Painful intercourse - an effective way to dilate the vagina

Pain during intercourse, difficulty applying tampons or the inability to perform a gynecological examination. These are just some of the problems that can arise with a too narrow vaginal canal. Fortunately, there are safe methods that you can use at home to effectively dilate your vagina, increase comfort, eliminate pain, and get a better quality of life.

A common method of treatment dedicated to women suffering from this type of ailments are vaginal dilators, also known as dilators. They are smooth, tampon-like devices, usually made of plastic or medical silicone. Dilators are available in various lengths and thicknesses, which allows you to adjust them to any type of construction and stage of therapy. The task of vaginal dilators is to improve the shape, elasticity and flexibility of the vaginal tissues, which reduces or completely eliminates pain during intercourse, tampon insertion or gynecological examination. Additionally, dilators help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, reducing vaginal sensitivity over time.

WHEN IS IT WORTH USING A DILATOR?

• pain during intercourse,
• vaginismus - manifested by uncontrolled contractions of the vagina causing pain and discomfort. Cramps can be caused by emotional or physical factors.
• narrowing of the vagina,
• vulvudin - a condition characterized by pain, burning or stinging, and inflammation of the vagina. Pain may be chronic or caused by specific factors,
• vestibulodynia - pain in the vestibule of the vagina caused by a syndrome of inflammation in this part of the vagina,
• vaginoplasty / artificial vagina (e.g. in case of sex reassignment surgery),
• after vaginal surgeries with vaginal reduction and scarring,
• for hormone-induced changes (e.g. during the menopause or perimenopause, hormonal changes can cause a range of painful symptoms that affect the vagina. Vaginal dryness, constriction and atrophy may also occur over time),
• help in learning to control and relax the pelvic floor muscles in the event of dysfunction of this part of the muscles,
• in the case of changes resulting from radiotherapy, which may cause a reduction in elasticity and narrowing of the vaginal canal. Other side effects of radiation can include thinning of the vaginal walls and an inability to moisturize properly, causing pain.

WHAT TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHEN CHOOSING A DILATOR?

Material

Most dilators are made of plastic or silicone. Plastic is a hard material that will keep its shape throughout its lifetime; however, it is not as comfortable or realistic as silicone. For those trying to restore sexual activity, this is usually not the best choice.

Another material from which dilators are prepared is silicone, which provides the highest quality and maximum comfort for people suffering from pain. Medical grade silicone dilators are widely preferred dilators for women. They are also one of the most comfortable dilators, offering a strong yet flexible form with a smooth and delicate texture.

When choosing a silicone dilator, take into account that each type of silicone will be slightly different in terms of hardness and smoothness. For example, the Intimate Rose brand uses a proprietary finishing process that creates extremely smooth and sufficiently strong vaginal dilators to maintain their shape during use. In addition, Intimate Rose dilators are sufficiently soft and therefore comfortable, which is extremely important during application and removal of dilators - sticky or rough silicone can provide unpleasant sensations in such situations. Also remember that inadequate softness of the silicone dilator will not allow for effective and safe therapy - too soft will not help to open and relax the pelvic floor muscles, but if it is too hard, it will be uncomfortable.

The advantages of silicone dilators include:

• the most soft and natural feeling that resembles body tissue - silicone provides a more natural, comfortable and gentle feeling that is more like body tissue and provides adequate flexibility.
• strong and flexible at the same time, adjusting to the vaginal canal and providing adequate resistance and reducing the risk of injuries, e.g. bruising or irritation, which may occur when using plastic dilators
• providing better temperature control, enabling the user to both warm and cool the dilator prior to use
• durable and easy to maintain

Size and shape

In most cases of dilator therapy, the patient will have to go through a variety of sizes to achieve the intended goal. It's important to start with the right size and work towards your goal gradually.

The use of vaginal dilators and walking through the different sizes should be comfortable. Therefore, it is important that the product you reach provides the ability to gradually increase in length, width and circumference as you progress to ensure a comfortable path.

HOW TO USE A DILATOR?

Vaginal dilators allow you to conduct therapy at home, which will positively affect the comfort of therapy. If you need to, you can use a water-based lubricant.

Lie down in a comfortable position on your back with your legs bent at the knees. Begin by gently inserting the dilator, using the smallest comfortable size with which you don't experience too much discomfort or pain. The therapy session should last from 20 to 30 minutes. Try to do it 1-2 times a day.

The premise of using dilators is to go to a larger size after some treatment time. Therefore, if you are able, you can continue the therapy using a larger size.

Remember: the necessity to use and the choice of size should be consulted with a specialist.