Let’s just talk about it; Vaginal walls, much like the rest of the body’s skin, are made up of lots of fibrous material and collagen that give it its flexibility and its strength. When a woman goes through vaginal delivery, the stress of childbirth can diminish both the sensitivity and the tightness of the area, which often becomes overstretched during labor. This process is known as vaginal laxity (vaginal looseness) and is a common problem among women who have given birth in particular.
Causes
Vaginal laxity is the most prevalent issue for women who struggle with the decrease in sexual satisfaction due to lack of friction during intercourse. There are many complaints that women have after childbearing; Weight gain, stretch marks and many other side effects are common complaints but many times vaginal laxity is at the top of their struggles and often the most devastating. Up until very recently, there was very little a woman could do to about vaginal laxity, but today women have the knowledge of modern surgical methods to restore their pre-baby bodies.
Childbirth isn’t the only cause for vaginal laxity. Other contributors may include:
- Advancing age with the muscles of the body becoming more relaxed in general
- Menopause. About 50% of women report experiencing significant vaginal laxity after menopause due to a drop in estrogen levels.
- Genetic disorders affecting collagen metabolism
- Trauma to the vagina
Combating Vaginal Laxity
So what can be done about vaginal laxity? For most women who have given birth, or who are suffering from loosened skin below, their doctors will frequently recommend regular Kegel exercises. Kegel exercises can be done anywhere, at any time, and are successful in toning the pelvic floor. While kegel exercises strengthen and tone, they do nothing to alter the location of the vaginal muscles.
For those who aren’t seeing the desired results from Kegels, and need more drastic intervention, surgical vaginal rejuvenation procedures can be performed to help tighten the vaginal walls and surrounding muscle. Vaginal Rejuvenation, or vaginoplasty, is an elective surgical procedure which returns the pelvic floor muscles to their original, youthful, pre-baby location. This results in a more gratifying sexual experience for women and their partners.
If you’re curious about what options are available to you to help you regain tighter vaginal muscles while improving your intimate life and confidence, we encourage you to contact us and learn more about how we can help you.