What to Buy Sexual Health Products & Resources The 10 Best Kegel Balls of 2023, Reviewed and Approved The Elvie Trainer uses biofeedback to take your pelvic health to the next level. By Rachael Schultz Updated on January 13, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews How We Selected What to Know How to Use Kegel Balls Your Questions, Answered Who We Are We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Health / Amazon Chances are you’ve heard of Kegels—the exercises that can help strengthen your pelvic floor whether you’re having a baby, already had a baby, have trouble with incontinence, or just want a better sex life. But you can actually get an even better workout with Kegel balls, which are small weighted toys or devices that, once inserted into your vagina, can work to strengthen your pelvic floor as you squeeze and release around the balls. They’re the dumbbell equivalent of a Kegel bodyweight workout. “Your pelvic floor muscles are no different than other muscles in our bodies in that they need exercise, too, as the pelvic floor is a major contributor to your bladder, bowel, and sexual health,” explains pelvic floor physical therapist Heather Jeffcoat, DPT, owner of Femina Physical Therapy in LA and author of Sex Without Pain: A Self-Treatment Guide to the Sex Life You Deserve. You start with a few minutes of squeeze-and-release each day and work your way up to 15 minutes a day, which creates a stronger pelvic floor over time. (Don’t worry, they’re easy to remove once you relax thanks to a long string.) Kegel balls can help you recover from childbirth, reduce Pelvic Organ Prolapse, cure incontinence, and even improve hip and back pain for some people, says Monte Swarup, MD, board-certified in OB/GYN in Chandler, AZ, and founder of HPD Rx. Kegel balls (also known as Ben Wa balls) can also help improve your sex life, he adds, as stronger pelvic muscles can increase sexual pleasure and some couples even use Ben Wa balls as toys during sex for extra enjoyment. But not all Kegel balls are the same. Our experts agree that it’s important to look for Kegel balls that have a removal string, are made from body-safe silicone, and come with different weights so you can start light and work your way up as your muscles develop. At the end of this guide, we go deeper into what the best features of Kegels balls are, how exactly to use them, and who they’ll help the most (spoiler—most women over 20 will see benefits, Dr. Swarup says.) Our Top Picks Best Overall: Elvie Women's Pelvic Floor Trainer at Amazon Jump to Review Best Budget: CalExotics Kegel Training Set Lemon at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Beginners: Intimina KegelSmart Exerciser at Amazon Jump to Review Best Vibrating: We-Vibe Vibrating Kegel Set at Walmart Jump to Review Best with Remote: CalExotics Ultra-Soft Kegel at Amazon Jump to Review Best Variety: IntimateRose Set of 6 Premium Silicone Kegel Exercise at Amazon Jump to Review Best Heavy: Lovehoney Double Kegel Balls at Lovehoney.com Jump to Review Best Set: Je Joue Ami Kegel Set at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Sexual Pleasure: Lelo Luna Beads at Amazon Jump to Review Best Wand: IntimateRose Pelvic Wand at Amazon Jump to Review Best Overall Elvie App Controlled Women's Pelvic Floor Trainer Amazon View On Amazon View On Bed Bath & Beyond View On Best Buy Why We Like It: The Elvie trainer is designed based on feedback from real women to fit comfortably, and uses biofeedback and an app pairing to ensure you’re getting the most out of your exercises. It’s Worth Noting: The added features jack up the price a bit. The Elvie Trainer is small and compact, made from silky-soft body-safe silicone, and is a unique c-shaped design that sits comfortably fit inside your vagina. It uses biofeedback technology paired with an app to measure the force and motion of your contractions. Meanwhile, the included app provides feedback on how you can improve your exercises to make sure you’re doing them properly. The app puts you through six expert-designed exercises—strength, speed, lift, pulse, hold, and step—to build muscle power, agility, and endurance of the pelvic floor, and advances you through four levels over time. Each exercise is designed to look like a game to maintain motivation and track progress. We love that the design of the silicone body itself is based on feedback from hundreds of women to comfortably fit inside most vaginas. And it even comes with an optional cover for a custom fit. The c-shape design may also be less intimidating than a traditional string of balls for some women. In other words, this kegel trainer has everything most women want in a device, whether you’re just starting kegel training or looking to upgrade your routine—which is why it’s our top overall pick. Oh, and the device even comes with a two-year warranty. Price at time of publication: $200 Product Details: Material: Body-safe siliconePieces included: Kegel trainer, optional cover for better fit, micro USB cable, wireless charing carrying caseShape: C-shapeCare