10 Best Kegel Balls of 2023, According to Sexual Health Experts

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Basically pelvic floor dumbbells, these small but mighty devices can help you achieve a better orgasm.

At first glance kegel balls may make you feel a little skittish and intimidated, but these handy little sex toy lookalikes are actually amazing and practical pelvic floor strengtheners. And in your quest to strengthen your pelvic floor, you’ll likely find a solution for things like an overactive bladder, a better sex life, and stronger orgasms.

Your pelvic floor "is like a hammock that holds all of your insides in," explains Barbara Frank, M.D., Harvard-Affiliated OBGYN and Attn: Grace medical advisor. "It's important to exercise here just like any other muscle, especially after we put it through things like aging, weight gain, and pregnancy [and] delivery." Kegels are one of the staple exercises of pelvic floor therapy, Dr. Frank adds.

Meet the experts: Barbara Frank, M.D., Harvard-affiliated OBGYN, Rashida Ahmed, a sexual wellness educator and intimacy coach, and Judith Meer, P.T., D.P.T., a physical therapist specializing in pelvic health.

A great way to target these muscles is with kegel balls, which are essentially "dumbbells for your pelvic floor," says Rashida Ahmed, a sexual wellness educator and intimacy coach based in Toronto, Canada.

"Kegel weights, cones, and balls (also sometimes known as eggs or ben wa balls) are tools that can help you strengthen your pelvic floor muscles if used properly and by the appropriate candidate," explains Judith Meer, P.T., D.P.T., a physical therapist specializing in pelvic health based in Hoboken, N.J. "They are inserted into the vagina and used to add resistance to kegel exercises done in a variety of positions, depending on your strength, endurance, and coordination."

While kegel balls are excellent tools for overall pelvic and sexual health, not all are created equally. Luckily, our sexual health experts share the best kegel balls on the market, plus some tips on how to choose and use them effectively.

"Kegelbell is an externally weighted pelvic floor training option," explains Dr. Frank. "The Kegelbell insert is made of soft, medical-grade silicone for a safer and more comfortable fit." This option is different from most others as it leaves the weighted component outside of the body, while the elongated, silicone ball stays inside the vagina. "I have used this as instructed for 2-3 weeks now and it has already made a noticeable difference," one five-star Amazon reviewer wrote. "I have tried to do kegel exercises in the past but I have never been sure I had done them correctly…not so with the Kegelbell. The weight pulls down from outside and makes it easy to instantly engage the right muscles to hold the bulb in."

This kegel ball set comes recommended by Meer "for progressive strength training" as comes with multiple balls in different weights. "These are so comfortable I forget I am using them and when I take them out at the end of the day I can feel the difference in strength down there," one reviewer wrote. "Also comes with water based lube so that is excellent! Easy to clean and maneuver!"

This exercise kit from Intimina includes a set of three weights "to accommodate different levels of strength and experience," says Meer. The sphere shaped kegel ball emits subtle vibrations that allow you to feel when it is correctly in place, and includes a removal cord. "It's good quality and it is not too heavy. I suggest this size for everybody, it is comfortable and it fit perfectly," wrote one reviewer on Amazon.

"These [beads] are removable, so it's a great option to help folks slowly increase the weight, plus they are made from great quality silicone," Ahmed explains. Meer also recommends these beads as they come in a set of two and provide pelvic floor exercise as well as pleasure for the user, making it a popular choice for those who are looking for kegel balls for stimulation and arousal as well. One Amazon reviewer wrote: "Doing kegels for two years now has improved my sex, sensitivity, I no longer pee when I sneeze, and my menstrual cramps aren't as bad either!"

Also recommended by Meer, these kegel balls also include six different weighted options. This set also includes a how-to guide complete with various different kegel ball exercises, such as a squat with a pelvic brace. One Amazon reviewer wrote: "Very easy to use and comes with full instructions on the weights and when to switch out to the next one up. Very smooth surface for easy insertions and very comfortable shape. Really glad I ordered!"

This advanced kegel ball connects to a smartphone that not only offers guided exercises, but tracks your progress and detects incorrect placement—taking the guesswork out of kegel exercises. Plus, it's designed for all body shapes and comes with a removable cover for custom sizing. "This device and app are super easy to use. The app does a walk through with you and is step-by-step," one five-star reviewer on Amazon wrote. "I just had a baby and needed to tone up. I feel like I’m getting stronger! :) The exercises are pulses, lifts, holds and squeezing as hard as you can. I was definitely doing kegels wrong on my own."

Ahmed recommends these golden kegel balls because "they give a sexy kinky factor to strengthening and toning the pelvic floor and you can pop them in the fridge to chill them for fun sensation play," she explains. "They have a good amount of weight to them which, in my personal opinion, is the important part when it comes to Ben Wa Balls," one Amazon reviewer wrote. "The pair I got were smooth and easy to clean, and I think the gold color looks really pretty and classy. I like mine a lot!"

