Kegel balls: how do they work and how do you train with them?

Are you thinking about using kegel balls and do you want to know more about it? Then you have come to the right place. In this blog post, we will tell you what kegel balls are, how they work and how to use them the right way.

What are kegel balls?

Balls that are created to be inserted into the vagina are called kegel balls or love balls. There are many different names for these types of balls, such as kegel balls, love balls, Ben Wa balls and Geisha balls. This last name reflects the origin of the balls: they are originally designed by Japanese women. The differences between the different types are explained further on in this blog post.

How do kegel balls work?

Kegel balls are designed to train the pelvic floor muscles. At the same time, they also provide pleasure during foreplay. Training your pelvic floor muscles can help your vagina recover after a vaginal birth. It is also helpful if you have a weak bladder. When inserting the balls you automatically tighten your muscles, otherwise the balls will fall out of the vagina. In addition, by tightening your muscles, you are able to spin the balls in circles in your vagina. This provides a stimulating feeling. Use lubricant when inserting the balls and always take the material of the balls into account. Do you have silicone love balls? Then you need water-based lubricant, as this does not affect the material of the love balls.

Training your pelvic floor muscles

Your pelvic floor muscles form, as the name suggests, the floor of the pelvis. You can feel these muscles in your body by tensing your vagina and anus, like when you have to go to the toilet very badly, but need to hold it in. If you train your pelvic floor muscles, there are several benefits. It tightens your vagina, which will give you more intense orgasms. This is great for your partner too: your vagina will feel tighter to him as well. With trained muscles you can spoil him even more by tightening and relaxing your muscles during penetration.

Tip: Train your pelvic floor muscles with these exercises

No more unexpected urine loss

After a pregnancy or because you are getting older, you can experience urine loss when you laugh, sneeze, cough, bend down, walk up or down the stairs, or when you play sports. This is unpleasant and can cause insecurity. Fortunately you can do something about it, namely by training your pelvic floor muscles. This is because these muscles touch your bladder. You will have more control over your bladder when your pelvic floor muscles are strong. With stronger muscles, urine loss will decrease during those times when the pressure increases in your stomach, like when you sneeze. You will feel like you got your freedom back when you can get on a trampoline with your children again without being afraid of urine loss. Doctors recommend daily kegel exercises for six to eight weeks to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. It is important that you keep repeating the exercises regularly, otherwise the symptoms will come back.

Arousing foreplay

By moving kegel balls around in your vagina, you don’t just train your muscles. It also provides a great feeling of pleasure, which makes it very suitable for use during foreplay. There are different types of love balls that you can use to get aroused: vibrating balls are especially suitable for this. You could wear them during a romantic dinner with your lover for example: this way you will be very aroused before you even get home.

Different kinds of kegel balls

Ben Wa balls

Ben Wa balls are loose love balls. Ben Wa is actually an umbrella term for all kegel balls. These types of balls are not attached to each other with a cord or string. Ben Wa balls are available in many different sizes, varying from about 12 to 45 millimeters. They also have different weights varying from about 10 to 370 grams. Usually the balls are made of steel or glass. By using multiple balls at the same time, you can create a highly stimulating feeling in your vagina. Larger, lighter balls are very suitable for beginners, because they stay in place more easily. Large balls are at least 4 centimeters in diameter. Heavier balls fall down much easier and you therefore need strong muscles to keep them inside your vagina. The smallest balls, weighing less than 1.5 centimetres, are the most difficult to use.

Vibrating love balls

The name says it all: vibrating love balls can vibrate. We also call them vibrating eggs. This name is derived from the shape: the balls are in the shape of an elongated egg. By adding vibrations, you don’t just train your muscles, but you can also enjoy extra pleasure and stimulation. The vibrations won’t give you an orgasm, but they do offer a wonderfully arousing feeling. You or your partner can adjust the speed and intensity of the vibrations with a remote control.

Kegel balls for muscle exercises

Kegel exercises are created by gynaecologist Arnold Kegel. He devised the exercises to help people with incontinence. To do the exercises you need kegel balls. These are balls that are connected to each other with a (silicone) cord or a silicone sleeve. This makes them very easy to remove from the vagina, which offers an extra sense of security. Kegel balls are generally larger and less flexible than Ben Wa balls. Use kegel balls to train your pelvic floor muscles to make them stronger.

Safe use of kegel balls

You can wear kegel balls up to 30 minutes each time. If you wear them longer than that, your muscles can become too tense. It is not necessary to train your pelvic floor muscles every day. You can train 3 times a week for 10 minutes for example. If the balls start to irritate the vagina, remove them immediately and wait for the irritation to pass.

Kegel balls cannot get lost in your body. You don’t have to be afraid that you will end up at the emergency room because you cannot remove the balls from your vagina. By pushing, loose balls are easy to remove from your vagina. You can also jump up and down, cough, or squat like you would on the toilet.

Cleaning kegel balls

Loose balls are very easy to clean. To do this, use antibacterial soap and warm water. Thoroughly rinse the balls with water and let them dry well. Cleaning love balls with a cord takes a little longer. You have to pay close attention to the attachment points of the cord. Balls with silicone cords are easier: the connection points are completely smooth. Use warm water and toy cleaner for good hygiene.