and maintenance: Wash with warm water and mild soap Best Budget CalExotics Kegel Training Set Lemon Amazon View On Amazon View On Babeland.com Why We Like It: These Kegal balls are made from body-safe silicone, have a pull cord for easy removal, and come with two weight options to progress your training, all for under $30. It’s Worth Noting: You may need heavier weight than this product offers as you progress. This Kegel ball set will run you less than $30, but it comes with everything our experts like to see in a device. It’s made from body-safe silicone, comes with multiple weight options for progressing your training (a 2-ounce and 3.5-ounce option), and has a pull cord for easy insertion and removal. This double ball design helps to tone your pelvic muscles from top to bottom of the vaginal canal. We also love that this set comes with recommended exercises to help beginners. The product has a 90-day warranty and is easy to clean with soap and warm water, which helps to prevent infections. Price at time of publication: $19 Product Details: Material: SiliconePieces included: Two double Kegel balls, recommended exercises Shape: Double ballCare and maintenance: Wash with warm water and mild soap Best for Beginners Intimina KegelSmart Exerciser Amazon View On Amazon View On CVS View On Intimina.com Why We Like It: This smart device uses vibrational patterns to guide you through strengthening programs, and increases the intensity as you build strength over time. It’s Worth Noting: Some users say it’s a little bulky, which may make it slightly uncomfortable to insert. The Intiminia KegelSmart is a vibration device that is incredibly straightforward for folks who have never used Kegel balls before—just insert it and the device determines an exercise program for you. Then the device uses vibration to guide you through when to squeeze and release. And this vibrational guidance is really great for mentally tuning into isolating the pelvic floor muscles, which is a necessary skill to develop to truly strengthen this area, Dr. Jeffcoat says. Thanks to its internal smart design, the KegelSmart doesn’t have an app to fuss with, but it still auto-adjusts the intensity to how you’re building strength and endurance over time. It’s also made with body-safe silicone and has a string for easy removal—two features Dr. Swarup recommends for beginners. Price at time of publication: $45 Product Details: Material: Medical-grade siliconePieces included: Device, cloth bag, instruction bookletShape: OvalCare and maintenance: Wash with warm water and mild soap Best Vibrating We-Vibe Bloom Vibrating Kegel Set LoveHoney View On Walmart View On Ellaparadis.com View On Lovehoney.com Why We Like It: With 10 vibrational patterns and three progressive weights, this device is ideal for strengthening your pelvic floor or enhancing sexual pleasure. It’s Worth Noting: Some users say it loses app connectivity often. The We-Vibe Bloom Vibrating Kegel Set uses an interchangeable double-ball design and comes with three progressive weights (10g, 30g, and 45g) all of which rumble with powerful vibrations. The device is fully waterproof (IPX7 rating) and made from body-safe silicone, so it can be used as a pelvic floor training device or used during sex to enhance pleasure. We love that this device features a whopping 10 vibration modes, from low to high intensity to pulse, wave, tempo, or a ramp-up. The variety is ideal for sexual pleasure, but the short and long vibration patterns are also ideal as you level up your Kegel exercises from beginner to advanced over time. The device also has a long stem for easy removal and a single charge lasts up to 90 minutes. The We-Vibe Bloom can also be paired with the app to alter the vibration or intensity setting—even from far away, for a little LDR fun with your partner. Price at time of publication: $115 Product Details: Material: Body-safe siliconePieces included: Device body, three weights, charger, cloth case, lubeShape: Double ballCare and maintenance: Wash with warm water and mild soap Best with Remote CalExotics SE-0077-27-3 Wristband Remote Ultra-Soft Kegel Amazon View On Amazon View On Babeland.com Why We Like It: This Kegel ball has 12 vibrating patterns, which can be controlled by a silicone wristband up to 32.5 feet away by you or your partner. It’s Worth Noting: It only has one weight. Remote-operated vibrating Kegel balls allow you (or your partner) to adjust the intensity of the toy in the moment, right in your hand, whether you’re looking to strengthen your pelvic floor or increase sexual pleasure. We love the Cal Exotics Wristband Remote Ultra-Soft Kegel balls in particular because it was designed by women and features 12 vibrating patterns, which offer a ton of fun for any use. Both the balls and the wristband are made of ultra-soft, phthalate-free silicone, so it won’t irritate your skin. The Kegel balls themselves have a long tail for easy removal, and with only a 1.5-inch width, they’re pretty narrow for a comfortable fit. The wristband has no screen just an on/off button and an