What is Sexual Dysfunction?

Despite being more common in women than men, with more than 40% of women being affected, and not quite 30% of men being affected, the term, “sexual dysfunction” makes us all think of penile problems. For women struggling with arousal, orgasm, vaginal pain, or other kinds of sexual discomfort, reliable research and general information are hard to find. Whatever the reason, female sexuality as an open discussion is relatively taboo, let alone discussion of vaginal disorders. What information is available is often highly technical or vague, making diagnoses not only difficult to assign but even more difficult to understand. The term “erectile dysfunction” is pretty straight-forward, for example. Terms like “noncoital sexual pain disorder” or “hypoactive sexual desire disorder” are less so.

The media and medical journals aren’t the only ones not talking about female sexual dysfunction, though. Women aren’t discussing it either. For reasons of ignorance, fear, hopelessness, or something else, women don’t often seek medical advice. We’re here to say that sexual experiences should be reliably pleasurable for everyone. For men and women, sexual dysfunction occurs at just about any point in the sexual response cycle, which, simply put, is pretty much anything from arousal to post-orgasm resolution. When someone struggles with any of the stages, including loss of interest, absence of arousal, inability to orgasm, and pain during intercourse, sexual dysfunction may be at play.

Causes of Female Sexual Dysfunction

There are several causes. Sometimes, the reasons are primarily psychological. Body insecurity alone can make it impossible to perform, for example. Another big one is sexual trauma. Even when a woman has a history of sexual abuse and is lucky enough to not have any lingering physical reminders, the brain takes much longer to move on. The mind often continues to associate sexual contact with fear and pain, making a healthy sex life virtually impossible.

Female sexual dysfunction often rears its ugly head as pain or discomfort during intercourse, vaginal dryness, and difficulty achieving orgasm. Dyspareunia is another underlying cause, which is a diagnosis given to those who suffer from a range of physical or psychological factors that cause them to feel pain during sex. Sometimes, this is caused by vaginismus, which is involuntary vaginal muscle spasms. Vulvodynia is also connected to chronic pain when pressure is put on the vulva. Cancer, as well as cancer treatments, can contribute to chronic pain, as well. Let’s not forget about another grossly under-considered group, menopausal women. Aging women make up a vast population of people suffering from female sexual dysfunction. Vaginal atrophy including dryness and the natural decrease in estrogen, is an incredibly common cause of dyspareunia, and therefore female sexual dysfunction. Diabetes, hormonal imbalances, heart disease, stress and anxiety, depression, certain antidepressants, and alcohol or drug abuse are also all potential causes.

Consult Your Physician

Getting back to how common it is for women to not report their symptoms to their doctor, one of the reasons might be the tendency to self-diagnose or downplay symptoms. It’s easy to rationalize symptoms, especially for menopausal and post-menopausal women. It’s common to think sex simply can’t be fun once you get older. However, it’s always best to confide in your doctor anytime your body doesn’t feel quite right. Avoiding sexual contact or suffering through the pain is only going to cause more problems in other areas of life. Relationships suffer, and it’s likely that you can cause more damage to vaginal tissue by ignoring it. Your doctor will know the right kinds of questions to ask and can refer you to specialists to get you on the road to recovery. Finding the right kind of treatment is essential, and unique for each person. For some people, over-the-counter lubricants might do the trick. But for others, it might not be that simple.

Treatment Option for Sexual Dysfunction

Your doctor may recommend pelvic floor therapy, which helps strengthen the system of muscles that support the uterus, including the vagina. BioMoi vaginal dilators can be used as part of this therapeutic practice. They are shaped like a tampon and often start out as part of the in-office therapy, but at-home use is usually encouraged after some progress has been made. The dilators help stretch the vaginal muscles to promote natural elasticity. The antimicrobial silicone gently glides into the vaginal opening, as much or as little as is comfortable for you. Little by little, the body—and the mind—learn to accept the feeling, and sex becomes pleasurable again. There are six different sizes to fit each woman’s body, as well as to allow you to move up in size as the vagina stretches over time.

From what seems like the beginning of time, sexual dysfunction has been the butt of jokes, but in reality, it can ruin relationships and cause increasing amounts of physical and psychological pain. For many people, sex is an important part of life. Just like you’d see a professional about a broken bone, you owe it to yourself to consult a doctor about feeling broken “down there.” For your safety, and for the benefit of effective treatment, always consult a doctor rather than attempting to self-treat. Female sexual dysfunction is real. Maybe your doctor will recommend vaginal dilators, maybe she won’t. Regardless of your course of treatment, we see you. You deserve to take your sex life back.

