The piece I wrote on why women shouldn’t put jade eggs in their vaginas, never mind wear them for extended periods of time, has caused quite a stir. There are major issues with the post on GOOP, which is not surprising as they did not interview a gynecologist or a pelvic floor physical therapist. My response has been viewed almost 600,000 times and been covered on many sites ranging from Gizmodo, Raw Story, Cosmopolitan in Australia, The Daily Mail, and the New York Times blog Women In the World.
One journalist who covered for ATTN reached out to GOOP for a response and she was directed to this statement:
If the views of the author don’t represent the views of GOOP then I would suggest GOOP move away from the annoying third person. The royal “we” may be one way that GOOP likes to distinguish itself from the AP Stylebook, but it does lend the reader to think it’s a bit of an endorsement. That couldn’t be the point, could it?
This post on jade eggs can’t possibly “highlight alternative studies” as no studies were provided. I have read many so-called health practices on GOOP and rarely, if ever, found even a quasi-scientific study in a predatory journal to back them up. It may shock you, Dear Reader, but there are no studies on jade egg wearing. To hide behind the word “studies” is nothing more than chicanery. How many people will check? A more correct, but perhaps less lucrative, term would be “alternative therapies.”
A jade eggthusiast is a “medical practitioner” in the way a magician is a “medical practitioner.” Interviewing an eggthusiast about the pelvic floor is no different from putting up Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education. There are actual experts in things, you know? But then again at GOOP it’s all about Brand.
What bothers me most about the disclaimer is that GOOP is actually claiming they are just proving information and aren’t really promoting the therapy.
IF YOU ARE SELLING THE PRODUCT YOU HAVE GONE BEYOND INFORMATIONAL TO PROMOTIONAL!
(Yes, I am shouting).
It’s a bit of a sleight of hand to say, “We, meaning some people just not us, say you can try this thing and it works great for them. We, meaning some people just not us and certainly not Gwyneth Paltrow, are certainly stoked by it but don’t take our word on it. And hey, before you leave our site and ask a doctor or physical therapist why don’t you buy them from us? They are so pretty!”
I see women harmed by this kinds of snake oil passed off as legitimate therapy every single day, whether they have caused physical pain (which wearing jade eggs for extended periods of time most certainly could), medical consequences from delaying real therapy that could actually help, emotional pain from being duped, months of deprivation from a useless diet, or financial pain from wasting $66 on a product that could never hope to help it’s all bad. Some women try these non-therapies and when they don’t work they actually give up on further care because they think they tried something worthwhile and as it didn’t work they must be broken and destined to live with their health condition. The people at GOOP might not have a problem with that kind of heartbreak, but I sure do.
When the people at GOOP say their site is curated by Gwyneth Paltrow they are cashing in on her privilege with women (because many people look up to and trust celebrities, and if you don’t believe me tell me who is now in the Oval Office) to pass off magic as a good and worthy health practice for profit. You don’t get to say “my bad” when someone like me who actually knows about these things and sees the consequences calls you out on your shell game.
GOOP, I am having none of your post factual nonsense and gaslighting.
Dr. Jen Gunter 
Hello Dr. Jen! Can’t help but laugh out loud because of your comment about these so-called jade eggs. Well-said! Thank you so much.
I love my jade egg practice. You should investigate it before you debunk it.
I’m not putting a potentially harmful product in my vagina. I’m not going to do Kegel exercises in a completely inappropriate way as GOOPs non expert recommends. An N of one means nothing.
Women just marched on Washington to let the government know that we have a voice and won’t be marginalized. When I read this hokum pawned off as “lifestyle advice,” it certainly doesn’t help the cause. It’s shameful, no less shameful than Lysol ads of the 50’s and 60’s that claimed that men wouldn’t want to have sex with their wives because of offensive feminine hygiene–all to sell a product. And make no mistake, Goop is just an extended advertisement, selling a life that is so far out of reach for most American women that it’s a joke. And why does Paltrow get to tell us what the best life is? It’s insufferable. Perhaps the best life is one that consumes less and contributes more, Gwyneth. And instead of shoving an egg up your vagina for great sex, how about advocating for women, reinforcing that they deserve to be in safe, healthy relationships of mutual respect and love. And why not give voice to the fact that so many women don’t have access to affordable gynecological healthcare? You know, by an actual doctor who has gone through the rigors of eight plus years of school and training as opposed to the ludicrous and unsafe recommendation of some over-preened Hollywood princess. I think women should take a page out Goop’s playbook and conscientiously “uncouple.”