intensity button, so it’s super easy to operate. What’s more, it works up to 32.5 feet away, a charge lasts 80 minutes, and it’ll recharge in under one hour. Both devices are also fully waterproof. The only major downside for this device as a pelvic floor exerciser is it only has one weight. Price at time of publication: $50 Product Details: Material: SiliconePieces included: Watch/remote, Kegel ball device, USB charging cableShape: Double ballCare and maintenance: Wash with warm water and mild soap Best Variety IntimateRose Set of 6 Premium Silicone Kegel Exercise Weights & Control Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Intimaterose.com Why We Like It: It includes a set of six weights, ranging from ultralight to heavy, and are the only silicone pelvic floor weights cleared by the FDA. It’s Worth Noting: Some users found that the directions weren’t clear enough. If you’re looking to buy a single set of Kegel balls that can progress with you over time as your strength and endurance increase, the Intimate Rose Kegel Exercise Weights comes with six progressive weights. The lightest is just 0.9 ounces, which is ideal for not overexerting your pelvic floor muscles when just starting out, and goes all the way up to 4.4 ounces. With this variety of weights, this set is ideal for women trying to address any kind of pelvic floor issue, from bladder control to childbirth recovery to pelvic organ prolapse. What’s more, with a purchase you get access to private online support groups, which can be a real boon for anyone dealing with health conditions. Each ball (which are really shaped more like stretched-out eggs) is made from smooth, proprietary medical-grade silicone. These Kegel balls are actually the only silicone pelvic floor weights cleared by the FDA. In addition to six Kegel balls, this set also comes with a doctor-designed exercise program to help guide you through the routine. The company even offers free 30-day returns if you aren’t happy with the purchase. Best of all, this set is highly affordable with all six Kegel balls costing just $55. Price at time of publication: $59 Product Details: Material: Premium siliconePieces included: Six Kegel ballsShape: OvalCare and maintenance: Wash with warm water and mild soap Best Heavy Lovehoney Main Squeeze Heavy Double Kegel Balls LoveHoney View On Lovehoney.com Why We Like It: For advanced Kegel ball users, this set is heavy at 3.2 ounces and uses free-roaming weight inside the silicone for an enhanced challenge (and pleasure). It’s Worth Noting: These aren’t for beginners. If you’ve been doing kegel exercises or using lightweight Kegel balls for a while and your strength is built up, a heavy kegel ball can help you keep progressing. This one from Lovehoney is 3.2 ounces for an intense pelvic health workout. The two balls have free-roaming weights encased in body-safe silicone, which means every jiggle or movement from your body forces your pelvic floor muscles to clench and keep the weight steady. This can help with strengthening your muscles as well as enhancing your sexual pleasure while they’re inside. They also make for a great warm-up pre-intimacy. We love that these Kegel balls are also fully waterproof and have a straightforward silicone retrieval cord. Price at time of publication: $20 Product Details: Material: SiliconePieces included: Kegel ballShape: Double ballCare and maintenance: Wash with warm water and mild soap Best Set Je Joue Ami 3-Step Progressive Kegel Set Amazon View On Amazon View On Babeland.com View On Jejoue.com Why We Like It: This set feels luxurious to the touch and offers not just three different weights but three different shapes for more challenge to your pelvic floor. It’s Worth Noting: Some users found them a little large, making them uncomfortable to insert. From luxe sex toy company Je Joue, Ami Kegel Balls are made from the silky, body-safe silicone the brand is known for. We love that this set offers not just different weights but also different shapes to challenge your pelvic floor muscles in different ways and offer more versatility among fits. Ami 1 is a simple sphere and the lightest weight at 1.6 oz. Ami 2 is a double-ball shape and medium weight at 2.75 oz. And Ami 3 is a thinner double-ball shape, which takes more muscle effort to keep in place at a heavy weight of 3.73 oz. Each kegel ball has a durable silicone removal loop that’s easy to pull. This set is intended to help strengthen your pelvic floor for every advantage, from bladder health to faster pregnancy recovery to more pleasurable orgasms. Price at time of publication: $70 Product Details: Material: Body-safe siliconePieces included: 3 Kegel balls, instruction manual,1-year limited warranty cardShape: Round and double ballCare and maintenance: Wash with mild soap and warm water Best for Sexual Pleasure Lelo Luna Beads Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Adameve.com Why We Like It: With five different mix-and-match weight combinations and a moving weight encased in plastic, these Kegel balls offer a lot of versatility alongside