Gwyneth Paltrow wants you to put a rock in your vagina. Seriously.

Update: A gynaecologist based in the US has slammed the purported health benefits of Gwyneth Paltrow's 'jade eggs' after answering many queries about them.

On her online store Goop, Paltrow and her healer friend Shiva Rose lauded the jade eggs' power to detoxify women's bodies, as well as improve their sex lives, menstrual cycle, and overall well-being. This is done by inserting the stone into the vagina.

However,  Dr. Jen Gunter has highlighted the risks associated with the prolonged use of such items, saying: "Jade is porous which could allow bacteria to get inside and so the egg could act like a fomite (carrier of infection)."

This can lead to bacterial infection in the vagina, or even cause the fatal toxic shock syndrome - where certain strains of bacteria produce deadly toxins in the body, she said.

The doctor also tore into the claim that jade eggs can balance hormones, calling it "biologically impossible".

She said: "Pelvic floor exercises can help improve incontinence and give in stronger orgasms for some women, but they cannot change hormones."

Dr. Gunter also pointed out that pelvic floor muscles are not meant to contract continuously and added that overdoing Kegel exercises cause women pelvic pain and pain during sex.

minlee@sph.com.sg

---------------

Gwyneth Paltrow has suggested a lot of wacky things in her Goop newsletter (vagina steaming, anyone?), but now she thinks ladies should start walking around with rocks in our hoohaas. Jade stones in the shape of eggs, to be precise.

Yes, you read that right. The magical item starts at $55 (S$78) and is available from Goop's "beauty guru/healer/inspiration/friend" Shiva Rose. She elaborated on many benefits of shoving a piece of stone into your most private area:

"Jade eggs can help cultivate sexual energy, increase orgasm, balance the cycle, stimulate key reflexology around vaginal walls, tighten and tone, prevent uterine prolapse, increase control of the whole perineum and bladder, develop and clear chi pathways in the body, intensify feminine energy, and invigorate our life force."

Wow. It was apparently an irresistible promise, since the eggs promptly sold out. If you didn't manage to score one, don't worry. While it *is* true that toning your pelvic floor muscles can help with all manner of problems, you definitely don't need a $55 piece of rock to do that. Kegels are free, and if you really want the aid of a device there are more modern solutions.

Besides, women already bear the burden of a thousand societal expectations. Do we really need to be further weighed down by a literal stone in our vaginas?

Mashable is the go-to source for tech, digital culture, and entertainment content for its dedicated and influential audience around the world.