or pelvic infection, feel pain during use, or have been diagnosed with overactive pelvic floor muscles, prolapse, or atrophic vaginitis. Because an overactive pelvic floor cannot be self-diagnosed, anyone with pelvic symptoms should see a doctor or pelvic floor physiotherapist before starting.
What lube should I use with kegel balls?
Water based lubricant, especially with silicone balls, since silicone lube can degrade silicone toys over time. A small amount on the balls and at the opening makes insertion comfortable and stress free.
How do I clean kegel balls?
Clean before and after every use. Motor-free silicone, glass, and metal balls wash with antibacterial soap and warm water, and can be disinfected in a diluted bleach solution, boiled (silicone), or run through the top rack of a dishwasher. Vibrating models and fabric cords get a careful wipe-down per the manufacturer's instructions, keeping water away from any charging port. Dry fully before storage.
Can kegel balls help with bladder control?
Pelvic floor training is well established for improving bladder control, particularly after childbirth or with age, and kegel balls can support that training by giving the muscles something to work against. The evidence for the balls specifically is thinner than for kegel exercises generally, with mixed user-reported results in studies. For actual bladder concerns, a doctor or pelvic floor physiotherapist should design the plan.
Related Terms
Sources
- WebMD — What Are Ben Wa Balls? (medically reviewed by Shruthi N, MD): "Don't keep them in for more than 30-45 minutes a day to prevent strained or overactive pelvic floor muscles."
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