Spot-on! Thanks for shining a brighter spotlight on GOOP’s nonsense and their potential risks. Some may try to rationalize GOOP’s promotion of unproven and/or risky products and practices for various reasons, but the bottom line is that for too long GOOP has promoted questionable/false advice and recommendations from unqualified individuals in pursuit of building their lifestyle brand and profit. It’s one thing to promote products safely for entertainment or lifestyle purposes, but they routinely cross the line into false claims and misrepresentation.
Bravo and thank you so much!
Wow interesting
Thanks for correcting the people at GOOP. We don’t need more false/miseleading information about vaginal and reproductive health out there.
You rock.
Hi Jen,
I couldn’t reply to your note to me over on your other post – it seems the comments got disabled. So here are my responses below.
Jen,
Find my answers to your comments below:
Layla,
The reference you provided is not about jade eggs, it is about the association between pelvic floor muscle strength and sexual function. You cannot use that article to support the practice of jade eggs.
THE PRACTICE OF JADE EGGS ON A PURELY PHYSICAL LEVEL IS ABOUT BUILDING MUSCLE STRENGTH AND RELAXATION ALONG WITH SENSATE FOCUS. IN YOUR ORIGINAL POST YOU BASICALLY MADE IT SOUND LIKE MAGICAL WOO-WOO. THE UNDERLYING PRACTICE OF THE JADE EGG IS SOUND. YOU MIGHT DISAGREE WITH THE MATERIAL, BUT THERE IS SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE TO BACK THE PROCESS AS BEING EFFECTIVE FOR SEXUALITY, EVEN IF NOT FOR THE JADE EGG SPECIFICALLY.
If you read my post then you would know I mentioned that some women do find they have stronger orgasms. However, this post is not about the importance of pelvic floor work, but rather how magic and using jade eggs will not get you there.
DO YOU KNOW FOR SURE, 100% THAT A JADE EGG PRACTICE DONE PROPERLY WITH THE RIGHT GUIDANCE COULD NOT IMPROVE PELVIC FLOOR HEALTH? AND…I’D SUGGEST YOU READ MORE ABOUT THE POWER OF THE UNCONSCIOUS MIND AND BELIEF SYSTEMS IN HEALING. WHEN I WAS IN PRE-MED STANFORD UNIVERSITY, WE LEARNED ALL ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING A PATIENT’S BELIEF SYSTEM AND HOW IT PLAYED A PART IN THEIR HEALING. AND TO HAVE COMPASSION AND NOT JUDGEMENT. WHY ARE YOU SO HARD ON PEOPLE THAT HAVE BELIEFS THAT INCLUDE MAGIC? IT INFLUENCES THEIR MIND IN WAYS THAT SCIENCE HAS SHOWN ACTUALLY MATTERS.
It is also about not wearing a weight at night (ludicrous, you should have seen the looks I got from the physical therapists that I asked) or during the day for more than 15 minutes at time. That recommendation displays an ignorance of the pelvic floor muscle training..
I’M GLAD THAT THE STRAW POLL YOU CONDUCTED WITH A FEW PHYSICAL THERAPISTS GIVES YOU ENOUGH CONFIDENCE TO ACT LIKE YOU HAVE AN ABSOLUTE TRUTH THERE. I DON’T RECOMMEND WEIGHT-LIFTING FOR MORE THAN 15 MINUTES AND I HAVE NEVER TAUGHT THAT MUCH ABOUT SLEEPING WITH IT IN – BUT I ALWAYS LIKE TO ASK QUESTIONS AND LEARN MORE SO I WILL MAKE A POINT OF INVESTIGATING WITH NUMEROUS PELVIC FLOOR EXPERTS ABOUT SLEEPING WITH THE EGG IN. I HAVE HAD MANY PHYSICAL THERAPISTS AND PELVIC FLOOR EXPERTS TAKE MY JADE EGG TRAINING AND THEY HAVE ALL LOVED IT AND REPORTED THAT IT INTEGRATES EASILY WITH THEIR TRAINING.
