Game World!: can apple cider vinegar tighten your virginia?

Does Apple Cider Vinegar Tighten Things ‘Down There’?

You know when there’s a certain thing happening to women, but no one feels comfortable talking about it? Well, loose vaginas is one of them. Many women are concerned about having a loose vagina after giving birth naturally. In fact, a lot of women are concerned about vaginal birth to avoid a similar situation.

Many women claim that their vaginas became tighter after recovering from a natural birth, however, others claim that natural birth makes their vaginas very loose, especially those who have gone through vaginal labor repeatedly.

If you’re among the latter group, here are some things you can do to tighten up a loose vagina after birth:

kegel Exercises

Ways to Tighten a Loose Vagina After Birth

Via Parenthood Times – Ways to Tighten a Loose Vagina After Birth

Everybody talks about Kegels, and nobody knows if it actually works. Well, experts say that it does when it’s done regularly. Kegels are exercises for the pelvic floor muscles. In simple words, you controllably contract and release the muscle. According to Healthline, to be able to see good results in a few weeks, you need to practice three sets of Kegels five to ten times a day.

Workouts like squats, bridge, and leg raises

Ways to Tighten a Loose Vagina After Birth

Via PopSugar – Loose Vagina After Giving Birth

Some workouts are known to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and hence, tighten up the vagina. Note that deep squats aren’t the answer to a tighter vagina, but narrow-legged and shallow squats are better for strengthening the pelvic floor.

Yoga

Some yoga poses target the pelvic floor, including happy baby pose, warrior II pose, locust pose, tree pose, chair pose, triangle pose, bridge pose, garland pose, and cat-cow pose. The video is an example of a yoga sequence for the pelvic floor. You can find many videos on YouTube by very famous yoga teachers that target the pelvic area.

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Vaginoplasty

Ways to Tighten a Loose Vagina After Birth

Photo credit: Manhattan Center for Vaginal Surgery

Vaginoplasty is a type of vaginal plastic surgery, which women carry out to tighten up their loose vaginas due to repeated childbirth or aging.

After seeing your body change during pregnancy, it’s totally normal to also ponder the state of your vagina after birth. Are things going to be OK down there? Will it be forever changed? How does one's vagina fare after a C-section vs. a vaginal delivery? And why isn't there a pamphlet or something for all this?

For the sake of this article, we'll be talking about some of the common changes that can happen to your vagina after pregnancy and vaginal delivery. (Of course, this is by no means an exhaustive list, and some people with C-section deliveries will experience some of these effects, too.)

Now, it's true that pushing a tiny human out of a much tinier hole has an impact. But for most people, it may not be as bad or permanent as you’ve heard. While childbirth is no picnic for your nether regions, your vagina can handle it. “The vagina is very resilient,” Sherry Ross, M.D., an ob/gyn and women’s health expert and author of She-ology: The Definitive Guide to Women's Intimate Health. Period., tells SELF. Still, it can take anywhere from 12 weeks to a year for your vagina to go back to its pre-birth state, and some things may never be 100 percent the same again, Jessica Shepherd, M.D., a minimally-invasive gynecologist at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, tells SELF.

So what, exactly, can you expect? If you give birth vaginally, here are some changes you might experience in your vagina after birth.

1. Your vagina may be drier for a while.

When you’re pregnant, elevated levels of certain hormones, including estrogen, are coursing through your body. Then, after you give birth, your estrogen drops, which can lead to dryness.

Estrogen helps to keep your vaginal tissue moist with a clear lubricating fluid, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Without enough estrogen, not only will you not have the same level of moisture, your vaginal tissue can shrink and become thinner. All of this can make it much drier than normal in your vagina after birth, Dr. Shepherd says.

If you’re not breastfeeding, your vaginal moisture may go back to normal within a few weeks. But breastfeeding can keep those estrogen levels low, which can make you dry the whole time you’re nursing, Dr. Ross says. Once you stop nursing, your vagina should go back to its normal and hydrated state pretty quickly.

In the meantime, using lube can help relieve discomfort during sex, but—let's be clear—it's not just during sex that vaginal dryness can feel incredibly uncomfortable. If you’re dealing with intense, painful postpartum vaginal dryness, ask your doctor about vaginal lubricants or moisturizers made specifically to address this issue. Depending on your situation, they may have OTC recommendations. They may also prescribe estrogen (it comes in various forms, including some you put directly into the vagina) to help increase your vaginal moisture, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

2. Your vagina (and possibly perineum) will be sore as hell.

Your perineum is the area between your vagina and anus. Though it’s not specifically a part of your vagina, it can also tear during a vaginal delivery. ”If you can imagine a cantaloupe coming out of your vagina, it’s no wonder that the perineum is affected during childbirth,” Dr. Ross says. With that said, perineal tearing isn’t a guarantee.

