Intro to Kegel Weights | Best Kegel Weights
Regularly practicing Kegel exercises goes a long way toward strengthening weakened pelvic floor muscles, improving incontinence, and deepening sexual pleasure. However, just like holding weights during arm curls at the gym will improve your upper arm muscle definition, adding Kegel weights to your Kegels will give your pelvic floor an extra workout too.
That said, not all Kegel weights produce the same results. Keep reading, to learn more about the best Kegel weights on the market today, according to a pelvic floor doctor.
Kegel Exercises Explained
Performed by repetitively lifting, squeezing, and holding the pelvic floor muscles before releasing, Kegel exercises are a type of resistance training used to re-strengthen the pelvic floor. Stretching from the pubic bone at the front of the pelvis to the lower spine, the pelvic floor muscles provide stability and support for the pelvic organs like the bladder, bowel, rectum, vagina, and uterus.
When weakened due to experiences like pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, surgery, or pelvic trauma, soft pelvic floor muscles can result in decreased sexual pleasure, pelvic organ prolapse, and incontinence.
Kegel exercises are considered effective in re-training these muscles. However, the addition of Kegel weights is known to significantly enhance female sexual pleasure & orgasms, and helpful in managing incontinence.
What Are Kegel Weights?
Also commonly known as vaginal weights, Kegel weights are designed to slip easily into the vaginal canal and fit like a weighted tampon. Once inside, the pelvic floor muscles engage to wrap around the Kegel weight and hold it in place, providing resistance training in the process. Some women like to practice the contraction and relaxation of Kegel exercises with Kegel weights in place, while others prefer to simply hold the weights in place for 10-20 minutes per day while they relax or do light household chores.
To progress gradually through a muscle strengthening program, Kegel weights usually come in sets of ascending weights, or with various vibration settings, allowing users to move on to the next weight or vibration level once comfortable with the previous.
What Are The Best Kegel Weights?
While all Kegel weights promise to strengthen and re-train your pelvic floor muscles, there are differences when it comes to efficacy, size, weight, technology, the material from which they are produced, and value for money.
For instance, medical-grade silicone Kegel weights are highly recommended for comfort and safety. Whereas stone eggs can be harmful to the vagina when the porous stone comes in contact with vaginal tissues. Kegel weights can also vary when it comes to how they work. Some are equipped with biofeedback from a linked app installed on your device, while others are simpler to use without the requirement of any technology or apps.
1. Intimate Rose Kegel Exercise System - $54.99
For the best of the best, look no further than the Intimate Rose Kegel Weights with six ascending weights, made from smooth, BPA-free, medical-grade silicone that feels ultra-comfortable in the body. As the only set of Kegel weights used for training by the Academy of Pelvic Health, these color-coded weights (ranging from 0.9 to 4.4 ounces) are medically designed to retrain the pelvic floor after childbirth, menopause, pelvic surgery & trauma, as well as to treat vaginismus, numbness during intimacy, and dyspareunia.
Held in the vagina for just 15 minutes per day, leading doctors in the female health industry helped Intimate Rose to design and develop these Kegel weights that are fast becoming known as the safest, most comfortable, and most effective pelvic floor weights available for the female body.
“Our Kegel weights are designed to slowly but surely build strength in the pelvic floor muscles so you won’t leak anymore when you cough, sneeze, laugh or jump on the trampoline with your kids,” says Dr. Amanda Olson, a pelvic health physical therapist, mom, co-founder of Intimate Rose, and winner of the 2019 Women’s Health Award for her overwhelming support of women’s health education.
2. Je Joue Ami 3-Step Progressive Kegel Set - $62
The Ami 3-Step Kegel Set from Je Joue is also made from medical-grade silicone and includes three ascending weights. Ranging from a soft single ball weighing approximately 1.6 ounces and progressing to a heavier and harder double ball weighing 3.7 ounces, this set is smaller than other Kegel weight sets, but also effective.
3.CalExotics Strawberry Kegel Training Set - $68.99
Designed by one of America’s leading pleasure product manufacturers, the Kegel training set from CalExotics conjures a playful vibe with the Kegel weights shaped and colored like strawberries. Ranging in weight from 1.5 to 4 ounces, this set promises to enhance intimacy and sexual pleasure while adding “more excitement to your bedroom”.
4. We-Vibe Bloom Vibrating Kegel Set - €119
The We-Vibe Bloom Vibrating Kegel set is the first Kegel weight on the list that is connected with an accompanying app. Although the weights are a little lighter than others on the market, the set includes three Kegel weights (ranging from 0.35 - 1.5 ounces) and ten different vibration settings. The We-Vibe Bloom lasts up to 90 minutes when vibrating, the level of which can be controlled from the app and it is also easily recharged. If you like to track your progress via technology, this could be one for you.
5. Perifit Pelvic Floor Coach - $149
Designed for “gamers” with pelvic floor issues, the Perifit pelvic floor trainer allows users to play video games by engaging and releasing their pelvic floor muscles. Although only one weight is included, it is made from medical-grade silicone for comfort and the app features lots of different games that help to train your pelvic floor muscles while simultaneously tracking your progress.
6. Elvie Trainer - $199
Another Kegel weight made from medical-grade silicone, the Elvie Trainer also works in connection with an app. Recommended use is a mere five minutes per day with the Elvie Trainer and the linked technology also tells you when you are not Kegeling correctly. One thing to watch with the Elvie Trainer is that a stronger pelvic floor is promised within 4 weeks of training for just 5 minutes per day. However, this timeframe is certain to vary for different users.
7. Intimina Kegel Smart - $45.99
Although it is not linked with an app, the Kegel Smart from Intimina is somewhat technology-based and a little more reasonably priced. Made from body-safe, medical-grade silicone, the Kegel Smart pelvic floor trainer is based on one universal weight with a vibration-guided program that registers your pelvic strength and intensifies as your pelvic floor muscles strengthen. Although easy to use and considered effective by the majority of users, the only drawback is that the vibration period could last a little longer as the training progresses.
Kegel Weights: Something to Consider Before You Purchase
As beneficial as Kegel weights are for certain conditions related to pelvic floor dysfunction, it is important to understand that not all issues concerning the pelvic floor can be treated with Kegel weights. It is therefore vital to consult with a female health expert or your general health practitioner to determine what your pelvic floor condition is before engaging in any form of treatment.
Conclusion
Weak pelvic floor muscles can adversely affect women’s lives in several ways such as pelvic organ prolapse, incontinence, decreased orgasm intensity, and less sensation during intimacy. To strengthen the pelvic floor and improve quality of life, female health experts recommend Kegel weights for pelvic floor training and improved support for the pelvic organs.
That said, not all pelvic issues are solved by using Kegel weights. To ensure you are engaging in the right treatment for your pelvic floor, book an appointment with your doctor to determine the root cause of your pelvic floor situation.
References
Physiopedia – Pelvic Floor Dysfunction - https://www.physio-pedia.com/Pelvic_Floor_Dysfunction
National Association for Continence – Kegel Exercises - https://nafc.org/kegel-exercises/
Cochrane Library - Weighted vaginal cones for urinary incontinence - https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD002114.pub2/full