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Causes of Vulvodynia

Doctors are still unsure of all the causes that bring on vulvodynia, but researchers explore many possible causes. Nerve injury or irritation can cause vaginal discomfort. There could be genetic factors or hypersensitivity to yeast infections. History of sexual abuse or abnormal response to infection or trauma could also cause a woman to experience symptoms related to vulvodynia. Even things as common as hormonal changes and childbirth can cause women to experience vaginal pain.

What Are Vulvodynia Symptoms?

The symptoms of vulvodynia can last anywhere from a few months to years. You may be experiencing dyspareunia, which is pain during sex. The physical symptoms include a burning sensation, stinging or rawness, soreness or throbbing, and itching. These symptoms may also be experienced when there is non-sexual touch or pressure on the vaginal opening. Women experiencing these symptoms should always mention them to their doctor, who can investigate a potential cause. And for women who’ve recently had a baby, although pain during post-partum sex is not abnormal, if any of these signs persist beyond 6 weeks after childbirth, you should let your doctor know. Your doctor can accurately assess whether you are experiencing vulvodynia and determine if you are ready to try treatments, potentially including vaginal dilator and pelvic floor therapy.

Treatment for Vulvodynia

Vaginal dilator therapy is a process of using a cylindrical tool—the dilator—to help relax muscles and help lengthen and widen the structure of the vagina. You first begin with a size that already comfortably fits in your vagina, then gradually increase the size to enlarge the internal space of the vagina. The dilators range in size from the width of a pinky finger to the width of a cucumber. BioMoi’s antimicrobial silicone dilators can even be purchased in convenient dilator sets. The process of this therapy can help alleviate the painful and uncomfortable symptoms of vulvodynia.

If you’re experiencing vaginal pain, then it’s time to discuss vulvodynia and vaginal dilator treatment with a professional to find some physical relief.

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Many Factors Cause Vaginal Discomfort

Discomfort can result from not only chemotherapy but also a variety of conditions or even from surgery or pelvic radiation, which can cause inflammation in the vagina. Inflammation can lead to scarring and can also cause the vaginal walls to stick together. Pelvic radiation may be used as a treatment for cervical and vaginal cancer, endometrial or uterine cancer, and anal and rectal cancer. For breast cancer patients, chemotherapy’s impact on the body’s estrogen levels can cause vaginal tissue to become thin, dry, and less elastic—otherwise known as vaginal atrophy, which can result in painful intercourse. Similar vaginal changes occur during menopause. If vaginal penetration is difficult during sex or when using a tampon, a vaginal dilator may help. Vaginal dilators can help counteract some of these side effects from radiation treatment and cancer medications, and even from your body’s changes during menopause.

Start Enjoying Sex Again

Using vaginal dilators after chemotherapy or other cancer treatments can help make sex more comfortable and even more pleasurable as you continue using them. Vaginal dilators are firm, rounded cylinders, usually made out of silicone or plastic, that vary in size from the width of a pinky finger to the width of a cucumber. A woman can begin by using a size that fits comfortably in the vagina, then gradually increase the size to widen and lengthen vaginal capacity. This process will help restore the vagina to a more comfortable length and shape, thus creating a more pleasurable experience during the act of sex through smoother vaginal penetration.

Always Keep Safety in Mind

Be sure to consult with a doctor or health care professional before considering vaginal dilator therapy. It is important to gain a full understanding of how the treatment works in order to decide if your body is physically and mentally ready. Dilation can be a little uncomfortable for some women, so discussing the treatment with a professional will provide a better grasp on how your body might react.

If you decide that vaginal dilation therapy is right for you, BioMoi’s antimicrobial silicone vaginal dilators—the only antimicrobial dilators on the market—provide added protection and peace of mind for women who want to relieve their pain in a healthy and safe way. Our dilators are made of Silver antimicrobial silicone , which eliminates 99.99% of harmful bacteria. Without this protection, dilators are susceptible to picking up the microscopic bacteria, fungi, and viruses that surround us every day. And that could put your health at risk, especially if your immune system is still compromised from chemotherapy treatments.

Learn more about BioMoi and get started on the path toward pain-free sex today.