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Between 53 and 79 percent of vaginal deliveries will cause some kind of tearing, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, but there are actually four degrees of lacerations, with each building on the ones before it.

First-degree tears only involve the skin around the vaginal opening or the perineal skin, according to the Mayo Clinic, and they may or may not need stitches. These typically heal within four weeks, Dr. Shepherd says.

Second-degree tears involve damage to the perineal muscles, which help support the uterus, bladder, and rectum, and usually require stitches, Mayo Clinic. Dr. Shepherd notes that these also tend to heal within four weeks.

Third-degree tears are lacerations of the perineal muscles and the muscle around the anus. Unlike the less serious tears, these may require surgical repair in an operating room, not the delivery room. These can take up to 12 weeks to heal, Dr. Shepherd says.

Fourth-degree tears, which affect the perineal muscles, muscles around the anus, and the tissue lining the rectum, are the most serious. Like third-degree tears, these usually need to be fixed in an operating room, but they can take even longer than 12 weeks to heal, Dr. Shepherd says.

According to a July 2016 ACOG practice bulletin, it’s hard to pin down the true incidence rates of different kinds of tearing, but third- and fourth-degree varieties may only make up around 11 percent of all labor-related lacerations.

No matter the degree, if you tear during your delivery or your doctor cuts the area in what’s known as an episiotomy (this used to be more common but is now most typically done when an infant is large or gets stuck on the way out), you’ll feel pretty damn sore down there while it heals. To soothe the pain, you can try things like applying ice packs to the area, taking sitz baths, or putting cooled witch hazel pads between a pad and your body, according to the Mayo Clinic. (You should wrap an ice pack in something like a napkin beforehand, though, so it's not too cold for you.) You can also use a squeeze bottle to douse the area in warm water while peeing, or look into numbing sprays with lidocaine that you can apply until you’ve healed, Dr. Shepherd says. A squeeze bottle can also become a great makeshift bidet while you have stitches in so you don't rip them with toilet paper.

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Then there's the poop factor. Heeding nature's call after childbirth can be painful to the point where you might be terrified to poop, the Mayo Clinic explains. Try to make it easier on yourself by keeping your poop soft and going regularly rather than letting yourself become constipated or dealing with really hard poop, both of which can make you even more uncomfortable. Strategies include eating enough fiber and using stool softeners under the guidance of your doctor, the Mayo Clinic says. Here are some more tips for making pooping as easy and painless as possible.

3. Your discharge gets so heavy you basically need to wear a diaper.

Welcome to the wild world of lochia. This is the residual blood, mucus, and tissue that comes from the vagina when you're postpartum, Alyssa Dweck, M.D., a gynecologist in Westchester, New York, assistant clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and coauthor of The Complete A to Z For Your V, tells SELF.

You can experience lochia for four to six weeks after childbirth, and it can change color over time, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It typically goes from an intense red color to a kind of pink or brown hue before eventually becoming yellowish. Once you see how much of it comes out of you, you'll totally understand why postpartum underwear and pads basically combine to form a diaper. While passing a few blood clots no bigger than a plum can be normal, if you see any larger than that, you should get in touch with your doctor.

One other thing: “While you’re still passing lochia ... you may notice a bit of an odor,” Dr. Dweck says. The Cleveland Clinic describes the smell as "a stale, musty odor like menstrual discharge." All of this is perfectly natural, Dr. Dweck says.

4. You could have some scar tissue in your vagina.

If you had a tear or episiotomy after a vaginal delivery, you’re probably going to have some scar tissue in your vagina and on your perineum afterwards. So, yeah, that's a big thing to keep in mind when it comes to anything going in or around your vagina after birth. “The extent of the damage in this area will determine how much you feel scarring in this area [during] sex,” Dr. Ross says.

The scar tissue usually heals over time, making sex more comfortable as you go (just be sure to use plenty of lube and go slowly in the meantime). But if you find that it’s not getting better with time, talk to your doctor. Some women need surgery to remove the scar tissue and address the pain, Dr. Shepherd says.

5. Your period may get heavier—or lighter.

It may take some time for your period to come back after childbirth. (Having lochia after childbirth isn't the same thing as having an actual period.) Being pregnant throws your hormones out of whack, and your body has to reset after a baby has vacated the premises. This is especially true if you're breastfeeding, which causes low levels of estrogen that can hamper menstruation. (But don’t believe that breastfeeding will be good birth control—you definitely still need to use protection if you don’t want to get pregnant while breastfeeding.)

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When you do start getting your period again, it may be lighter or heavier than before. If your estrogen is generally lower than it was before you got pregnant, your uterine lining can be thinner, Dr. Shepherd says, giving you a lighter period. If your estrogen is a little higher, your lining may build up more thickly, creating a heavier-than-before period.

