These are vaginal balls for use in Kegel exercises. A Kegel exercise involves clenching vaginal/pelvic muscles to tighten the pelvic floor-- the supposed end result is better control of all aspects of pelvic function, from stopping urinary leakage to allowing for more control during sex and better orgasms.

Though these balls are fairly small and come with a housing, I would not use them for anal beads--the string is small I think there's too much risk of losing one.

There are three separate materials involved in this setup: nonporous plastic balls, a silicone ball harness, and some kind of string. The string is firm in texture and kind of reminds me of fishing line, though I'm not sure what it is made of. I did not have any sort of latex reaction, so I can vouch that the silicone is actual silicone (well, I didn't fire test it, but I'm sure it isn't latex at least).

I've had several types of Kegel balls before. From the teeny-tiny gold ben wa balls to some fairly big egg-shaped balls, I've pretty much tried all sizes. These are on the smaller end of the balls I've experienced. They're about an inch in diameter, and the total length of the balls when inserted into the harness is three inches.

The harness feels good and didn't have any obvious seams or anything when inserted, but I preferred inserting one ball over the whole contraption. The ball was weighted well- I could feel it pushing against the bottom of my vagina and couldn't quite "forget" it was there, but it wasn't painful or obtrusive. When the whole harness was inserted, it was more noticeable as the top of the harness would move around and push the sides of my vagina while I walked. It was neither arousing nor uncomfortable, but it wasn't a "stick it in and forget it" situation like, say, a tampon.

I've worn the single ball on and off for the past month. I've noticed no fraying or disintegration of the string, and the ball itself has held up well. I don't have any complaints about the performance, though I will say that I am not entirely sure I've noticed any kind of difference in my pelvic floor performance.

Because they're plastic, the balls can't be boiled to sterilize. You can soak them in soap and water, clean with a toy cleaner, or use a bleach solution to clean.

Because the harness is silicone, you should use a water-based lubricant if you feel the need (I didn't need any lubricant).

This was my first Lelo product and I was impressed with the packaging. Clean lines, smooth outer box made of heavy material. The box says "Lelo" prominently, and has a picture of the balls, so I wouldn't say it was discreet. The toy itself came inside an inner box that was plain black and said Lelo. The box contained a black pouch and also a sample of lubricant.