In Quebec, people often talk about geisha balls. Online, the same objects are also called Chinese balls, Ben Wa balls or kegel balls, and it's easy to wonder whether they're different products. Most of the time, it's the same kind of object under another name. If you're just starting, our article on how to start with kegel balls explains the basic routine.
This article answers the naming question, then moves to the details that really change from one set to the next: the material, the strap, the weight and the ball that moves inside. It also says who should get advice before using them.
In this article
- Several names for the same object
- Where the name Kegel comes from
- What really changes from one set to the next
- The names and what they mean in stores
- Putting them in and taking them out
- For pleasure or for exercise
- Squeezing harder isn't better
- About Tone
- Who should get advice first
- Frequently asked questions
Several names for the same object
Geisha balls, Chinese balls, Ben Wa balls and kegel balls are usually small balls that you insert into the vagina. They're often joined by a strap, sometimes sold loose, and they often hold a small weight inside that moves when you walk.
Most of these names are store choices. One shop picks "geisha" for the image, another picks "kegel" for the idea of exercise, often for the same object. Even Cleveland Clinic notes that "Kegel eggs" are another name for yoni eggs, which are a different object, carved from stone.
So the name tells you almost nothing. To know what you're buying, look at the material, the shape, the weight and whether there's a strap.
Where the name Kegel comes from
The word Kegel comes from a doctor, Arnold Kegel, who published a paper in 1948 on resistance exercise for the perineal muscles. Since then, squeezing and relaxing the pelvic floor muscles has been called a Kegel exercise.
The balls sold under that name follow the same idea: they give the muscles something to hold. Cleveland Clinic describes kegel balls as balls worn inside the vagina, starting with a few minutes a day and building up gradually.
The word "geisha" doesn't appear in any of the medical sources we checked, and we read it as a sales name.
What really changes from one set to the next
Since the name doesn't say much, here are the details to check on the product page, whatever it's called.
The material. Non-porous silicone washes well and doesn't hold bacteria in its surface. Stone is a different story: Cleveland Clinic explains that jade and onyx are semi-porous and difficult to fully clean, so bacteria can stay behind.
A strap to take them out. A strong strap or loop lets you remove the balls without searching. Cleveland Clinic notes that a yoni egg, which has none, may be difficult to retrieve. Balls sold loose, with no strap, have the same problem.
The weight, in grams. A good set lists the weight of each ball and offers several levels. Without a listed weight, you don't know where to start or how to move up. Our article on which weight to start with explains how to choose.
A weight that moves inside. Many balls hold a free-moving weight that rolls as you move. That rolling weight gives the feeling people link to geisha balls.
One ball or two. Two joined balls weigh more and take more room than one. To start, a single ball is simpler.
If you'd like a full list before buying, our guide to what to look for in a kegel ball set goes through each point.
The names and what they mean in stores
| The name | What you often find under it | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Geisha balls | Two balls joined by a strap, with a weight that moves | The weight of each ball, the material |
| Chinese balls | The same object, under another name | The material, especially if it's metal or hard plastic |
| Ben Wa balls | Sometimes small metal or glass balls, with no strap | Whether there's a strap to take them out |
| Kegel balls | One or more balls, often in a set with weights | The number of weight levels, the grams listed |
| Yoni eggs | An egg carved from stone, often with no strap | How porous the stone is, how you take it out |
Putting them in and taking them out
Whatever the name on the box, the steps are the same, and they're simpler than most people expect the first time.
- Wash your hands and the ball with warm water and a mild soap, then rinse well.
- Put a little water-based lube on the ball, not on the strap, so the strap stays easy to hold.
- Get comfortable. Lying on your back with your knees bent works, and so does standing with one foot raised on the edge of the tub.
- Insert the ball slowly, about as far as you'd place a tampon, and leave the strap outside the body.
- Stand up and walk around a little. If the ball starts to slip, squeeze gently to hold it. If it falls out, that's common at the start: rest, and try again another day or with a lighter weight.
- To take it out, relax and pull the strap slowly. If it feels stuck, bearing down gently, the way you would to push, brings it lower.
Afterwards, wash the ball and the strap, let them dry completely in the open air, and keep them in their pouch so they stay clean between uses. Never share balls with another person without washing them first.
