Ben Wa Balls & Kegel

What are ben wa balls?

They are weighted spheres that you insert into the vagina to strengthen the pelvic floor, the group of muscles that supports the bladder, the womb and the rectum. To stop them slipping out, those muscles have to hold them in place, and that is how they work. In the ones with a loose ball inside, the weight shifts as you move and produces a gentle vibration. That is why they work both as a pleasure toy and as a women's health tool. Vibrating balls add a motor, and many can be controlled with a remote or an app.

Benefits of ben wa balls

People who use them consistently usually hope for one or more of these things. The studies support the first one better than the others, so it is best to read them as possible effects rather than promises.

• A stronger pelvic floor, which may help with small leaks of urine when you cough, laugh or jump (stress incontinence). With urge incontinence, the kind with sudden urges to urinate, it is less clear: a review of 13 trials found significant improvements with all physiotherapy techniques except vaginal cones (Greer et al., 2012, Int Urogynecol J).
• More intense orgasms, although what has been measured is more modest. In an analysis of 54 women with urinary incontinence, pelvic floor exercises (without balls) were associated with an improvement in desire, arousal and orgasm, especially in those who already had sexual dysfunction (Sacomori et al., 2015, J Sex Med); when vaginal spheres were added, the trial cited below only saw desire increase.
• After pregnancy they may help to recover vaginal tone, but only once the postnatal period has passed and with the go-ahead from your gynaecologist or midwife.
• Some users notice more awareness of their internal sensations.
• Approaching the menopause, some women use them to maintain vaginal elasticity and lubrication, although there are no studies with balls that measure this.
• You can wear them during everyday activities, with subtle, discreet sensations.

Types of ben wa balls

Most are made of silicone; metal ones weigh more at the same size.

• Single balls: one ball, the option to start with. They tend to be light, from 25 to 35 g.
• Double balls: two balls joined together, with more stimulation and an intermediate weight, from 40 to 80 g.
• Balls with interchangeable weights: sets of several balls or weights so you can progress gradually, designed for training.
• Vibrating balls: add vibration for extra pleasure while you exercise the muscles.
• Remote-controlled balls: with a remote or app, for playing as a couple or discreetly away from home.
• Trainers with an app or electrostimulation: guide the exercises from your phone or stimulate the muscle with small currents.

How to choose your first ben wa balls for your level

If you are starting out, choose a large (35 mm or more) and light (25-35 g) ball: larger balls are easier to hold in. At an intermediate level you can move on to double balls or to smaller balls with more weight (40-60 g). Advanced users use small balls with a high weight (80-100 g) or progressive weight systems.

The rule is simple: the smaller the ball, the harder it is to hold in. You start large and light and progress towards small and heavy.

How to use ben wa balls properly

• Apply water-based lubricant to the balls and to the vaginal entrance; water-based lubricants do not damage silicone.
• Insert them in a comfortable position, lying down or standing with one leg raised.
• Check that they are inside and that the removal cord is hanging outside.
• At first, wear them for 15-20 minutes and gradually build up the time.
• While you wear them, contract and relax the muscles as in Kegel exercises.
• To take them out, relax, breathe and pull the cord gently.

What the studies say

A study published in the International Urogynecology Journal in 2015 attributes a 70% improvement in pelvic floor strength to regular use of ben wa balls after 12 weeks of use. With more data behind it, a meta-analysis of 15 studies found that devices for training the pelvic floor at home, in general and not just balls, had a large positive effect on the strength of those muscles (Pennycuff et al., 2022, Obstet Gynecol).

Compared with doing the exercises without anything, the advantage is less clear. A trial with 45 postmenopausal women with stress incontinence compared two groups. One trained with vaginal cones, which are weights that you insert into the vagina, similar to the balls. The other did the exercises without them. In both groups urine leakage decreased over 12 months, with no differences between the groups (Pereira et al., 2013, Neurourol Urodyn).

On sex, a trial with 71 women with symptoms of sexual dysfunction found that adding vaginal spheres to pelvic floor exercises did not change the overall sexual function score, although it did increase desire, with differences between groups at the end of the treatment (Blanco-Ratto et al., 2026, Int Urogynecol J).

Safety

Ben wa balls are for the vagina: they have no stopper and must not be used in the anus. Anal beads come in a row, with a ring or a base that stops them going in completely, and you will find them in anal toys. With silicone balls use water-based lubricant, because silicone-based ones can damage the surface. If you have a latex allergy, check the material on the product page. Electrostimulation trainers have their own contraindications: read them on the product page before using them. And if you have pain, an infection or have just given birth, talk to your gynaecologist or pelvic floor physiotherapist first.

How to choose

• Weight: the product page gives the grams of each ball; to start, go for the lightest.
• Diameter: the larger the ball, the easier it is to hold in; small ones are for when you already have some practice.
• One ball, two or a set: a set with several weights lets you progress without buying other balls.
• Material: smooth, one-piece silicone, easy to clean; metal weighs more at the same size.
• Removal cord: check that it is firm and well attached to the ball.
• Vibration and water: if they vibrate, check whether they are controlled with a remote or an app and whether they are fully waterproof (submersible) or only splashproof.

Ben wa balls & Kegel balls: frequently asked questions

Are ben wa balls, Kegel balls and geisha balls the same thing?

Yes. They are three names for the same weighted spheres that you insert into the vagina to work the pelvic floor. Vibrating balls are a variant with a motor.

Can ben wa balls get stuck?

No. The vagina is a closed channel that ends at the neck of the womb (cervix), so the balls cannot get “lost”. If you find it hard to take them out, relax, squat down and push gently as if you were going to the toilet; if they still do not come out, your doctor can remove them in a simple appointment.

Can I use ben wa balls every day?

Yes, in moderation: about 20-30 minutes a day if you are starting out, and up to 2 hours once you have experience. Do not use them to sleep; like any muscle, the pelvic floor needs rest.

Are ben wa balls the same as Kegel exercises?

No, they complement them. Kegels are voluntary contractions and the balls add weight and resistance, like going from bodyweight squats to squats with dumbbells. In a six-week pilot trial with 35 women with stress incontinence, training with vaginal weights improved muscle power and contraction repetitions more than training without them, but with no significant differences in urine leakage (Bar Chen et al., 2025, Int J Environ Res Public Health).

Can I use ben wa balls during pregnancy?

Only if your doctor approves. They are generally not recommended during pregnancy, but they may help with postnatal recovery, once the postnatal period has passed and with their approval.

How do I clean my ben wa balls?

With warm water and mild soap before and after each use, and store them dry in their case. Silicone ones without a motor can be boiled from time to time to disinfect them; vibrating ones, never.

Can ben wa balls be used in the anus?

No. They are designed for the vagina and have no stopper. For the anus, use anal beads with a ring or wide base, which you will find in anal toys.

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