There is a Cochrane review that summarizes the evidence quite well with weights. I suggest you look it up. Weights are likely no better than pelvic floor PT or doing quick flicks. Women who receive regular coaching from a physical therapist may do better, but the studies are low quality. Obviously, whether a woman uses weights twice a day for 15 minutes, a therapist, or an instruction sheet is up to her and whatever works is fine.
GOOD, WE AGREE THAT WHAT WORKS FOR THE WOMAN IS WHAT’S IMPORTANT, NOT NECESSARILY WHAT YOU TELL HER WORKS FOR HER.
It is not up to me to prove that the eggs can cause TSS it is up to those who have a new therapy to show it is safe. It is very biologically plausible, especially given the concerning way the use was recommended on GOOP.
YES. “BIOLOGICALLY PLAUSIBLE” IS A PRETTY WIDE NET THAT YOU ARE CASTING. JADE EGGS HAVE BEEN SOLD AND USED CONTINUOUSLY IN THE UNITED STATES FOR OVER 30 YEARS WITH NO REPORTED HEALTH ISSUES TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF WOMEN. THERE ARE MANY SEX TOYS SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES MADE OUT OF DIFFERENT MATERIALS AND STONES.
WHEN I DID MY RESEARCH INTO BODY-SAFE MATERIALS WHAT I LEARNED FROM GEMOLOGISTS WAS THAT SOME STONES ARE HIGHLY POROUS AND NOT RECOMMENDED FOR INTERNAL USE – INCLUDING ROSE QUARTZ. IN MY YEARS OF WORK, I HAVE HAD STUDENTS HAVE ISSUES WITH ROSE QUARTZ EGGS, AND SO EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE MUCH CHEAPER AS A MATERIAL I DON’T SELL THEM OR RECOMMEND THAT ANYONE USE THEM. THE SAME GOES FOR OTHER MATERIALS THAT HAVEN’T BEEN USED OR ARE IN CIRCULATION ON A LOW LEVEL – I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO LOOK INTO HOW DIFFERENT MATERIALS CAN AFFECT THE BODY BY INTERACTING WITH THE VAGINAL ECOSYSTEM AND BY HOUSING BACTERIA.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS NO FDA APPROVAL FOR SEX TOYS. PEOPLE CAN LITERALLY SELL ANYTHING. EVEN THE PLASTIC YOU RECOMMEND IS PROBABLY TOXIC WHEN USED INTERNALLY. I RECOMMEND THAT WOMEN WASH THEIR JADE EGGS IN A POVIDONE IODINE SOLUTION AFTER EACH USE TO REMOVE POTENTIAL BACTERIA AND TO BOIL THE EGG IF THEY HAVE ANY CONCERNS.
If you had bothered to read anything on my site you would see what i have written about tampons, menstrual cups and and TSS.
THAT’S WHY I ASKED IF YOU ATTACKED SELLERS OF TAMPONS AS WELL WITH YOUR “LASSO OF TRUTH.”
Nothing I have written is unsubstantiated. I am a gynecologist with a fellowship in infectious diseases and board certification in pain medicine by both pain boards. My specialty is pelvic floor pain.
I DID MY UNDERGRAD AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY WITH A FOCUS ON IMMUNOLOGY AND SEXUALITY AND I’VE WORKED WITH THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF WOMEN AND MEN ON THEIR SEXUALITY AND THAT DOESN’T MEAN I KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT EVERYTHING. IF YOU WANT, I CAN PUT YOU IN TOUCH WITH MANY, MANY WOMEN WHO HAVE ALLEVIATED THEIR PELVIC PAIN THROUGH USING THE JADE EGG.