a whole lot of pleasure. It’s Worth Noting: The cloth string may harbor bacteria if not washed regularly. These uniquely designed Kegel balls come with four interchangeable balls—two pink light weights at 1 ounce each and two blue heavier weights at 1.3 ounces each—and one body-safe silicone case that can hold up to two balls at a time. That makes for a total of five different mix-and-match combinations depending on your exercise regime or sexual desires. We like this option in particular for sexual pleasure because the Kegel balls are a moving weight encased in plastic, which gives it a small sense of movement that makes for extra pleasure during sex. What’s more, these beads are made by LELO, a well-established luxury sex toy company known for making quality toys. The Kegel balls are easy to change out into the smooth silicone case, which also has a cloth loop, so it’s comfortable inside you (although it’s extra important to wash after every use since cloth can hold more bacteria than other materials). Rest assured that these Kegel balls also come with a 1-year warranty and a 10-year guarantee. Price at time of publication: $59 Product Details: Material: Silicone, polycarbonate, and ABS plastic blendPieces included: One case, four weightsShape: RoundCare and maintenance: Wash with mild soap and warm water Best Wand IntimateRose Pelvic Wand Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Intimaterose.com Why We Like It: This wand was designed by pelvic physical therapists to help people find trigger points and release pelvic pain from home. It’s Worth Noting: It doesn’t necessarily strengthen your pelvic floor muscles the same way a Kegel ball will. If your pelvic floor therapist has recommended trigger point relief and home therapy for more regular respite from pelvic pain, the IntimateRose Pelvic Wand can help. It isn’t a Kegel ball per se, but it is a uniquely designed wand created by pelvic physical therapists to help people relieve trigger points in the pelvic floor muscles outside the therapist’s office and help with vaginismus, dyspareunia, painful sex, vestibulodynia, pelvic floor tension, endometriosis, and more. Its tapered s-shape curve helps reach both superficial and deep, hard-to-reach obturator internus and puborectalis muscles which can cause serious pelvic pain in some people. Reaching deep might sound a little scary, but this wand is crafted with comfort in mind, both in its thoughtful, ergonomic design and its use of body-safe silicone that’s both BPA- and latex-free. And the wand comes with access to dozens of videos, articles, and detailed instructions on how to use it to relieve pain. The brand also offers free 30-day, no-hassle returns if the wand isn’t what you expected. It’s also worth noting that IntimateRose makes a vibrating version for $60 for added muscle release. Price at time of publication: $35 Product Details: Material: Body-safe siliconePieces included: Wand, access to a digital library of instructionsShape: SCare and maintenance: Wash with mild soap and warm water How We Selected the Best Kegel Balls To determine the best kegel balls, we spoke with two women’s health experts: Monte R. Swarup, MD, FACOG, a board-certified OB/GYN and women's health expert in Chandler, AZ. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor at Midwestern University in the Department of OB/GYN, a three-time recipient of the prestigious America's Top OB/GYNs Award, and specializes in urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and high-risk obstetrics. Heather Jeffcoat, Doctor of Physical Theapy (DPT), a pelvic floor physical therapist, owner of Femina Physical Therapy in Los Angeles, CA and author of Sex Without Pain: A Self-Treatment Guide to the Sex Life You Deserve. Jeffcoat is also the President of the Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy, and works regularly with women of all ages that have experienced pelvic health challenges, such as incontinence, prolapse, painful intercourse and sexual dysfunction. Based on their insight on the benefits of Kegel balls and our research around criteria for what a healthy device should have, we narrowed our top picks down to the 10 on this list. What to Know About Kegel Balls What are Kegel Balls? “Kegel balls are like dumbbells for your pelvic floor muscles,” explains Dr. Jeffcoat. They help to strengthen your pelvic floor—without adequate strength and coordination in this muscle group, you can experience bladder or fecal leakage, pass gas involuntarily, experience pelvic pressure or heaviness from pelvic organ prolapse, and even have orgasms that feel less than satisfying, Dr. Jeffcoat explains. How Kegel Balls Can Help Strengthen the Pelvic Floor Like all muscles in the body, your pelvic floor becomes weak when it’s not activated regularly and can become stronger when you, essentially, work it out. “Having a stronger pelvic floor helps strengthen your vaginal muscles, which provides a tighter closure of your vagina, urethra, and rectum,” Dr. Swarup explains. Who Should Use Kegel Balls Dr. Swarup says women