Ben Wa Balls

In all my exploration of Sapphic literature, I don’t believe I’ve ever come across the use of Ben Wa Balls in a sex scene or even a passing mention of them, which I find very interesting since they’ve been around since 500 AD in Japan. They are quite arguably the world’s oldest sex toy. Of course, as with most things, they were originally developed by men, for men’s sexual pleasure, but women quickly came to discover that, when inserted into the vagina, the small balls floating freely inside created a pleasurable experience as they moved around inside the walls of the vagina, and when inserted properly could continuously massage that elusive G-spot.

I first learned about Ben Wa Balls in my early thirties from an ex-girlfriend, and haven’t heard anyone speak of them since. So why am I talking about this now? Well, because in an effort to create new and interesting sex scenes in my books, especially after feeling like I’ve written pretty much everything before and was sorely tempted to never write a doors-wide-open scene, I included a scene in my latest WIP with the ancient sex toy. I’ve written about favorite lesbian sex toys, comparisons of vibrators, and so many other possibly taboo topics, but never about this particular sex toy, despite the fact that it goes back centuries. So…I thought, what the hell, might as well provide some education on Ben Wa Balls. Here are the salient points based on my research:

Ben Wa Balls are small, marble-sized, balls, normally hollow that contain a small amount of weight, intended for internal use, that roll around inside the vagina.
The balls are not intended for use inside the anus.
Some have strings and others do not. The strings can be helpful for easy removal, kind of like a tampon.
Originally they were metal with a mercury center, and as the mercury moved around, it caused tiny sensations that led to orgasm.
Modern-day Ben Wa Balls are made of different types of materials — metal, plastic, latex, glass, and jade. The mercury isn’t legal anymore, probably because it’s a super dangerous material to have inside.
Hollow balls are preferred because they move around more freely.
Materials that don’t easily collect bacteria are preferred since some women choose to keep them in all day, while others may only use them for a few hours.
One of the side benefits of Ben Wa Balls is their ability to strengthen the pelvic floor which is why they are sometimes called Kegel Balls because they’re used for pelvic floor exercises to strengthen those important muscles.
As these ancient sex toys evolved, they were no longer intended to elicit an orgasm on their own but instead were an enhancement to create a tease while used with other stimulation. Although, inserting them and sitting in a rocking chair has been known to, well, you know, get a person there!
If you choose the balls without a string, there’s no need to dig up in your vagina to remove them, simply push down, cough, or move suddenly and the balls pop out easily.

So…there you have it. Look for my novel Love Sins, out next year where I incorporate Ben Wa Balls into a short sex scene. Love Sins will be the third book in the spin-off series. If you want to get to know the characters that show up in the series, feel free to click the links below and read the San Diego Trilogy: Undercover Love, Politics of Love, and Love Bonds. Don’t forget to hop on over to Sapphic Book Lovers Discord server to ask any questions and the Facebook site to watch the video…my last day as a spotlight author is today and for anyone who asks a question or leaves a comment…you’ll be entered to win.

Audio links: Audible in US Audible in UK