I am not suggesting women abandon their pelvic floors, rather I am suggesting they use legitimate therapies which have been studied.
IF EVERYONE FOLLOWED THAT NONE OF US EVER WOULD HAVE MEDITATED, DONE YOGA, OR EATEN ORGANIC UP UNTIL THE LAST FEW YEARS. WHEN I WAS AT STANFORD 12 YEARS AGO I HAD A PROFESSOR COME TO OUR PRE-MED CLASS AND SAY THAT MEDITATION WAS SLEEPING. IT WAS JUST A SCIENTIFIC FACT AND EVERYONE NEEDED MORE SLEEP. ONLY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS HAS MEDITATION BEEN PROVED TO BE A LEGITIMATE THERAPY. JUST BECAUSE IT ISN’T A “LEGITIMATE THERAPY” AS DESIGNATED BY THE MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENT OR BEEN STUDIED DOESN’T MEAN IT DOESN’T WORK, SOMETIMES SCIENCE LAGS BEHIND PEOPLE’S OWN SUBJECTIVE EXPERIENCE OF WHAT WORKS.
THAT BEING SAID, YES, DO YOUR RESEARCH, BE CAREFUL. BUT DON’T ACT LIKE SCIENTIFIC STUDIES ARE THE END ALL BE ALL OF WHAT WORKS. THE REPLICATION RATE OF SCIENTIFIC STUDIES IS INCREDIBLY LOW AND LOTS OF THINGS THAT WORK CAN’T BE PUT THROUGH A RIGOROUS PROCESS. USE YOUR OWN GUIDANCE, AND JUST BECAUSE YOU TRUST YOURSELF DOESN’T MEAN YOU ARE ENGAGING IN MAGICAL BELIEFS WITH CON-ARTISTS. IT’S NOT THAT SIMPLE.
THAT BEING SAID, I’VE BEEN WORKING WITH A WOMAN WHO SPECIALIZES IN CLINICAL TRIALS AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE FEASIBILITY OF DOING A CONTROLLED JADE EGG TRIAL. I’LL BE SURE TO LET YOU KNOW WHEN WE HAVE RESULTS.
Stones do not impart wisdom or change hormone levels and to insinuate otherwise means you believe in magic.
NO, BUT YOUR MIND IS POWERFUL. IF YOU DECIDE THAT YOUR STONE IS GOING TO IMPART WISDOM OR CHANGE YOUR HORMONE LEVELS, IT VERY WELL MIGHT. THE PLACEBO IS VERY STRONG.
BUT, LIKE I SAID, THE POWER OF THE JADE EGG PRACTICE ISN’T IN THE JADE EGG, IT’S IN THE ACTUAL MOVEMENTS AND ATTENTION AND EMOTIONAL CONNECTION THAT IS CREATED DURING THE PRACTICE.
If people want to use a jade egg as a pelvic floor weight, meaning 15 minutes twice day with contraction and relaxation (not what the post on GOOP suggested by the way) they should know that they are using a substance that has an unknown infection risk. As a medical provider when we have something that is proven safe it is very hard to see why I would recommend the one that has not been and has real biological plausibility for posing a risk.
I HEAR YOU ON THAT POINT. I REALLY RESPECT YOU CALLING FOR MORE INVESTIGATION AROUND THIS. I AM PERSONALLY OPEN TO LOOKING EVEN MORE INTO THIS BEYOND THE RESEARCH AND QUESTIONING OF EXPERTS I’VE ALREADY DONE. BUT IT’S NOT COMPLETELY UNTESTED – LITERALLY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF WOMEN HAVE BEEN PRACTICING WITH JADE EGGS OVER THE LAST THIRTY YEARS. IT’S NOT AS FRINGE AS YOU MIGHT THING. AND NO REPORTED MEDICAL ISSUES. THERE ARE HONESTLY A LOT OF THINGS DONE MEDICALLY AND GYNECOLOGICALLY THAT POSE UNKNOWN INFECTION RISKS. LET’S NOT PRETEND LIKE THE MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENT IS SOME PERFECT PURVEYOR OF RISK-LESS ACTIVITY.
