Toy Talk: Get on the Ball

In a world of self-improvement and cosmetic surgery there are a lot of attempts to reclaim what is perceived to be lost.  The one that has surfaced within the past few years is the idea of re-virginization. There is a surgery that can actually re-attach the hymen and, by some definitions, make the woman a virgin for the second time. For those that cannot afford to spend thousands of dollars for this procedure there is an alternative.  Ben Wa balls serve as a weight for kegel exercises. Kegels are a way to exercise the pubococcygeus (PC) muscles that run from the abdomen to the buttocks.

Ben Wa Balls add a level of resistance that is similar to the weight training for arms, legs, etc. While the idea of weight training for a vagina may inspire laughter for many there are some serious benefits to the practice. Sorry guys. Strengthening the male PC muscle has to be done without the added resistance of Ben Wa Balls.

Ben Wa Balls come in pairs and are either metal or glass. For women just starting out, I recommend the metal ones. They are rather heavy so it is unlikely that they will get stuck and if they get dropped there is no chance of them breaking. The glass ones are much more aesthetically pleasing (often they have little glass flowers inside the) but, if they get dropped micro-fractures can form and get worse if they are not used carefully.

The best advice I, or anyone that knows what they are talking about, can give people is to take it slow. Just because Ben Wa Balls come in pairs does not mean that they need to be used in pairs.

Start out with just using the PC muscle to hold one ball in for five minutes. The five minutes is not consecutive.  It is a sequence of alternating periods of squeezing for a few seconds then relaxing for a few seconds. The goal is for the sequence to last five minutes. After that becomes easy the goal is increased to 15 minutes, then 30 and finally 45. Once a person gets comfortable doing the exercise for 45 minutes then the second ball is added and the time is reset to five minute. This entire process is set up to take a few months.

By doing kegel exercises, women strengthening a muscle that is used during sex, giving birth and everyday bodily functions.  This muscle is very important to understand because of all it does. The main benefit that I emphasize is that this is a cheap alternative to the surgical treatment for incontinence.  Regardless of anatomy, as people age there are muscles that weaken with lack of use.  Some exercise now can prevent the need for surgery, or diapers, later.

Just a word of advice… If you are just starting out and take a flight Do Not take the Ben Wa Balls with you. They do set off airport metal detectors. That could lead to an awkward conversation with the bag checkers.