Truth time — Self-care is more than bubble baths and facials. When it comes to taking care of your body, vaginal health should be a top priority. There are so many kegel tools available on the market to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, from traditional kegels to electro stimulation to weights and other more creative solutions.
So, what is the best kegel exercise equipment for consumers? We’ve provided a ranked list that looks at each option and examines the effectiveness, safety, and amount of time required to see results. We compiled that information into this handy guide to the best kegel tools.
Read on to learn about the best kegel exercise equipment in 2022, how the products stack up and uncover the best kegel weights for you!
Comparing the Best Kegel Exercise Equipment & Devices for Women
We know there are a lot of pelvic floor tools out there for women to choose from when it comes to their pelvic floor health. We’ve taken a look at the pros and cons of some of the different kegel exercise devices on the market.
9. Kegel Balls
This category includes types of Ben Wa Balls as well as Jade Eggs. They tend to be the most commonly seen kegel tools on the market due to their low cost. Overall, we don’t recommend these kegel weights for women looking to strengthen their pelvic floor muscles.
The manufacturers recommend wearing them inside of your body for hours, which can lead to hypertonic pelvic muscles (muscles stuck in a constantly contracted/cramped position) and vaginismus. Below, learn why these are not the best pelvic floor weights available.
Pros:
- Inexpensive
Cons:
- Made of unregulated metals, coatings, or porous stone that are often toxic or with allergens
- Too big and bulky for advanced muscle training
- Too lightweight for advanced training
- No cord to retrieve them from the body
- Bad usage guides that suggest using them for hours at a time
8. Red Light Therapy
There are a few solutions that hit the market over the last few years that tout a type of red light that’s intended to help plump the muscles and strengthen pelvic floor muscles.
Pros:
- Used in the privacy of your home
- Creates a pretext for vaginal penetration which is required for vaginal health post menopause
Cons:
- Science has yet to prove the efficacy of the method
- Relies on a mobile app to use the device
- Higher cost for the device
- Often have to repurchase special gel to use with the device, creating long-term expenses
7. Kegelmaster
The Kegelmaster is one of the older technologies that has been on the market going back to the “as seen on TV” days like the Thighmaster. The concept behind the Kegelmaster is to utilize springs with progressive difficulty in an attempt to add resistance.
Pros:
- Cheaper option
- Easy to use in the privacy of your home
Cons:
- Unhygienic with creases and openings in the device inserted vaginally
- Bulky and brutal design
- Can injure the person while using it due to metal spring under tension
6. Electro Stimulation
The electro-stimulation tools for pelvic floor training shock the muscle creating a contraction. This contraction serves as a controlled kegel that exercises the appropriate muscles to strengthen the pelvic floor.
Pros:
- Concentrated focus on the pelvic floor
Cons:
- Painful (depending on the device)
- Expensive ($100-$500)
- Invasive, especially when not an at-home solution
- Electric shock is not recommended for long-term use
5. Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation
The idea behind lasers is that they bulk up the muscle by stimulating a collagen response, which happens when the laser makes little cuts in the pelvic muscle. The FDA released a public warning and circulated cease and desist letters to manufacturers.
Pros:
- Perceived “quick fix” for pelvic floor dysfunction
Cons:
- Effectiveness has not been proven according to the FDA
- Treatments can injure women by causing burns, such as fused labia
- Requires invasive procedures
- Costs can exceed thousands of dollars a year
4. Online Classes & Apps
With the popularity of online courses, it’s no surprise there are now online courses tailored to pelvic floor health. The two primary options on the market seem to be a monthly subscription or a set number of weekly classes that provide coaching and training.
Pros:
- Access to community
- Ability to ask specific questions
Cons:
- Can feel distant or impersonal
- Range of credentialing of the course teachers
- Lacking the physical support to address the challenges of kegels and pelvic floor health
3. Biofeedback Application
Biofeedback solutions are among the best kegel tools on the market. They work by providing feedback on muscle contraction pressure through an application or other device. These self-guided training programs support users to help them monitor their progress.
Pros:
- Provides real-time feedback to the user to inform them about how their pelvic floor muscles are contracting
- Can “gamify” the otherwise tedious exercise
Cons:
- Higher cost ($150-$250)
- Primarily just an isometric squeeze, no resistance to build muscle
- Requires a phone or other smart device to complete the workout
- Privacy and data issues with the app
- Electronics need charging and are prone to malfunction and breaking
2. Kegelbell
Kegelbell is the first of its kind and one of the best kegel weights on the market. This is because the weights are held outside of the body. This creates more resistance and dynamic forces that act on the insert triggering fast-twitch muscle as well as slow-twitch muscle.
This resistance increases effectiveness, meaning women can spend less time exercising for better results than other vaginal tools provide. Plus, this offers a safe and natural path towards a strong pelvic floor.
Pros:
- Limited time commitment (five minutes, three times a week in muscle-building mode, and once a week in maintenance)
- Made with medical-grade ingredients
- Comfortable to use (the bulb is similar in size to a large tampon)
- Fast results (customers see results in two weeks)
Cons:
- Higher cost than “adult toy” kegel balls ($100)
Learn more about Kegelbell’s groundbreaking pelvic floor training solution.
1. Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is a one-on-one treatment with someone who is properly trained in pelvic floor dysfunction. Seeing a physical therapist will allow a woman to ask specific questions about their concerns and be examined for any potential problems that might need to be addressed.
Pros:
- Highly-effective
- Guided experience and effective pelvic floor exercises
- The ability to diagnose complex issues
Cons:
- Limited number of pelvic floor physical therapists in the USA
- Expensive for many
- Time-consuming
- Invasive and lack of privacy
FAQ About Kegel Devices
1. How often should women use kegel tools?
For every tool, the instructions are different, so it’s important to understand how the tool works that you choose. With Kegelbell, for those who are building muscle, it’s recommended to use the device three times a week. Once you’re happy with the progress, we recommend using it just once a week.
2. How do I know if kegel tools are strengthening my pelvic floor muscles?
It’s important to test your squeeze before and throughout your exercise routine. Many individuals will notice a change in any symptoms they may have had or improvements in other areas as their muscles get stronger. Doing a self-test is a great way to have a tangible measurement of your progress. With Kegelbell, you’re able to track your progress as you move through the different weight combinations.
3. How should beginners use kegel tools?
The first thing to do is to do lots of research so you can understand the pros and cons of the different kegel device tools on the market. From there, we recommend consulting a pelvic floor physical therapist or doctor to ensure you don’t have any underlying issues that could be exacerbated by certain tools. Once you’ve got the green light, get started with the tool that works best for you.
4. Why can’t I just do kegels on my own?
Research shows that 75% of women who attempt to do traditional kegel exercises do them incorrectly by over-using their abdomen, buttock, or leg muscles. Not only that, but many women struggle with how long to see results from kegels. That’s why it’s important to use a kegel exercise device to support proper muscle strengthening.
How Do You Determine the Best Kegel Tool for You?
After reviewing the best kegel exercisers, physical therapy solutions, and other treatments available on the market, it’s important to consider which of the options is best for you. We always recommend seeing a healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns about your pelvic floor health.
The best vaginal weights are affordable, easy to use, safe, and effective. Kegelbell checks all those boxes and has made strengthening your pelvic floor muscles easy. If you’re just getting started with your pelvic floor strengthening journey, Kegelbell is here to help.
Kegelbell customers love the fact the device has 16 levels, which means a self-guided workout that you can do in the privacy of your own home! To experience the benefits of a strong pelvic floor, try Kegelbell today!
