The vagina is one of the best-known and, at the same time, most complex organs in the female body1. That’s because, although most people know what it is and its main functions, questions about problems that can arise, such as vaginal laxity, come up all the time. But is this really a bad thing for the body? Is it just an aesthetic issue, or are there other drawbacks? What causes vaginal laxity? How can it be treated? We’ll discuss these and other questions about the topic in today’s text.

What is Vaginal Laxity?

Vaginal laxity is a phenomenon that occurs due to the relaxation of the vaginal muscles. The reason for such relaxation may be a normal childbirth or, more commonly, advanced age in a woman. This type of problem happens quite frequently in middle-aged women, especially after menopause. In general, this does not cause significant harm and is considered very normal for all women. Nevertheless, vaginal laxity can bother many women, both for aesthetic reasons and for how it makes them feel about themselves. For this reason, many seek treatments and ways to solve this issue. But to understand how to treat vaginal laxity, it’s first necessary to understand its causes.

Causes of Vaginal Laxity

As we mentioned before, the main cause of vaginal laxity2 is advanced age, meaning it eventually happens to every woman. Of course, lifestyle habits such as the amount of pelvic exercises a woman has practiced over the years influence and can even extend the elasticity of the vagina, but the tendency is that, even so, laxity will eventually appear at some point, though perhaps more mildly. The drop in estrogen3 that occurs during menopause, combined with factors like physical inactivity or smoking, directly influences vaginal laxity. As a result, this can happen much earlier in women with less healthy lifestyles than in those who take better care of their health. We also can’t forget to mention that a woman can have vaginal laxity after a normal childbirth, and this is also very common, regardless of age. In this case, there is no hormonal drop or loss of resistance due to age, and the vagina tends to recover naturally over time, although some women might still seek help, especially those who have had births in a short interval.

Signs of Vaginal Laxity

Vaginal laxity is accompanied by some very clear and easily identifiable signs. We’ll talk about each one so you understand them better. They are:

  • Vaginal Dryness;
  • Vaginal Flatulence;
  • Urinary Incontinence;
  • Lack of Libido

Vaginal Dryness

This is one of the main and clearest signs of vaginal laxity. It especially affects a woman’s sex life, as dryness can cause pain and even bleeding.

Vaginal Flatulence

Another sign of vaginal laxity is flatulence, which is normal in any situation but much more frequent in a lax vagina. What happens is that, during sexual intercourse, for example, the man’s penis ends up pushing more air into the vagina, which needs to escape somehow and ends up making this annoying noise for many people. So, excessive flatulence is a sign of a lax vagina.

Lack of Libido

The main issue here is that, as the woman’s vagina shows various differences from what she is used to, this can make her feel uncomfortable to the point of preferring not to be as sexually active. Besides this psychological aspect, the difficulties that come with lack of lubrication also make it harder for a woman to reach orgasm.

Urinary Incontinence

One problem that is not related to sexual intercourse is urinary incontinence. It happens due to the weakening of the vaginal muscles, which make it hard for a woman to hold her urine, making this one of the most bothersome symptoms of vaginal laxity.

Does Vaginal Laxity Affect Sex Life?

In general, we can say yes. In addition to issues with the vaginal muscles themselves and dryness, which make it harder for women to enjoy sexual relations, there’s also the psychological component. A woman who doesn’t feel good about her own body can’t have a healthy sex life, and this may interfere with various other areas of life. This is one of the main consequences of vaginal laxity and why many end up seeking out the various existing treatments.

Treatments for Vaginal Laxity

Fortunately, there are treatments that can alleviate the effects of vaginal laxity and help women deal with its main symptoms. These treatments are:

  • Exercises;
  • Laser Treatment;
  • Vaginal Fillers;
  • Physical Therapy

We will talk a little more about each of these and how they work so you can understand the differences and which is indicated for each case.

Exercises

Called Kegel exercises, vaginal muscle contraction exercises, when done regularly, can help greatly not only to improve vaginal laxity, but also prevent the woman’s bladder from “descending,” which also helps with urinary incontinence. This type of exercise should not be done when a woman has a urinary infection or during menstruation, as this can cause or worsen infections.

Laser Treatment

Laser treatments are relatively modern and are among the fastest options for recovery. This procedure basically stimulates collagen production, which helps maintain firmness in the vagina, preventing various problems that vaginal laxity can cause.

Vaginal Fillers

Vaginal filling is a slightly more invasive technique, often using the woman’s own fat to fill slack areas of the vagina. About two weeks of recovery are necessary for the woman to feel her vagina firmer.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is a somewhat longer process that requires multiple sessions but is just as effective when it comes to restoring vaginal muscle tone and firmness. Kegel exercises may be part of the physical therapist’s approach, along with other techniques and tools to stimulate and recover the strength of the vaginal muscles. Vaginal laxity is a common problem that should never be a source of shame or taboo for any woman. In fact, when situations like this are treated naturally, they are easier to resolve, as the psychological factors involved are much better understood. A woman’s intimate and sexual life is important at all stages of her life, and if something is hindering her in this area, it needs to be treated seriously, and above all, seen as a serious issue rather than just an aesthetic matter or whim. Living happily is fundamental, and various factors contribute to this, such as a healthy sex life, feeling good about your own body, and being in full health. Always remember this and put yourself first when it comes to your health, both physical and mental. See also: Vaginal Hydration in Menopause Photo: Max Pixel