Yoni eggs, jade eggs, kegel balls…they have many different names, but at the end of the day most of them are similar in nature. So the real question is: are these things helpful or not? Do you need to be working out your vagina with these weighted balls to keep your pelvic floor healthy?
Yoni eggs – what are they and why would I want one?
Yoni (Sanskrit for “womb”) eggs are egg shaped stones that sit inside your vaginal canal and are said to promote sensuality, strengthening and healing of the vagina. They can be made of various crystals, popularly clear quartz, rose quartz, and jade, each type of crystal serving a specific purpose. The thought is that the density of the egg serves as a weight that provides resistance in order to strengthen and tone the pelvic floor.
How yoni eggs strengthen the pelvic floor
In order to keep these eggs inside the vaginal canal, the muscles of the pelvic floor have to continually contract. This is how yoni eggs may improve sexual function, reduce urinary leakage, and “tone” the muscles of your vagina. However, they can actually have the opposite effect – prolonged contraction of the pelvic floor can lead to increased pelvic floor tension and an inability to relax those muscles. You might be thinking “a tight vagina, that’s great,” but in truth a tight vagina is not necessarily what we aim for.
In order to have normal sexual, urinary, and bowel function, the muscles of our pelvic floor need to be able to contract AND relax. Without the ability to relax, these muscles will begin to have difficulty with normal functions. Over time, this can also cause considerable pain.
How do I use them?
If you use yoni eggs, keep them in for small amounts of time first – start with a few minutes and work your way up to 5 or 10. There are different sizes and you should start with a larger egg, not a smaller one. This may seem counterintuitive but the larger eggs will make doing a kegel with it in easier as opposed to a smaller one.
Are yoni eggs safe?
We always recommend consulting a pelvic floor physical therapist to determine if strengthening is even what you need. Remember, relaxation is equally important as strengthening. So, if you are someone who has difficulty relaxing those muscles (even if you are not aware of it), then strengthening may not be appropriate for you. If you have any of the following symptoms, we do NOT recommend any strengthening activities until being evaluated by a pelvic floor PT.
- Constipation or pain with bowel movements
- Difficulty initiating the flow of urine, difficulty fully emptying your bladder, and/or urinary leakage
- Pain with intercourse
- Difficulty or inability to become aroused or orgasm
- Low back and/or hip pain
- Tension and pain in the lower abdomen
We also don’t recommend the use of yoni eggs if you have been diagnosed with any of the following:
- Vulvodynia
- Vaginismus
- Pelvic floor dysfunction or tension
- Vaginal infection such as thrush, UTI or bacterial vaginosis
- If you are pregnant
The benefits of yoni eggs
They may increase natural lubrication
It is said that yoni eggs can increase blood flow and improve circulation to the muscles and tissues of the pelvic floor. This can help increase natural lubrication. One thing to note is that sometimes overactivity the muscles can actually lead to fragility and dryness, so use caution.
They can increase sensation/sensitivity during sex
Again, because yoni eggs may increase blood flow and improve circulation, they may increase sensitivity during sex. Because yoni eggs are supposed to tone and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, this can positively impact sensation and sensitivity. But, again, remember that overactivity can actually cause increased pain with sex, so we recommend using caution if this is your goal.
The cons of yoni eggs
They carry a risk of infection
One downside to consider when using yoni eggs is the risk of infection. Many of these yoni eggs are made of porous materials like jade or other stones, and therefore are difficult to keep clean and free of potentially harmful bacteria. Even with washing after each use, bacteria can still become trapped in the porous material, leading to a potentially nasty infection.
They can lead to painful sex
We know we have mentioned this already, but just to be clear, it is possible to “over strengthen” your pelvic floor, leading to painful sex. Avoid leaving yoni eggs in for long periods of time, and never sleep with them in. Stop if you have pain and check in with a pelvic floor PT or your healthcare provider.
Other ways to strengthen your pelvic floor
A pelvic floor PT will be able to assess your ability to contract and relax during an exam. If you are in fact someone who would benefit from strengthening, the pelvic PT will be able to provide a personalized strengthening program. In the event that a kegel trainer would be appropriate, a few of the most frequently recommended products include:
But remember, just because these aren’t yoni eggs, doesn’t mean they are safe for everyone. Always check with a pelvic floor PT before using any sort of internal strengthening device. Also please keep in mind that there is no scientific evidence that proves that yoni eggs work (but pelvic floor PT does!).
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Interested in more tips on how to prevent or overcome Pelvic Floor Problems?
Download this free guide for some simple, do-able, totally-not-weird tips to take better care of your down there.
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