What Yoni Eggs Really Do to Your Pelvic Floor

Yoni eggs (or jade eggs) are stones shaped and designed for vaginal insertion, deriving their name from a Sanskrit word that literally means the womb, but more metaphorically can reference feminine regeneration. They come in a variety of sizes, and are commonly made of jade, obsidian or rose quartz.

Supposedly, rose quartz falls in the arena of love and sensuality, but can these eggs really improve your sex life?

Increasing your libido?

One of the supposed benefits of yoni eggs is an increase in libido, especially in postmenopausal women. Unfortunately, there's no scientific evidence to support these claims. Engaging in regular sexual intercourse along with hormone replacement therapy are among the more medically sound ways to treat this problem.

Low libido can signify many underlying conditions, such as depression, sexual trauma or hormone imbalances. It's important to rule these out before beginning any pelvic therapy. Of course, as with anything to do with your body, you should consult a medical professional before embarking on any pelvic therapy.

Safe for insertion?

Despite yoni eggs' intended destination, medical professionals warn that inserting them into the vagina is a bad idea. The stones they're made of, such as jade and other stones, are porous, meaning bacteria can enter and linger on the surface, making it difficult to properly clean. Soap and water might not do the trick, and if you attempt to boil it instead, it may chip or crack. If there are signs of chipping or cracks on the surface, dispose of the egg immediately, as this can create micro-tears in the vaginal wall.

Yoni eggs can also cause a wide array of vaginal conditions, including toxic shock syndrome. It's not a huge surprise: Anything inserted into the vagina for long periods of time is a no-go. They've also been known to cause pelvic inflammatory disease and bacterial vaginosis.

Even if they don't cause any of those complications, yoni eggs may still do damage to your pelvic floor muscles. The popular theory is that using a yoni egg as a weight inserted in your vagina will strengthen that muscle, just like lifting weights would strengthen your biceps, for example. Unfortunately, this isn't analogous. Regular Kegels don't need any inserted weight to provide benefits. In fact, Kegels aren't even the sole way to strengthen your pelvic floor—strength training with weights, yoga, walking and swimming can also have the desired effect.

It's not just that yoni eggs don't work—some experts theorize the weight of the stone can actually cause pain and exacerbate any preexisting vaginal symptoms. Additionally, yoni eggs can precipitate muscle strain or vaginismus—the involuntary contraction of the vagina that occurs when something is inserted. Particularly if you are pregnant, using an IUD, menstruating or have a vaginal infection, you should avoid using yoni eggs.

Legal challenges?

Companies catering to a New Age audience have been scolded for their claims for yoni eggs. Goop, the lifestyle and wellness brand founded by actress Gwyneth Paltrow, settled a lawsuit against their claims about yoni eggs to the tune of $145,000 in September 2018. Goop's yoni eggs are still for sale, but the product descriptions no longer mention words like "cleanse," "detox" or "feminine energy," nor do they recommend using the egg for hours on end.

Other companies still selling yoni eggs claim they can improve your sex life by increasing libido, natural lubrication and vaginal sensitivity. They also suggest yoni eggs were used for thousands of years in ancient Chinese culture. Not only is this claim unsubstantiated, it's culturally insensitive. Some bloggers suggest the eggs stir up internal pleasure zones, get you out of your head and heal sexual trauma, but these ideas are also unfounded and dangerous. Sexual trauma is best healed through compassionate and thoughtful therapy, not through the use of yoni eggs.

Most medical research points to the dangers associated with these eggs. Rather than increased libido, they often cause infection or pelvic pain. If you suffer from pelvic-related problems, such as frequent infections—which can affect your libido—it's best to see an OB-GYN to determine the best course of action. If you want to intensify your sex life, try natural exercises like Kegels... without the yoni eggs.