I ALWAYS RECOMMEND THAT WOMEN CONSULT WITH THEIR DOCTORS IF THEY ARE PREGNANT OR USING AN IUD OR HAVE ANY MEDICAL CONDITION THAT MIGHT BE AGGRAVATED BY THE PRACTICE.
I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT YOU WENT AFTER THE JADE, WHEN ALL OF MY INVESTIGATION HAS TURNED UP THAT IT IS ACTUALLY ROSE QUARTZ THAT IS UNSUITABLE FOR INTERNAL USE.
AND MANY DOCTORS AND OBGYN’S HAVE RECOMMENDED JADE EGGS. JUST BECAUSE YOU DON’T HAPPEN TO LIKE THEM OR THEIR OPINIONS DOESN’T MEAN THAT THEY ARE WRONG.
Incorrect information and myths about stones affecting hormones and insinuating that a woman’s power comes from her genital tract is the exact opposite of empowerment.
IT’S NOT THE STONE THAT AFFECTS HORMONES. IT IS THE PRACTICE ITSELF. YOU MAY NOT LIKE THE IDEA THAT A WOMAN CAN SOURCE POWER FROM HER GENITALS – BUT MANY, MANY WOMEN DO. IT’S DISEMPOWERING TO TELL A WOMAN WHAT SHE SHOULD OR SHOULDN’T BELIEVE AND THAT IF SHE DOES CHOOSE TO FEEL POWER IN HER VULVA, HER VAGINA, HER CLITORIS, HER CERVIX OR HER UTERUS THAT SHE IS WRONG.
FOR WOMEN WHO HAVE HAD THESE REMOVED, THERE IS STILL A SOURCE OF POWER THERE IF THEY CHOOSE. AND FOR WOMEN WHO THINK THAT’S RIDICULOUS – THAT’S COOL TOO. I’M NOT HERE TO TELL ANYONE WHAT TO THINK, I’M HERE TO OFFER CHOICES AND I HEAR THAT YOU GET REALLY UPSTED BY A WOMAN CHOOSING TO FIND EMPOWERMENT IN HER GENITALS. BUT THAT DOESN’T MAKE HER WRONG.
I SAY, WHATEVER WORKS FOR YOU.
I HAD THE TIME TO WRITE ALL OF THIS BECAUSE I AM FLYING TO WASHINGTON DC FOR THE WOMEN’S MARCH ON WASHINGTON. AS YOU POINTED OUT – THERE ARE A MILLION BETTER BATTLES RIGHT NOW THAN A JADE EGG. AND IT’S FASCINATING HOW THE MEDIA GRABBED ONTO THIS.
WHETHER THE ACTUAL MATERIAL OF JADE ENDS UP BEING THE BEST POSSIBLE MATERIAL OR NOT – I KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT THAT THE ACTUAL PRACTICE OF THE JADE EGG CONTRIBUTES A HUGE AMOUNT TO THE EXPERIENCE OF PERSONAL EMPOWERMENT AND A TRUE APPRECIATION OF THE BODY AND SEXUALITY FOR MANY OF THE WOMEN WHO ENGAGE IN IT. IT SEEMS LIKE NOW IS THE TIME TO SUPPORT THOSE PRACTICES WHILE ALSO MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE SERVING THE HEALTH OF THE WOMEN WHO USE THEM.
Layla’s replies about jade eggs are convincing me even more that it was the right decision to NEVER USE THEM!
Here’s the problem with Layla; Dr. Gunter is a real gynecologist who cares about practicing real medicine and WIELDING THE LASSO OF TRUTH. Goop, Gwyneth, Trump University and Bernie Madoff have one thing in common; they like to con people and rip them off. Swindle, bamboozle, lie, cheat, steal and misrepresent are other words that come to mind.
And then there’s Layla who doesn’t mind at all. Who says the power of magical thinking can’t cure toxic shock and other vaginal infections caused by bacteria from the surface of a jade egg? Oh yeah, Dr Gunter? You think that fancy title and all your education and experience really qualifies you as a medical expert when Layla knows for a fact that magical thinking works? It’s called faith, love and a mild chlorine bleach solution to disinfect the $66 dollar jade egg, doc.
