Typically used in conjunction with pelvic floor physiotherapy, vaginal dilator therapy has two main purposes. One is to relieve the anxiety of having something inserted into the vagina and the second is to restore elasticity to dry or thinning vaginal muscles due to hormonal changes, skin conditions, radiation, or surgery. See our guide to using dilators for vaginal atrophy.
The desired result at the end of vaginal dilator therapy is that patients learn to relax the pelvic area and enjoy a more pleasurable sexual experience.
Relieving The Fear of Sex with Vaginal Dilator Therapy
Many women suffer from a fear or underlying anxiety about sex. Although the cause of this sexual anxiety is unknown, it is believed to stem from a fear that penetrative sex is going to be painful. This fear initiates a panic mode in the pelvic area, triggering a spasming of the vaginal muscles, which causes the vagina to constrict at the thought of penetration, and ultimately results in painful sexual intercourse (dyspareunia).
It can happen to teenagers who are worried about their first sexual encounter, sexual abuse victims, new mothers after traumatic childbirth, post-menopausal women who experience vaginal dryness due to a lack of estrogen, and those who have undergone radiation therapy or surgery for an imperforate hymen or vaginal septum.
Vaginal Dilator Therapy to Overcome Sexual Anxiety
Once the underlying cause of anxiety has been addressed, vaginal dilator therapy is used to gradually eradicate the muscle memory associated with putting something in the vagina. By beginning with the smallest dilator, typically the size of a small finger, patients learn to relax and gently stretch the vaginal muscles until the size feels comfortable inside the vagina. Only then do they move to the next size dilator and the next, until they ultimately feel comfortable with a dilator the size of an average penis inside the vagina.
Through this gentle and gradual process, vaginal dilator therapy helps women to build confidence and feel more comfortable when it comes to sex with a real penis.
Vaginal Dryness, Hormones & Lack of Sexual Pleasure
The second purpose of vaginal dilator therapy addresses women who have previously enjoyed their sexual experiences but have found it altered due to hormonal changes, scar tissue after radiation therapy or surgery, as well as vaginal skin conditions. Several underlying conditions such as; endometriosis, irritable bowel syndrome, pelvic trauma, uterine fibroids, or vaginitis can also tighten the vaginal muscles and make sex uncomfortable.
Vaginal Dilator Therapy to Reignite Sexual Pleasure
In the above-mentioned cases, vaginal dilator therapy helps to reverse vaginal tightness by increasing blood flow to the vaginal muscles and improving natural lubrication. Once again, your pelvic floor physiotherapist would recommend the size of the dilator with which to start your therapy. As soon as the size feels comfortable to insert and leave in the vagina for 10-15 minutes up to three times per week, you will gradually increase in dilator size until it feels comfortable to insert a dilator the size of an average penis.
Through vaginal dilator therapy, it is possible to relieve vaginal atrophy due to menopause, reduce scar tissue after cancer treatment or surgery, and relax the vaginal muscles to enjoy sex again.
Vaginal septum & Imperforate Hymen – How Vaginal Dilator Therapy Helps
Closely linked to the two main purposes of vaginal dilator therapy are the post-surgical treatments for a vaginal septum and an imperforate hymen.
A vaginal septum is a wall of tissue, formed during fetal development, that divides the vagina into two parts. After surgery to remove a vaginal septum, vaginal dilator therapy is recommended to reduce scar tissue, lower the risk of stenosis, and allow patients to become used to full vaginal penetration over time.
An imperforate hymen is when the hymen, or thin membrane at the entrance of the vagina, does not 'break' naturally and requires surgery to create an opening. In these cases, vaginal dilator therapy is recommended to maintain the opening during the post-surgery healing process and allow the patient to slowly adapt to vaginal penetration.