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Painful Postpartum Sex

Painful postpartum sex could be caused by hormonal changes related to breastfeeding, a tender episiotomy scar, or lack of sleep. All three of those things are completely common, so what can a woman do to eliminate or reduce pain during intercourse after having a baby? There are a couple of key things to help ease that pain. If you’re still experiencing pain during or after intercourse beyond the normal 6 weeks postpartum, first consult your doctor about these atypical symptoms. You may want to discuss vaginal dilator therapy vaginal dilator therapy with your doctor or healthcare professional as a way to prevent painful postpartum sex. To prep and prime yourself for treatment, remember that wetter is better. Create a smoother vaginal penetration during sex or when using a vaginal dilator by using lubricant. Then, move onto the process of vaginal dilator therapy.

Dilator Therapy for Relief

It may seem scary at first, but vaginal dilator therapy is a process you can work up to. BioMoi vaginal dilators are small cylindrical tools made of medical-grade antimicrobial silicone. They range in size from the width of a pinky finger to the width of a cucumber, and you begin with a size that already fits comfortably in your vagina. You gradually increase the size of your vaginal dilator in order to lengthen and widen the structure of the vagina. This slower process will not only help to alleviate pain, dryness, and tenderness, but it can help you become more comfortable with your partner’s touch during postpartum sex.

Get Started Today

Explore BioMoi’s Vaginal Dilators

Your partner can also help with at-home treatments that limit the adverse affects of painful intercourse after child birth. Utilizing his or her assistance will help you feel more physically comfortable getting back into the regular bedroom routine. Having that support from your partner in your body’s recovery can also help to boost your confidence in the healing process. If you are comfortable having your partner assist you with therapy, he or she will better understand your body and you will feel more comfortable during post-baby sex before you know it. Purchase a BioMoi silicone vaginal dilator today to begin the healing process.

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Signs & Symptoms of Vaginal Atrophy

For many women, vaginal atrophy has a huge effect on sexual intimacy. Not only that, but the list of potential urinary symptoms is also long. Many experts prefer the term genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) because of how interconnected the vaginal and urinary symptoms tend to be. Not everyone will experience symptoms, but some women feel the effects of the condition even before menopause, while the body is transitioning. If you experience dryness, burning, itching, an increase in UTIs, incontinence, light bleeding after intercourse, decreased lubrication during intercourse, a shortening or tightening of the vagina, or similar symptoms, don’t assume atrophy is the culprit. It’s always best to seek out a professional opinion.

Regular sexual activity (with or without a partner) is a great way to keep your vaginal tissues in good shape. However, because painful sex is often a side-effect of vaginal atrophy, this kind of self-therapy isn’t often practiced. Without estrogen, the vagina stops being able to naturally stretch and the tissue becomes dry and thin. Burning sensations are also common, which makes for a less than pleasurable time. The physical pain combined with learned apprehension is the perfect recipe for sexual avoidance. Here’s where vaginal dilation comes in for vaginal atrophy relief.

Dilators Can Provide Relief

Explore Our Vaginal Dilators

Dilators come in a variety of sizes to help women increase the capacity and elasticity of their vaginas through dilation therapy. You start with a small size and gradually work your way up. The vagina becomes a more comfortable shape and length and helps you better control the surrounding pelvic floor muscles (which helps with things like incontinence). It can take time, but unlike using sex as therapy, you can work at your speed and with the size that is comfortable—and you can do it yourself without the pressure of someone else’s pleasure looming. If dilation perpetuates anxiety about pain, there are therapists available who can help you get started in a no-pressure, clinical setting. If your doctor has ruled out the possibility that your discomfort is caused by actual infection or other medical problem, vaginal dilation can very likely put you back on the road to confidence and comfort.

Your doctor will likely suggest various lubrication techniques as well as regular vaginal moisturizers, but usually these are best for treating symptoms rather than the cause. Vaginal dilation can create more consistent comfort, as it helps stimulate natural blood flow and lubrication while stretching and elongating the tissue itself. Finding vaginal atrophy relief is a realistic goal, and BioMoi antimicrobial silicon dilators can help you get there.

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Diagnosing Vaginal Agenesis

Often vaginal agenesis goes unnoticed until teenage years when menstruation never occurs. Sometimes it’s noticed near birth because the newborn doesn’t even have a vaginal opening. The condition often goes hand-in-hand with kidney problems also, so sometimes the issue is noted by a physician during a related examination. It’s important to understand, however, that vaginal agenesis requires a professional’s diagnosis before any treatment is attempted. The body is an incredibly complex machine, and safety is of the utmost importance when considering treatment. For example, there are many natural reasons a 15-year-old girl may not have gotten her period yet. Unauthorized treatment for vaginal agenesis would be inappropriate and potentially harmful.