So there!
Riiiiiiiiiight .
Hi Layla,
My thing is: if the jade eggs are so awesome at what they do as some of you and others are claiming, why is GOOP with all it’s financial and labor resources clearly having such a difficult time responding credibly to Dr. Jen’s post aside from essentially saying “these views don’t reflect GOOP”?? Where are the Gynecologists willing to support the claims with their education, experiences, and certifications? Do you know of a few?
Why aren’t you targeting GOOP to offer your professional and expert advice on jade eggs on their behalf so that they can provide a more useful response?
Next — as someone said in another comment on this post or the original — if women are sourcing power and wisdom from their genitals, why have so many men had problems doing just that very thing throughout history?
Finally, if it all just amounts to “whatever works for you” and there’s clear evidence presented to you from a professional practitioner in the medical field as to why jade eggs will not work the way they have specifically been presented by GOOP for most of their reading demographic, what exactly is your issue?
Oh and also [excerpt from your comment:] Stones do not impart wisdom or change hormone levels and to insinuate otherwise means you believe in magic.
NO, BUT YOUR MIND IS POWERFUL. IF YOU DECIDE THAT YOUR STONE IS GOING TO IMPART WISDOM OR CHANGE YOUR HORMONE LEVELS, IT VERY WELL MIGHT. THE PLACEBO IS VERY STRONG.
BUT, LIKE I SAID, THE POWER OF THE JADE EGG PRACTICE ISN’T IN THE JADE EGG, IT’S IN THE ACTUAL MOVEMENTS AND ATTENTION AND EMOTIONAL CONNECTION THAT IS CREATED DURING THE PRACTICE. [/end excerpt]
Okay so… correct me if I’m wrong… but does this not mean a woman doesn’t even need the jade eggs, she can just shove a cup of cocoa puffs up her vagina and simply THINK and EMOTE herself to pelvic pain relief, better orgasms, and hormone regulation??
“…THE ACTUAL PRACTICE OF THE JADE EGG CONTRIBUTES A HUGE AMOUNT TO THE EXPERIENCE OF PERSONAL EMPOWERMENT AND A TRUE APPRECIATION OF THE BODY AND SEXUALITY”
It sounds more like contributing to a grifter selling potentially harmful bolonium. Putting rocks in your vag sounds stupid, and if you think you’re somehow replacing Kegel exercises by packing rocks, won’t it be fun for you when it backfires.
I’m sorry, the all caps does not help. I know it’s the site, but it’s hard to read without imagining the person yelling. Kinda villainizes Layla here.
I don’t think it’s the site, I think it’s the fact that Layla used a lot of capital letters.
OMG! You’re jamming chunks of jade up in your cooch? What the hell is wrong with you?
TL;DR: “I sell jade eggs”
Way to bury the lede. Amongst other things.
You are being far to polite, Dr Gunter. These are practiced salespeople who know very well they are lying to their customers.
As evidenced by the notorious Quack Miranda (http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Quack_Miranda_Warning) quoted above. Obvious mendacity is obvious.
May Dr Gunter put Ms Paltrow’s nose so far out of joint till even Hollywood’s finest plastician surrenders. Disgraceful.
—
p.s. Bonus link: those naughty boys and girls across the pond also got ahold of Dr G’s previous post and are now putting the entire Affaire d’Oeuf to poetry and song: http://www.badscience.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=43374 (Do not consume liquids, jade eggs, etc. while reading, natch.)
Gawd, Woman!! You are so great. I hate that you use your time for this mire of shit, but I’m glad you do. Perhaps you will save some naive soul a lot of agony someday.
Thank you! Please keep writing fact-based and informative articles like these. I live in the most woo-friendly place I know of – Santa Cruz. It is only a matter of time before something like jade eggs appear at the “medical” or “healing arts” places that proliferate in this town. I’m so glad that you are standing up to these crazy claims from goop and others.