6. Your vagina after pregnancy may be a bit wider (or it may not be).

While your vagina and vaginal opening typically shrink back down after stretching during a vaginal birth, having a big baby, a baby with a big head, or several vaginal deliveries could make it less likely to go back 100 percent, Dr. Ross says. The result: Your vagina might be slightly wider than it was in the past. This is by no means something that will definitely happen, but some people do report feeling this way after childbirth. Even if it does happen to you, you may not pick up on it much, or you might. Sometimes, a tampon is actually the giveaway.

“Some women notice tampons may not stay inside the vagina like they used to before having babies,” Dr. Ross says. “A slender or regular tampon may be out of the question to use comfortably and may fall out more easily.” It’s not that you put in a tampon and it shoots out of your vagina—instead, it may slowly slide out a bit while it used to just stay put. Like the other changes on this list, this can be a normal part of how your vagina changes after childbirth (although, again, it doesn't happen to everyone).

You may perceive weaker vaginal muscles post-childbirth as having a looser vagina, in which case Kegel exercises may help strengthen your vaginal muscles a bit. Here’s how to do them, according to the Mayo Clinic:

Find your pelvic floor muscles: These muscles are the ones you employ when you stop urination midstream.

Work them regularly: To do Kegels, simply squeeze the muscles and hold for five seconds, and then release for five seconds. Squeeze, hold, release, repeat. Work up your way up to contracting the muscles for 10 seconds at a time and relaxing for 10 seconds. Aim for at least three sets of 10 repetitions a day.

Isolate the muscles: Be sure to focus on tightening your pelvic floor muscles only—don’t flex the muscles in your abs, thighs, or butt. And remember to breathe!

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If you commit to doing regular Kegels and are still feeling like your vaginal muscles are too weak, talk to your doctor about pelvic floor physical therapy. A physical therapist dedicated to strengthening muscles in your pelvis may be able to help.

7. You may pee yourself while doing basic things, like laughing, coughing, jumping, or even just walking downhill.

Childbirth can damage your pelvic floor, which is made up of muscles and other tissues that help keep organs like your uterus, bladder, and bowel in the correct positions so they function properly, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Childbirth can also affect the muscles and nerves that control your bladder and urethra (the tube through which pee leaves your body). All of this can lead to pee leaking out of your body at inopportune times, like while walking, jumping, and laughing.

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“The good news is [this urinary incontinence] will improve over time, but it is definitely a symptom that is not talked about enough,” Dr. Ross says. This issue’s quite common; 25 to 45 percent of women have some sort of urinary incontinence, whether it’s caused by childbirth or not, according to the NIDDK. What’s more, women are twice as likely as men to have this health condition, and the discrepancy is due in part to pregnancy and childbirth.

Kegel exercises may help reinforce your pelvic floor and combat urinary incontinence, Dr. Ross says. But if you’re not experiencing much improvement or this issue is affecting your life, definitely talk to your doctor to figure out your options, which can range from learning behavioral modification techniques to pelvic floor physical therapy and more.

8. Your orgasms may also change, depending on how your pelvic floor has changed.

“During orgasm, the muscles of the vagina and uterus produce powerful, rhythmic contractions. These contractions are a source of pleasure...as they release muscle tension built up during the [excitement and plateau phases],” Dr. Shepherd says. If your pelvic floor has weakened due to childbirth, those contractions may no longer be as strong, so you might find your orgasms don’t feel as forceful as they used to. But all hope isn’t lost! Here, again, Kegels may help you strengthen your pelvic floor and, over time, regain some of that intensity.

As with incontinence issues and vaginal weakness, if you don't feel like doing Kegels on your own is helping much, talk to your doctor about if pelvic floor physical therapy could be a good fit for you.

9. Your vulva might be a different color.

“We often see pigment changes on the vulva—not necessarily inside the vagina—specifically on the labia and on the perineum (the area between the vaginal opening and anus),” says Dr. Dweck. How much your coloring changes depends on your delivery and resulting scar tissue: “If you had a big tear, things won’t look exactly like they did before,” says Dr. Dweck, who notes that women with lighter skin tones tend to notice pigment changes the most. “They might see blotches of darker pigmentation,” she explains.

While some of these changes can be frustrating to experience, try to remember that they absolutely don’t mean anything’s wrong with you, just that your vagina went through a completely natural change after doing something pretty incredible. And no matter what, know that you shouldn’t be embarrassed to bring any of this up with your doctor—if anyone can help you figure out a fix for something that’s bothering you, they can.

Women tend to assume that after their bodies have bounced back from childbirth, their sex lives should do the same.

But Pamela Levin, MD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Penn Medicine, knows this is not the case for many women.

A lot of women soon come to realize that sex after birth simply doesn’t feel the same. You may not have the desire, you have trouble getting or you even feel pain during sex.

