Yeah, I’ll Try the Red-Light Therapy Vibrator

Jump to:What is the LELO MONA Spectra?Does red-light therapy actually work for vaginal health?What does the MONA Spectra actually feel like?Is it safe to use red-light therapy on your vagina?Who should buy the MONA Spectra?The verdict: Is the LELO MONA Spectra worth it?It’s been a big few years for red-light therapy. You can get it in a skin-clearing LED face mask, a hair-growth-stimulating cap, or a sauna blanket you can self-zip into like a burrito, and I’ve cheered on every new format. I just assumed we’d eventually run out of places for it. Oh, but reader, turns out there was one place left.LELO, the Swedish luxury sex toy brand, just put red LEDs inside a G-spot vibrator called the MONA Spectra, and the brand says you can get the benefits of red-light therapy (collagen! circulation!) along with, you know, the main event.As someone who reads the ingredient list on a $14 serum before it gets anywhere near my face, I had questions. So yes, I tried the red-light therapy vibrator. Here's my honest review, plus what the science actually says about red-light therapy for your vagina.LELO MONA Spectra at a glanceType: G-spot vibrator with built-in LED light therapyLight: red LEDs (615–625 nm); the app unlocks near-infrared (850 nm), blue, and greenVibration: 10 settings, 16 intensity levelsMaterial: body-safe silicone with twisted ribsWaterproof: yes, bath- and shower-safeWhat is the LELO MONA Spectra?At its core, the MONA Spectra is a G-spot vibrator. It borrows the curved silhouette of LELO's longtime MONA line, with a rounded tip angled toward the front wall of the vagina (aka G-spot territory) and soft, body-safe silicone wrapped in twisted ribs for extra texture. It has 10 vibration settings and 16 intensity levels, and it's fully waterproof, so the bath is fair game.The twist (besides the literal twisted ribs) is a built-in array of red LEDs. Out of the box, it runs red light at 615 to 625 nanometers, and the LELO app unlocks near-infrared, blue and green light, plus extra vibration patterns.Why would anyone put red-light therapy in a vibrator?If you've ever bought an LED face mask, you already know the pitch. Red light is thought to help your cells repair themselves, which is why it's become such a skin-care staple, and LELO is applying the same idea to vaginal tissue.LELO says regular use may support collagen and elastin, tissue elasticity, natural lubrication, and sensitivity. The brand also says the LED array gives off a gentle warmth that can relax the pelvic floor muscles and increase blood flow, which, for the record, your body tends to appreciate during sex anyway.The pitch, basically, is folding a wellness habit into something you might already be doing.Kim Duong for CosmopolitanKim Duong for CosmopolitanDoes red-light therapy actually work for vaginal health?The short answer: it's promising, but it's early. Most of the research on red light and vaginal health has focused on menopause, when dropping estrogen can lead to dryness and thinner, more sensitive tissue. A 2019 review of the research so far concluded that red-light therapy appears to be safe and may help with those symptoms, but the authors called the evidence preliminary, and none of it was testing an at-home vibrator.LELO ran its own four-week survey with 37 women, and nearly 8 in 10 of those using it a few times a week reported noticeably more natural moisture, while close to 70% said they felt more confident in their bodies. It's an encouraging start, and bigger studies will tell us more. Until then, LELO itself positions the MONA Spectra as an everyday self-care device rather than a medical one, which is the right way to think about it.So for now, think of the red light as a nice extra. If you're dealing with dryness or pain during sex, talk to your OB-GYN, who can help you figure out what will actually make a difference.What does the MONA Spectra actually feel like?If you've used a LELO vibrator before, the MONA Spectra will feel familiar. It has the same gently curved shape and soft, smooth silicone as the regular MONA, and the twisted ribs add a little extra texture. The vibrations are what you'd expect from LELO, with enough settings to keep things low-key or turn them all the way up.The one difference is warmth: with the LEDs on, the toy gets a little warm, which LELO's instructions say is normal.If you're buying it for the red-light benefits, give it time. LELO's own survey ran for four weeks, and the brand recommends sticking to 15 minutes of light a day.Can you use the MONA Spectra without the red light?Yes (which makes the price easier to swallow). The lights are optional, so if the red light ends up being the thing you skip, you still own a high-end G-spot vibrator, and a very good one at that.Is it safe to use red-light therapy on your vagina?From what researchers have seen so far, yes, as long as you're using a device designed for intimate use and following its instructions. The MONA Spectra checks those boxes: it's made of body-safe silicone that meets ISO 3533, the international safety standard for sex toys, and LELO says its LEDs are UV-free, so you're not exposing sensitive skin to the kind of light that causes damage. A few ground rules from LELO:Keep LED use to 15 minutes a day. If that feels like a lot, LELO suggests five- to 10-minute sessions.Use lube. LELO recommends its own Personal Moisturizer; whatever you use, stick to water-based formulas with silicone toys.Expect warmth. LELO says a gentle warm feeling is normal.Clean it after every use with mild antibacterial soap and warm water.If you're pregnant or managing a health condition, check with your doctor before adding any light therapy device to your routine, and read LELO's user manual for the full list of warnings.Who should buy the MONA Spectra?If you already have a red-light routine and you've been eyeing a nicer G-spot vibrator anyway, the MONA Spectra makes a lot of sense. If you mostly want a great G-spot vibe and the light therapy is a maybe, LELO's regular MONA has the same familiar shape for a lot less money.Is the LELO MONA Spectra waterproof?Yes. LELO says it's 100% waterproof and safe for the bath or shower.Is the LELO app private?LELO says the app is anonymous and fully encrypted, and you don't need it to use the toy's basic settings.The verdict: Is the LELO MONA Spectra worth it?$299 is a lot of money for a vibrator, no way around it. It's also in the same price range as plenty of red-light face masks, and none of those double as a sex toy. The MONA Spectra is a seriously good G-spot vibrator, and the red light is a fun bonus for anyone who's already bought into the wellness of it all. If you haven't, stick with a regular LELO vibrator and save the money.