Update 04/03/22: this product is seasonal only and has been discontinued. Individual components may still be available.

We’re already almost a week into Lovehoney’s “Best Sex of Your Life” sex toy advent calendar for couples. Each day, Mr CK and I are opening a window and testing out the product we find inside. So far, we’ve had vibes, light kink gear, butt toys, and more.

This set assumes that couples consist of a “man and woman” (i.e. penis owner and vulva owner, because cis-centric gendered marketing is still annoyingly a thing). But in reality, many of the items are suitable for all genders and types of bodies.

So what will we find behind Door #6?

Door #6: Kegel Balls

Kegel balls, also known as Ben-wa balls, are fascinating. These small balls, designed to sit inside the vagina, come with a tonne of intense claims as to their benefits, but very little robust science to back those claims up. I dived into the available literature (there isn’t much) a while back, but here’s the short version:

The claims: Kegel balls strengthen the pelvic floor, help prevent or fix urinary incontinence, improve sexual satisfaction, and make it easier to orgasm.

The reality: Eh…. maybe? Research on the incontinence thing is limited and contradictory in its findings, and there’s virtually no evidence one way or the other (beyond anecdotal) for the “improved sexual pleasure” thing.

So what’s the point of kegel balls, then? As a sexuality writer without any background in medicine or gynecology, I approach kegel balls as a sex toy rather than a health and wellness product. And from that perspective, there’s a great reason to use them: they can feel good!

With that out of the way, let’s dive into the review, shall we?

• Material: Both the balls and their sling are silicone.
• Colour: Red balls, black sling.
• Body safe? Yes. Silicone is body-safe, hygienic, and non-porous.
• Power: N/A
• Waterproof: Yes, submersible.
• Size: 3″ insertable with a 4″ tail. Each ball is 1.2″ in diameter.
• Lube compatible: Yes, water-based and oil-based lubes are fine.
• Cleaning: Gentle soap and warm water, boiling, or a 10% bleach solution.

This set consists of two kegel balls fitted into a silicone sling. The nice thing about this design is that you can use the balls on their own (together or one at a time) or with the sling. The sling features a long tail for easy retrieval.

Some people use kegel balls anally, but I really, really don’t recommend it. One of the balls could easily come loose from the sling and get stuck. These are for vaginal use only.

You can use kegel balls in a few different ways. Here are some I suggest you might want to try:

• Wear them for an hour or so before you have sex to heighten arousal and get yourself in the mood.
• Wear them as you go about your day for a little thrill of sexual excitement each time you move. Start with a short amount of time and build up to longer wear if you want to, and stop immediately if you feel pain or discomfort.
• If you’re into anal play, wear kegel balls in your vagina while you do butt stuff for additional pleasure.

However you explore with them, use plenty of lube and always clean them thoroughly between uses. Not keeping them clean (or inserting them with dirty hands) could lead to an infection.

This is a nice enough set of beginner-friendly kegel balls. Unlike some I’ve tried, they’re not weighted and don’t have any moving parts inside, so the stimulation they provide is very gentle. This isn’t a criticism, it’s just… a thing worth bearing in mind. They’re small enough to be non-intimidating, made of a body-safe and easy-clean material, and are comfortable to insert and easy to retrieve. A worthy addition to the calendar!

The Best Sex of Your Life sex toy advent calendar retails at Lovehoney for £120, but you can get 10% off your purchase (of this or anything else at Lovehoney) by using my code “AFF-COFFKINK10” at checkout. These calendars are limited edition and usually sell out!

Thanks to Lovehoney for sending us the Best Sex of Your Life couples’ sex toy advent calendar to review. All views are our own. Affiliate links appear in this post and shopping through them helps to keep the site going!