Ahmed recommends this kegel ball as it is "a great vibrating option for those who want to use them as a pleasure tool while strengthening the pelvic floor," she explains. It has 10 different vibration patterns and is fully customizable in terms of sizes and weights. Plus, it's waterproof and rechargeable. "My partner and I both love these, great for pelvic floor and for having fun," one reviewer wrote.

This set of six weights ranges from 25 grams to 125 grams for progressive strength training. "This design may be preferable or easier to insert than a typical kegel ball, as the round shape can be difficult to insert for some women," Meer explains. "I am so glad I went with this product. While more expensive than other similar products I would highly recommend," wrote one Amazon reviewer. "It is very well made, smooth and easy to use."

This kegel ball set comes recommended by Meer "for progressive strength training" as comes with multiple balls in different weights. "These are so comfortable I forget I am using them and when I take them out at the end of the day I can feel the difference in strength down there," one reviewer wrote. "Also comes with water based lube so that is excellent! Easy to clean and maneuver!"

✔️Start with a lighter weight. Kegel balls vary between 10 and 100 grams, explains Meer, who notes it may be best to start with a more lightweight option and gradually increase the weight as your pelvic floor muscles get stronger to avoid injury or discomfort—just like with regular weights.

✔️Choose those made with a body-safe material. Dr. Frank notes that many options are made from low-quality material that can irritate sensitive tissues and often are difficult to properly clean. This is why "it's important to choose kegel balls that are made of body-safe materials, such as medical-grade silicone," says Meer. Note: Both Meer and Dr. Frank caution against purchasing "yoni eggs" made from stones like jade or quartz as these materials are semi-porous and difficult to clean.

✔️Look for options with a removal string. Ahmed recommends choosing an option that has a string attached to it, especially for beginners as it can provide an extra sense of security to know that you can easily pull the kegel ball out if it ever becomes uncomfortable.

✔️Consider vibration. "Some balls designed with pleasure in mind have vibrating features or contain smaller balls inside the larger one that can be felt as you move around," Meer explains. "So, it all depends on what you’re looking to use them for!’

Most importantly, you’ll want to get your kegel balls ready for use by making sure they are clean. Start by washing your hands, and then wash your kegel balls with soap and water and dry them off with a clean towel, says Dr. Frank. Next, apply a water-based lubricant on both the balls and the vaginal opening to make insertion more comfortable.

Once they’re clean and ready for use, be sure to try out kegel balls and kegel ball exercises at home first, suggests Ahmed, as the sensation can often be a bit uncomfortable in the beginning. "It's sometimes a mental battle as much as it is a physical one, so I always suggest not to overthink it," says Ahmed, who suggests people begin by inserting them in a comfortable position, either seated or lying down, and performing deep breathing exercises. Try keeping the kegel balls in for a few minutes at first, and you can gradually work your way up toward longer time spans.

Once your body becomes familiar with the sensation of holding kegel balls and your pelvic floor muscles begin to strengthen, you can try leaving the house and walking around with them inserted, or performing kegel ball exercises or other movements, like yoga, while holding kegel balls.

For beginners

After you’ve cleaned your kegel balls and applied lube, Dr. Frank recommends trying this exercise:

1. Lie down in a comfortable position

2. Slowly insert the first ball and string or plastic that connects the two balls

3. Then, start to guide the second ball into your vagina

4. Push the balls into your vagina as far as you’re comfortable with. If your balls have a removal string or loop, it should hang outside of your vagina

5. Tighten your pelvic floor muscles to hold your Kegel balls inside of you, and go about your day or…

6. Hold the contraction for five seconds, then relax for five seconds

7. Repeat five times in a row to complete one set—you can do three sets a day

For the advanced

Once you have strengthened your pelvic floor muscles with the above exercise, try this more challenging "weightlifting" exercise recommended by Meer:

1. Begin standing up

2. Slowly insert the first ball and string or plastic that connects the two balls

3. Push the ball(s) into your vagina as far as you’re comfortable with

4. Tighten your pelvic floor muscles to lift the ball inside of you

5. Hold the contraction for two to ten seconds, then relax completely as the ball descends back down

6. Rest and repeat for eight to ten repetitions.

We spoke with Barbara Frank, M.D., Harvard-Affiliated OBGYN and Attn: Grace medical advisor, Rashida Ahmed, a sexual wellness educator and intimacy coach based in Toronto, Canada, and Judith Meer, P.T., D.P.T., a physical therapist specializing in pelvic health based in Hoboken, N.J. We also sifted through countless customer reviews and conducted our own research to find the best kegel balls available.

For more than 70 years, Prevention has been a leading provider of trustworthy health information, empowering readers with practical strategies to improve their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Our editors interview medical experts to help guide our health-focused product selections. Additionally, Prevention also examines hundreds of reviews—and often conducts personal testing done by our staff—to help you make informed decisions.

Shannen Zitz is an Assistant Editor at Prevention, where she covers all things lifestyle, wellness, beauty, and relationships. Previously the Editorial Assistant at Prevention, she graduated from the State University of New York at Cortland with a bachelor's degree in English. If she's not reading or writing, you can probably find her frequenting the skincare and makeup forums on Reddit or hogging the squat rack at the gym.

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