The condition doesn’t generally affect the clitoris, which is where many women experience the most gratifying sexual feelings. However, it’s not difficult to see how, prior to treatment, vaginal agenesis can have a huge impact on sexual relationships. When you visit a doctor, he or she may recommend blood tests, an ultrasound, and/or an MRI to determine the best treatment options. Vaginal agenesis is a condition that presents differently in everyone, and these tests will confirm or rule out this condition and show the doctor which organs are or are not present.

Treatment Options

Often, doctors recommend self-dilation as a first step. If there’s a way to widen and elongate the vagina without surgery, that’s a great place to start. Vaginal dilation  starts by pressing a smooth, cylindrical instrument called a dilator against your skin or inside your vagina for 30 minutes to two hours each day. Regular stretching gradually increases the width and length of the vagina. As time goes on, you can switch to larger dilators until the desired result is achieved. If self-dilation doesn’t work, surgery will likely be the next course of action to create a functioning vagina. Dilation is an integral part of maintenance, though, so surgery is often delayed until the patient is mature enough to comply.

Vaginoplasty options vary depending on existing anatomy and professional assessment. If surgery is needed, your surgeon will present you with the options that are best for you, some of which may include post-op vaginal dilation therapy.

Fear of insurance complications and the difficult subject of finances might create the temptation to skip the diagnosis stage. However, we can’t stress enough the importance of proper diagnosis of vaginal agenesis before jumping right to vaginal dilators as the best treatment option. If vaginal dilators are what your doctor prescribes, then BioMoi antimicrobial dilators are available and ready to help you feel like the healthiest and happiest version of you.

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Women’s Health Encompasses More Than Breast Exams

Breast cancer may be one of the more visible women’s health issues, but women’s health is much more than just breast exams. Women should be getting annual screenings for more than just potential cancers. Yearly check-ups with your primary care physician and OB-GYN are just as important to women’s health as regular cancer screenings. Simply going to the doctor isn’t enough, though. When your physician asks if you have any unexplained discomfort or general concerns, it’s important to have answers ready. Vaginal and/or pelvic pain is not normal, so it shouldn’t be ignored. To normalize new or chronic pain means you’re not prioritizing your own health. Sure, it can be hard to talk about your vagina or pain down there. But they’re doctors—and your job is to tell them where and when it hurts.

Pelvic Pain & Vaginal Discomfort

Vaginal pain is not reserved for one specific kind of woman. Just like women, women’s health issues come in many varieties. For example, some suffer from dyspareunia, which is pain during sexual intercourse that is caused by a range of physical or psychological factors. That’s pretty broad. Then there’s vaginismus in which the pelvic floor muscles tighten involuntarily. Vulvodynia is an even more ambiguous but very real chronic condition that causes significant pain and discomfort. Women who’ve experienced trauma to the pelvis, either from sexual violence or childbirth can experience chronic pain, as can postmenopausal women whose natural hormone deficiencies create a less-than-ideal environment for pleasurable sex. Pelvic pain sometimes doesn’t have anything to do with sex. It can also be caused by chronic constipation or excessive exercise.

Vaginal or pelvic pain can also be an unfortunate side effect of successful cancer treatment. The high amount of energy it takes to destroy cancer cells with radiotherapy damages healthy cells in addition to the unhealthy ones. When the body tries to heal, inflammation to tissue and blood vessels commonly occurs, which creates internal scarring to otherwise healthy organs. If the ovaries are affected by such fibrosis, it affects their ability to dose out estrogen. Low estrogen means dry, painful sex. Postmenopausal women experience similar discomfort, as their bodies naturally decrease estrogen production. The vagina starts to become less elastic, thinner, and dryer. This type of atrophy can be exacerbated by the brain’s newfound aversion to sexual contact, which perpetuates a cycle of anxiety.

Physicians Recommend Vaginal Dilators

Upon clueing in your doctor on your issues, they will likely want to investigate further. It’s very possible you’ll be pointed in the direction of vaginal dilator therapy. Vaginal dilators are plastic or silicone cylinders that resemble tampons. They come in a variety of sizes and serve to stretch the vaginal tissues and pelvic floor muscles. The therapy is performed over a period of time and is sometimes deemed most effective in a clinical setting. At-home use is also often prescribed, but usually after some initial progress is made. Sometimes it’s not just the physical part that offers therapeutic pain relief; it’s also the parasympathetic nervous system that needs to learn how to trust sexual contact again. With regular use, dilators actually help the brain realize that there is nothing to fear. Insertion does not have to equal pain, and as you increase the size of the dilator without pain, you’ll soon find yourself feeling like your old self again.

