The Mystery Behind Ancient Vaginal Jade Eggs Has Been Cracked

Sexual health has long been a term stretching to various issues, depending on the social, economic, and medical concerns of the day.  As of 2006, the World Health Organization (WHO) has defined sexual health as follows:


In the past decade, the notion of sexual health, especially women's sexual health,  has entered the lucrative wellness industry, which is draining our pockets annually to the tune of $3.7 trillion dollars.  The WHO, focusing on sexual health, both physically and emotionally, was not likely aiming to include the current trend in sexual wellness and scientific claims when stating the importance of "...physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality." However, some sexual "wellness" practices may be far from healthy, and can come with a hefty price tag, as well as some hefty risks. A sexual health device which has recently come in to question has been the Jade Egg, offered on the Goop website for $66. But don't try to buy one.  There is no longer information on the product, and it is simply listed as "sold out." At least for now.

Jade Egg "Sold Out" on Goop Site's Sexual Health Section

Nina Shapiro

Has the Jade Egg become such a big seller for sexual health that it is currently sold out, or is there more to the story?  As the Goop website no longer provides information of the so-called benefits of this rocky egg, we need to look at the reason why this product may be listed as "sold out."  The site initially recommended that women insert the egg into their vaginas for several hours, or even overnight to "get better connected to the power within." The egg was supposed to "increase vaginal muscle tone, hormonal balance, and feminine energy in general." The eggs were also claimed to have been used as "an incredible, secret practice" by ancient Chinese concubines.

And the question remained, are these 'ancient vaginal jade eggs' really beneficial for sexual health, and are they as 'ancient,' as they claimed to be?  In the late summer of 2018, ten prosecutors in California settled a suit against the Goop company for $145,000, stating that the company offered claims for the vaginal jade egg supporting hormonal balance, menstrual regulation, and bladder control, none of which had any scientific backing. The company then offered refunds to egg purchasers, even though the site initially stated that the eggs were not returnable. The site would still offer the eggs (although they are, at the time of this writing, listed as sold out, with no product information on the site), but remove the claims of health benefits. While this settlement raised awareness of the Goop company's questionable health claims, at least with regard to this product, the dollar amount of the settlement is a small drop in the bucket for the Goop company, whose total value stands at $250 million.

Obstetrician/gynecologist Dr. Jen Gunter  wrote a detailed piece on her blog, explaining the many biologic reasons why the jade egg is unnecessary to increase sexual health. One of the claims Dr. Gunter questions is that the presence of the egg in the vagina will strengthen pelvic floor muscles, which can be done much more safely (and at no cost) by performing kegel exercises. She also discussed the significant medical risks of egg placement, including bacterial infections, fungal infections, and even something called toxic shock syndrome, a severe, life-threatening bacterial infection which was first recognized with prolonged tampon use.

The concept of 'ancient' when discussing a medical therapy may give an illusory notion that the practice is, indeed, healthful, as it dates back over millennia. As the jade egg was touted as an ancient practice, Dr. Gunter and her colleague Dr. Sarah Parcak, an archeologist, investigated whether or not, indeed, vaginal insertion of a jade egg was an ancient Chinese practice. Their study of over 5000 jade objects in four major Chinese art and archeology databases found no vaginal eggs. There was no evidence that vaginal jade eggs were used for sexual health in ancient Chinese cultures.  Their work was published in the journal Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery this month. The Goop company did not immediately respond to request for comment.

