Has YOUR medical professional told you to do your kegels?
Before you follow their advice, I urge you to consider a few important factors…
Because doing kegel exercises when your pelvic floor is not ready for them can actually INCREASE your pelvic pain!
Since standard kegel exercises (and kegel exerciser balls) aim to strengthen the pelvic floor, they are NOT recommended if you have an over-active, or tight pelvic floor (as most people with vaginismus do).
The body response of vaginismus results in having an over-active, or tight pelvic floor.
So if you’re in the midst of your healing journey and you haven’t gained FULL control of your pelvic floor yet, please leave the standard kegel exercises for later..
ONLY vulva owners with an under-active pelvic floor, that is overstretched, or weak (but not tight) are good candidates for kegel exercises.
If you have vaginismus, these will be great for regaining control of your muscles and strengthening them, but only AFTER you have first fully relaxed the pelvic floor and released any active trigger points you might have.
So…
When the time is right and you’ve learned how to manage the body response of vaginismus and relax your pelvic floor muscles, you can begin to strengthen your pelvic floor.
And regain FULL control of your muscles.
How so?
By doing kegel exercises!
And to facilitate the process, you can use exerciser tools designed exactly for this purpose.
Kegel balls! Okay, they look a little different.
Doing certain exercises, or even just walking around with exerciser balls inside your vagina actually helps strengthen and tone your vaginal pelvic floor muscles.
This can help avoid any urine leakage and tighten up the vagina (say after pregnancy) to allow for better control of the muscles and more intense orgasms.
Increased control after years of not being able to control my pelvic floor muscles?
Yes please! Also…
The added control could allow for you being able to tighten up your pelvic muscles around your partner’s penis during penetration, creating a more interesting and pleasurable experience for him and for you.
For me, the mere thought that I could be a BETTER lover was incredibly motivating, after not having been able to satisfy my partner as a result of dealing with vaginismus…
Thankfully, at the point I discovered kegel ball exercisers, I was well on my way to being able to achieve penetration.
Little did I know…
That aside from using this control during intercourse, having the kegel balls in was pleasurable in itself!
Strengthening that pelvic floor was surprisingly satisfying!
The kegel ball exerciser kit I tried was the Je Joue Ami Silicone Kegel Balls, sold at a wonderful online store for intimate wellness products – MedAmour.
This is what I have to share about these kegel ball exercisers:
Number of Exercisers
This set comes with 3 exercisers.
It includes a wide range of sizes and weights, designed to level up from beginner to advanced within the same set.
This versatility isn’t something you see with all kegel ball exercisers!
Exerciser Weights
This is THE most important attribute when it comes to kegel exerciser balls.
The weights of the Je Joue Ami Silicone Kegel Balls are:
Ball 1: 1.65 oz
Ball 2: 2.75 oz
Ball 3: 3.73 oz
The reason you want gradually increasing weights in a kegel ball set is because the weight of the balls trigger your pelvic floor muscles to hold on.
If you actively contract and relax your pelvic floor while they’re in, this creates an even better workout and you get to practice controlling your pelvic floor movements both up (on contractions) and down (on relaxations).
All of this allows them to gradually strengthen.
So it’s kind of like your pelvic floor is doing bicep curls!
Also, a larger weight creates more of an intense resistance to the pelvic floor and this makes for a deeper massage as the ball sits there and rolls around with your body’s natural movement.
Configuration (Sleeve)
Some kegel ball exercisers come with a sleeve in which you can insert either 1 or 2 balls, in whichever weight combination you wish.
The Je Joue Ami Silicone Kegel Balls don’t come with a sleeve.
Instead, each ball is already configured exactly as it is meant to be inserted through the vaginal canal.
This means there is less versatility with the total amount of weight you choose to insert (since you can’t mix and match multiple balls of different weights).
At the same time, your choices are fewer and so using this set becomes a quite a bit easier!
Configuration (Retrieval String)
Each ball in this set also has a retrieval string made of stretchy silicone that I found to sit quite comfortably when I had clothes on.