For pleasure or for exercise
People buy these balls for two reasons, and sometimes for both. Some like the feeling of the weight moving as they walk. Others want to work their pelvic floor with a weight to hold.
For exercise, the research is thin. A Cochrane review of weighted vaginal cones, objects close to kegel balls, pooled 23 trials, all of them small, and its authors call their conclusion tentative until larger trials are done. The balls don't replace a professional's care for a pelvic floor concern.
They can still give you a reference point. When you feel a ball start to slip, you know which muscles to hold. Our article on the benefits of kegel exercises explains the exercise itself.
Squeezing harder isn't better
Heavier and longer don't mean better. Cleveland Clinic warns that doing too many Kegels, or doing them when you don't need to, can cause your muscles to become too tense, and that the exercises shouldn't hurt. Writing about yoni eggs, it also explains that clenching all the time to keep an object in place can lead to painful muscle spasms in the pelvic floor.
In practice, that means starting light, wearing the balls for a few minutes, and relaxing between squeezes. If you feel pain, stop.
About Tone
Tone, our kegel ball set, is made of medical-grade silicone over a stainless steel core. Each ball holds a free-moving weight that shifts as you move, the same idea as geisha balls.
The set has four balls: two white 30 g balls, one orange 40 g ball and one red 50 g ball, all 31 mm across. Two straps, 110 mm for one ball and 160 mm for two, give seven load levels from 30 g to 90 g. It comes with a storage pouch and a bilingual manual.
Tone is used with water-based lubricant only, such as Honey, our aloe-based lubricant. It's $54 CAD ($41 USD).
Who should get advice first
The Tone page says it's not for medical use, and that it shouldn't be used during pregnancy, or after childbirth or surgery, without speaking to a healthcare professional first.
Talk to a healthcare professional too if you have trouble finding your pelvic floor muscles, if the exercises hurt, or if you're not sure you're doing them right. Cleveland Clinic gives these same reasons to see a provider. A pelvic floor physiotherapist can help you find the right movement before you add a weight.
If you have pain in the pelvis or during sex, or your muscles always feel tight, a ball isn't the right place to start. See someone first.
For everything else, the weights, straps and instructions are on the Tone page.
Frequently asked questions
Are geisha balls and kegel balls the same thing?
Usually, yes. Both names describe small balls inserted into the vagina, often joined by a strap and with a weight that moves inside. The name mostly comes from the store. What really matters is the material, whether there's a strap to remove them, and the weight listed in grams.
How do geisha balls work?
Once inserted, the balls shift a little when you walk or change position, and the weight inside rolls. Your pelvic floor muscles respond to hold them in. Some people mostly enjoy the feeling, and others use them to feel the muscles they're working during their exercises.
How long can you wear kegel balls?
Start with a few minutes a day, then build up gradually, as Cleveland Clinic suggests. There's no need to keep them in for hours. Relax between squeezes, and stop if you feel pain or a tightness that stays after you take them out.
Are geisha balls safe?
They can be, if they're non-porous silicone, have a strong strap to take them out, and are used with a water-based lubricant. Stone is semi-porous and hard to clean, and balls with no strap can be hard to remove. During pregnancy or after childbirth, talk to a healthcare professional first.
What weight should I start with?
The lightest in the set, as a single ball. In Tone, that's one white 30 g ball on the short strap. Move up a level when the ball stays in place easily for the time you planned. Moving up too fast can make you clench harder, and Cleveland Clinic warns that muscles can get too tense.
What lube should I use with kegel balls?
A water-based lubricant. The Tone page calls for water-based lube only. A small amount on the ball is enough to insert it comfortably. After use, wash the balls and the strap, then let them dry completely before putting them back in their pouch.
Sources
- Arnold Kegel's paper on resistance exercise for the perineal muscles: Kegel, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1948, PubMed 18877152
- Kegel balls, doing too many Kegels, and when to see a provider: Cleveland Clinic, Kegel exercises
- Semi-porous stone, difficult retrieval and pelvic floor spasms: Cleveland Clinic, Are yoni eggs safe
- Research on weighted vaginal cones: Herbison and Dean, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2013, PubMed 23836411
About this article
Written by the Peach & Cream team, based in Montréal. Published October 15, 2026. Last updated October 15, 2026. Product facts come from the Tone product page and manual. This article is general information, not medical advice. Tone does not treat or prevent any condition.