can start using Kegel balls in their 20s and well into their senior years. Using Kegel balls can help women at any age improve their overall pelvic health (especially during menopause), improve their sex life, improve their overall fitness, recover from childbirth, reduce POP (Pelvic Organ Prolapse), cure leakage of the bladder, and develop improved hip and back support. In particular, kegel ball exercises can be beneficial for: Pregnant women and postpartum women, as pregnancy and delivery can loosen and stretch the pelvic floor which Kegel exercises can help strengthen.Patients experiencing bladder incontinence, as Kegel exercises can prevent leaks from incontinence.Increasing sexual pleasure thanks to strengthened pelvic muscles and increased blood flow to the pelvic floor, which affects arousal. Who Should Not Use Kegel Balls “Kegel balls are safe if used properly. You just need to make sure to not use them for too long in one day so you don’t overexert your pelvic floor muscles,” Dr. Swarup says. He adds that there are risks when inserting anything in your vagina, namely a risk of discomfort, pain, and potential tearing of the vagina which can happen from using the Kegel balls incorrectly, and a risk of infection if you don’t clean them properly after each use. Kegel balls are physically safe if you’re pregnant, but since there is a risk of infection, talk to your doctor before you start using them. How to Use Kegel Balls Here’s what you need to know before using kegel balls: Just like you wouldn’t jump onto the squat rack your first time lifting, you want to start with weight-free Kegels and pelvic floor exercises before you work up to weighted balls, Dr. Jeffcoat advises. Once you’ve learned how to isolate those muscles and have built up some endurance (typically after a few weeks), you can start using Kegel balls. It is best to start with the lightest weight Kegel balls and gradually increase the weight as your muscles get stronger, Dr. Swarup recommends. Use plenty of lube before insertion, if you’d like, he adds. Start by using the lightest ball for five minutes a day, or three minutes, three times a day. As your endurance builds, work your way up to 15 minute training sessions just once a day. If you’re using the balls for sexual pleasure or foreplay, Dr. Swarup notes you should never keep them in for longer than six hours as overexertion can strain your vaginal muscles. As a pelvic health physical therapist, Jeffcoat recommends following your training session with three minutes of slow, deep breathing focusing on pelvic floor relaxation with each inhale. Types and Shapes “If you are using Kegel balls for the first time be aware that they come in various sizes, shapes, materials, and quality,” Dr. Swarup says. Cheaper Kegel balls can be made of harmful plastic that has chemical coloring and can irritate the sensitive vaginal tissues. They also can expose you to toxins. Some can also be difficult to clean which increases the risk of infection. Dr. Swarup and Dr. Jeffcoat agree that the minimum features you should look for in Kegel balls are that they’re made from body-safe silicone, are easy to clean, and have three weight options for you to progress through. Your Questions, Answered How do kegel balls work? After Kegel balls are inserted, you tighten the muscles of your pelvic floor by squeezing, which in turn helps strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, Dr. Swarup explains. Which kegel balls are the best? The best kegel balls are ones that are made from body-safe silicone, are easy to clean, and come with different weights or resistance levels for when your pelvic floor muscles become stronger. What weight Kegel ball should I use? The weight of Kegel balls ranges from 10 to 100 grams, and the heavier the ball requires more strength—so start small, advises Swarup. Start with the lightest weight. Just like with dumbbells, work your way up to higher weights over time. How long does it take for Kegels balls to work? If you use Kegel balls every day, you should start to feel an increase in your pelvic floor strength after just a few weeks and see noticeable changes in strength after three to four weeks. How much should you spend on quality kegel balls? Plan to spend at least $30 on kegel balls, and more for a set with multiple weights. Don’t skimp: Dr. Swarup shared that cheaper Kegel balls are often made of harmful plastic with chemical coloring and can irritate the sensitive vaginal tissues and potentially expose you to toxins. Who We Are Rachael Schultz has been a health and wellness writer for nearly a decade, including women’s health and sexual health, and specializes in translating scientific research and expert insight into digestible, usable, everyday information. She has been a product editor for five years and has extensive knowledge discerning what differentiates a high-quality, reliable sexual health product that will not only support the buyer’s needs but is also worth your money. Updated by Emily Belfiore Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit