Kegel balls….What’s all the fuss about?

To those of you that don’t know, they just look like balls on a string and you could be wondering how to use them, where they go and why they’re so helpful in sexual stimulation.

Other names you’ll see are ben wa, love balls, geisha balls, pleasure balls or even jiggle balls. They all mean the same thing!

Kegel balls are inserted into the vagina (or whatever name you like to call your lady garden) to help strengthen your pelvic muscles. 

But...what are pelvic muscles and what do they do?

Your pelvic floor muscles form the bottom of your pelvis and support your uterus, bladder and bowel. You use these muscles to stop doing a number 1 or 2 in the lav, or trying not to let one rip. They’re also the muscles that tighten during an orgasm!

There are a range of benefits to strengthening these muscles, such as :-

• Relaxing your vaginal muscles if you find sex painful or uncomfortable
• Increasing vaginal wetness for more comfortable sex
• Improving sexual stimulation by improving blood circulation to your vagina and pelvic floor
• Strengthening the muscles to reduce incontinence (especially helpful for pregnant women or those who have given birth)

What size do I go for?

You know your own body and if you’re on the petite spectrum down there, we’d recommend a small size and working your way up. Petite is usually compared to inserting 1-2 fingers inside and that’s as far as you can go.

If 2 fingers doesn’t cut the mustard or you’ve given birth for example, we’d say that you’re more likely after a medium/larger size. 

Beginners sizes tend to start from 27-29mm in diameter, middle tier being 33mm and then upwards of 37mm. 

What weight do I go for?

It can be quite overwhelming at all the different styles, ranges and weights out there, but if this is all new to you then this is our recommendation :-

Just like you would at the gym, start off with small weights first!

The starting weights can vary but the most common weight starts at 28g per ball. This would be our recommended weight to start off with. Medium range is usually between 60-80g in total, with expert level in upwards of 100g. 

What type should I buy?

The price can change depending on the brand, material, style and function of the kegel balls. Many cost effective kegel balls around the £8-15 range tend to be made of ABS plastic which is body safe and doesn’t usually allow you to remove or change the weights of the balls, while the middle to high range kegel balls are made of medical grade silicone, with options to remove or add different weighted balls and some even vibrate! 

This is all down to personal preference and what you want to get out of the product. If this is a new world to you, we’d recommend starting with the beginners style rather than investing from the get go into something that might not be for you. Alternatively, kegel balls can come in packs of 3 for beginner, intermediate and advanced level which is handy to work up the ranks. 

How do I use them?

We recommend lying down on the bed in a comfortable position with your legs spread (sometimes known as spread eagle).

Apply some lubricant (water based is recommended) quite generously and slowly insert the first ball. 

If this feels uncomfortable or painful, please take them out! This is not supposed to hurt. Try going to your happy place in your head and your body will follow suit. 

If all is going well with the first ball, gently move on to the next one(s) whilst keeping the drawstring or plastic exit string in easy reach outside your vagina.

A lot of women are concerned that they may go up there and never come back out but don’t worry, it’s practically impossible because your vagina is closed off by your cervix.

Push the balls into your vagina as far as it feels comfortable and practice contracting your muscles in and out (don’t worry, not birthing contractions!)

If your bum is moving off the floor/bed, you’re working your glutes not the pelvic muscles! 

Breathe in through your nose and remain relaxed, and exhale again through your nose and begin contracting your pelvic muscles for 3 to 6 seconds. Then, breathe in again and release the contraction to relax your muscles.

We recommend that you relax for a good 10 seconds and not to over-do it, especially if this is your first time. Doing this 4-5 times in a session 2 times a day will give you the best results.

When you feel you’re levelling up and can hold the contraction for longer, try going for 6-10 seconds each time and repeating for as long as it feels comfortable.

The end goal is to hold for 10 seconds 10 times in a row.

We hope that you’ve found this guide helpful! Now go get practicing..