Women’s health deserves more than just a seat in the back. Let this month be a reminder to ask your doctor about any new or unusual vaginal or pelvic pain. Otherwise you could continue to miss out on precious time to enjoy some of the simple things in life like sitting comfortably and having pleasurable sex. While vaginal dilators may be the answer to your women’s health concerns, it’s always best to consult your doctor before attempting any treatment.

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What is the Pelvic Floor?

First of all, let’s clear up what the pelvic floor actually is. It’s the group of muscles that pretty much sit like a bowl in your pelvic region. The bowl has connection points to the pubic bone, tailbone, and pelvis. This group of muscles works together to help you urinate and have bowel movements, help support your internal organs against gravity, help control movement of your sacroiliac and hip joints in your core, help men achieve and sustain erections during intercourse, help men and woman achieve orgasm, and act like a sump pump for the pelvis to help blood and lymphatic fluid get to where they need to go.

So clearly, anything that chronically puts pressure on the pelvic floor can cause problems—not just pregnancy. Hysterectomies, chronic constipation, excessive coughing, being overweight, and a lot of high-impact exercise such as running can cause problems with the pelvic floor. Menopause is also a common cause of pelvic floor pain because of the loss of estrogen and progestogens that affect the elasticity of the muscles and connective tissues.

Consult with Your Physician

If you’re experiencing pelvic floor pain, the first thing to do is go see a doctor. After discussing your symptoms, a urogynecology or colorectal referral may be in order. You may need to have some tests done to pinpoint the location of your pain. Pelvic floor physical therapy might also be appropriate.

What the specific course of action will be depends on the issue. In many cases, the supervised therapeutic use of vaginal dilators is recommended. In fact, even if surgery is necessary, vaginal dilators and pelvic floor therapy are essential in helping to ensure the patient gets the most out of the procedure.

Find Relief with a Vaginal Dilator

The simplest way to describe the function of vaginal dilators, which are tampon-shaped and come in many sizes, is to stretch and elongate the vaginal muscles over time. But actually dilators have just as much of a psychological effect on the pelvic floor as a physical one. For example, if someone has experienced pain for a while before seeking help, their brain is already on high alert anticipating pain. The nervous system has been conditioned and the person automatically starts to feel anxious at the mere thought of contact, let alone penetration. The thought of therapy by penetration might seem scary to some, but when used in a clinical setting, the patient can retrain their brain over time. Patients can start small and work their way up to gently allow the vaginal canal as well as the pelvic floor muscles to stretch or relax. Plain insertion can help, but there are many ways to also apply pressure, which a trained physical therapist can assist with. Over time, a therapist might suggest the patient try using dilators at home to help further transition to pleasurable intercourse. At-home use is also helpful for those who want to further their own therapy on their own schedules.

Pelvic floor pain is treatable, but the first step is to ask for help. Vaginal dilation has helped so many women live pain-free, and it might be what you need to get you feeling like yourself again. But remember, it’s always best to consult a doctor before starting any kind of treatment.

Start feeling like yourself again and purchase an antimicrobial vaginal dilator from BioMoi and begin your journey with vaginal dilator therapy.

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What is a Vaginoplasty?

Vaginoplasty is the surgical procedure known by the transgender community as “bottom surgery.” Put simply, the surgeon uses the penis and scrotum tissue to create a vagina and labia. The technique utilizes skin grafts from your existing tissue which then grow inside the new vaginal canal for 5 days.

How to Improve Recovery

Because the body is designed to heal from trauma, the body usually responds to this procedure as it would any natural wound response. It sends messages to the immune system to close the new hole. Similar to the way the body sometimes handles a piercing, your new vagina may start to shrink, close, or scar while it’s healing. This can cause vaginal stenosis, which is the narrowing and tightening of the vagina. It’s because of the healing response, as well as the muscles trying to move back into their original positions, that vaginal dilation is necessary. If your consultation doesn’t naturally include a conversation about vaginal dilation after gender affirmation surgery, be sure to bring it up.

Regular use of vaginal dilators will keep the new vagina functioning as it should, but it will also help minimize the formation of scar tissue, make the tissue more elastic, and prevent you from losing depth and width. It’s common for MTF (male-to-female) transgender patients to start using vaginal dilators as soon as just a few days after surgery. Between dilation sessions, the new vagina relaxes and contracts, which forms wrinkles that start to heal together. This process narrows the diameter over time while the body is trying to heal, which is even more reason to diligently dilate. Your surgeon might even recommend it become a permanent part of vaginal maintenance. If you’ve already lost depth and width, getting into a dilation routine can increase the depth and width of your vagina through the use of progressively larger dilators. Purchasing a BioMoi dilator set can be a beneficial investment to continue the therapy progression.