I think a handle serves as a huge help in taking
out the kegel balls, instead of having to get
them out with your fingers.
Think tampons with a string to pull out versus no string.
Reaching into my vagina with my fingers has never really been something I’ve done.
That tendency comes with vaginismus I guess. For example…
In my vaginismus days, after I learned to insert tampons, I never inserted one without an applicator.
I could only imagine taking out a kegel exerciser ball that doesn’t have a string to pull on would be difficult.
UNLESS, you can just push it out with your pelvic floor, kind of like laying an egg…
I got a chance to try a set without a retrieval string, and wrote all about it here!
Ball Sizes
Here are the sizes of the Je Joue Ami Silicone Kegel Balls:
Ball 1: 4.3″ x 1.5″ x 1.5″
Ball 2: 6.15″ x 3.15″ x 1.25″
Ball 3: 5.5″ x 2.75″ x 1″
Ball 1’s diameter of 1.5″ is the most wide one, so it’s not as slim as the other ones.
This makes for the need for your pelvic floor muscles to stretch a little further to let it in, which I found to be a strange choice for the beginner ball of the set.
I haven’t yet ran into a set in which the balls were either too small to be ineffective for strengthening of the pelvic floor, or too large to be uncomfortable. It’s truly the weights of the balls (and HOW you use them), rather than their size that create that workout.
Material
The exerciser balls are made of silicone and hard plastic.
The hard plastic is just at the base of each ball where the retrieval chord attaches to the ball.
Aesthetics
The Je Joue Ami Silicone Kegel Balls come in pink and purple colour options.
Don’t they look a little like sperm swimming to an egg?
Sensation
I found these balls to be wonderful for the purpose of both pelvic floor exercises AND for pleasure.
Since I first tried kegel exerciser balls, I discovered that the sensation of the balls rolling around once they’re in your vagina creates a nice effect.
In fact…
The Je Joue Ami Silicone Kegel Balls have an inner marble within each exerciser ball, which rolls around and creates an ADDITIONAL interesting pleasant sensation, almost like a gentle vibration.
This pleasurable rolling sensation was noticeable with the beginner single ball.
It felt like as the ball gently and seductively caressed my inner vaginal wall. This made me want to dance…
Everywhere I went!
So the rolling doesn’t stop!
I didn’t feel this sensation as much with the other two balls though as their shape doesn’t allow for them to roll in the same way to caress my inner vaginal wall.
Price (in USD)
The price for this set is $59, which is among some of the higher price points for kegel exerciser balls, although there are higher priced ones!
I’ve learned that Je Joue designs their own toys inside and out, while most manufacturers carry pre-made shapes that the major manufacturers license out. The company also has high standards for their working conditions and quality control, all of which explain the higher price point!
So the higher price is synonymous with higher quality…
I’d want to make sure I have high quality items going inside my body!
And since I love MedAmour‘s commitment to sexual health being a pillar in our quality of life, I’ve partnered with them to offer you a discount!
If you click any of the links above, or use code KATRINWITHLOVE at checkout on MedAmour’s website, you’ll receive $10 off any order of $50 or more and free shipping on orders over $55.
Which brings the Je Joue Ami Silicone Kegel Balls down to $49 with free shipping.
So…
Would you be curious to try the Je Joue Ami Silicone Kegel Balls when your pelvic floor is nice and relaxed and ready for some strengthening?
Glad to hear it!
To help you find the perfect set for you, I’ve been sure to do my research thoroughly and objectively.
You can read about my reviews of other kegel exerciser balls here:
Fantasy for Her Kegel Trainer Set
Luxe Double O Beginner Kegel Balls (these don’t have a retrieval string!)
Fifty Shades of Grey Beyond Aroused Kegel Balls
Wellness Kegel Training Kit
G Balls 2 Kegel Balls (these are vibrating and come with an app!)
To your pelvic strength and pleasure!
– Katrin, with Love