It’s a slow process, but it’s an effective one. Everyone’s surgery and recovery experiences will be different, and it’s certainly normal to experience swelling and soreness. It’s also normal to have questions. Vaginas are complex, and your new vagina is even susceptible to urinary tract infections and yeast infections, which is why it’s important to choose an antimicrobial dilator. Follow the instructions given by your surgeon about vaginal dilation after gender affirmation surgery, and you’ll be well on your way to seeing and feeling the body that’s right for you.

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Radiotherapy & Cervical Cancer

Chemotherapy and radiation are uncomfortable, and they can cause their own side effects and come with their own risks. They also can cause permanent or semi-permanent changes to your body even after all traces of cancer disappear. For people who’ve had radiotherapy to treat cervical cancer, pelvic radiation disease (PRD) is a possible side-effect (PRD is also referred to commonly as “late effects” or “long-term side effects”). Its symptoms can range from mild to severe. Because of how many symptoms there are, and how many women do not report their discomfort, it is difficult to estimate how many women are affected by PSD after cervical cancer treatment. There have, however, been small surveys collected, and one found that 46% of women surveyed said they suffered from bowel or bladder changes that affected their quality of life, 56% noticed changes in their sex life, and about 40% suffered from pain. For those women who have reported their vaginal pain, many specialists recommend using a vaginal dilator for pelvic radiation recovery.

Radiotherapy utilizes high amounts of energy to destroy cancer cells, and the rays themselves can be administered externally or internally, or both. It’s common for the therapy to damage healthy cells close to the cancer site, which the body then tries to repair (as is the normal immune response). Most discomfort caused by this initial reaction is transient. Researchers think the long-term effects of PRD on the vagina (and often bladder and bowel as well) are also caused by the body’s own healing response that continues after radiotherapy ends. This perpetual inflammation can damage the blood vessels’ ability to carry adequate blood to surrounding organs. These organs then become thick and scarred, hindering their ability to function properly. Ovaries are often affected by such fibrosis, for example, which means noticeable hormone changes in pre-menopausal women. Lower estrogen levels mean the vagina can become dry and become a source of pain during sex. The PSD can cause scarring in the vagina itself, often causing shortening and tightening of vaginal muscles. Radiation can also make the sensitive vaginal tissue thin and easily damaged—not exactly a recipe for fun in the bedroom.

Enjoy Sex Again

Many women tell themselves that they’re happy to give up sexual pleasure if it means they can be cancer-free. Chronic pelvic pain seems like an acceptable trade-off. That being said, there is nothing wrong with you for wanting to enjoy sex again. It’s not a selfish desire. And that’s where vaginal dilators come in. Dilators are the approximate size and shape of tampons and can be used at many stages of healing to help elongate and widen the vagina. Regularly using a BioMoi vaginal dilator for pelvic radiation recovery can even help prevent scar tissue from forming. It can increase blood flow and help heal the top of the vagina also. If more time has already passed, and your vagina has already narrowed, dilation can open the vagina and break down some of that scar tissue. Not only that, but if you’ve lived with the pain for a while, your brain has likely learned to associate penetration with pain, which can cause involuntary muscle tightening at the mere thought of vaginal touch. Regular dilation therapy by a trained physical therapist can not only help the physical symptoms but also deprogram that fear response.

Preventatively, the dilator can be used starting about two weeks after radiation therapy has ended. But you should always consult with your physician first. Like any physical therapy, slow and steady wins the race. And trust us, the patience is worth it. Daily use is often recommended for the first two months after radiation. Slowly, you’ll be able to increase in size, which is not only good news for your sex life, but also for your next pelvic exam and all-around daily comfort. Vaginal dilators don’t need to be used in a clinical setting, but getting help from a professional is always a great place to start. As always, if you have any questions or are worried about the level of pain you’re experiencing, contact your doctor immediately.

Being free from cancer is worth celebrating. That kind of gratitude does not necessarily need to come with a life of pain and discomfort, however. A solution as simple as routinely using a vaginal dilator for pelvic radiation recovery might be exactly what you need to experience that quality of life you remember before cancer.

The post Benefits of Vaginal Dilators after Pelvic Radiation first appeared on BioMoi.