“If you’re still having persistent discomfort, maybe your body just needs more time,” Dr. Levin says. “But I think once you get past six to eight weeks, we would expect you to start getting back to your usual sexual activity.”

Knowing what causes issues with sex after birth is a good first step in coming up with solutions.

Common Causes of Issues with Sex After Childbirth

The birth itself

After birth, “your vagina is different. You had a baby. You may have had a repair. You may have a scar there,” Dr. Levin explains.

Women who had an episiotomy—a cut below their vagina to enlarge the opening for delivery—or who experienced a tear during delivery may find sex painful for the first few months after childbirth, says the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AGOG).

“Depending upon the type of delivery and repair, the sensation may be different,” Dr. Levin says.

Stress about sex after childbirth

For many women, stress and anxiety can make sexual challenges worse.

If you get anxious about sex, the anxiety heightens your awareness of every twinge of discomfort. And like a destructive cycle, worrying brings about the very issue you’re concerned about.

Changes in hormones

After giving birth, your body’s hormone levels need to readjust to their pre-pregnancy state. This readjustment can reduce your sex drive and sexual response.

For instance, women who breastfeed have lower estrogen levels, which can lead to vaginal dryness.

New relationship dynamics

Your relationship with your partner might change after childbirth, too. It will take time for a new sense of balance to emerge in your family. After all, you’ve added a whole new person—and a pretty demanding one, at that.

During this transition period, your interest in sex may not match up with your partner’s. And that’s fine. Talk openly about expectations and what you’re experiencing to make things less confusing.

Pelvic organ prolapse

Vaginal childbirth can injure your pelvic floor muscles, potentially leading to a condition called pelvic organ prolapse.

Symptoms range from a sense of dropping or gaping of the vagina to the appearance of a bothersome bulge near the vaginal opening.

Many women simply don’t find sex enjoyable when they’re dealing with pelvic organ prolapse.

When should you see a doctor for issues with sex after childbirth?

Sometimes, all you need to get your sex life back on track is time, but most women don’t know they can talk to their doctor about challenges with their sex lives.

Dr. Levin says that because sex may feel different, “getting used to that idea and easing back into intercourse are also factors that come into play."

There’s no standard timeline for when things should start getting back to normal; however, Dr. Levin says that “Anything that extends beyond that standard six to eight weeks of healing should prompt you to talk to your doctor.”

The good news: Sexual issues after childbirth are usually not long-term. Whether you’ve had one child or several, or delivered via c-section or vaginally, none of this should have a long-term impact on your sexual desire, activity or satisfaction in later life.

That means there’s hope. Talk to your doctor if your sex life hasn’t returned to normal after six to eight weeks.

Sex in my marriage seems like a battlefield. My husband is 24, and I am 22 and a mother of two. Things down there just aren't the same anymore and he always tells me I'm "loose" and gets no pleasure and only does it to make me happy. I've tried kegels, creams, exercises. It's hurtful that my husband is not partial to having sex with me. He says he is with me for love. But when you love someone, aren't you supposed to enjoy sex with your partner? I'm very confused and upset. Please help me.

Sex, for any young parent with two kids, isn't going to be easy or simple. It seems almost cruel that right when we're most overworked, exhausted, and stretched thin — that's when the pleasure and relief and comfort of sex can be hardest to find.

You have good reason to be confused and upset, but I worry that you're blaming yourself too much. Your body has just done a miraculous thing — twice. The changes to your body pale by comparison. So I hope your husband's negative comments don't warp your self-image to such a degree that you lose perspective. You're fine. You're also going through some of the toughest moments of your life and you deserve support.

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The untruths can take away from that postpartum bliss you can be feeling as you bond with your new baby and your partner. You have to remember that you possess a superpower to create life inside your womb. That superpower extends to your very resilient vagina.

"Your body is made for pregnancy, but it's also made to recover after it," OB-GYN Dr. Idries Abdur-Rahman said in an interview with Self magazine. Your vagina may feel different in the early days postpartum as you heal, but it won't hinder your ability to enjoy sex. There may be some muscle fatigue and hormonal fluctuations that could temporarily change how you feel down there. Those are not long-term issues. In fact, it's in the postpartum period that can lead to a deeper intimacy with your partner, allowing you to have more enjoyable sex.

To be more confident in your body, you must feel empowered and one way to start is by debunking the following myths.

Myth 1: Birth Ruins Your Vagina's Elasticity

Giphy

Anything that gets stretched over time, can experience some muscle fatigue. But according to Psychology Today, when the vagina stretches during childbirth, it often re-tightens fully within six months. If a woman has multiple births and as she ages, her vagina may not completely return to its original state. The looseness isn't major, and can often be amended by doing Kegel exercises.

Myth 2: Women Who Never Had Kids Are Tighter

Giphy

Despite what you may have heard, the size of women's vaginas are generally all the same no matter what. "There aren't significant differences in vaginal size," sex researcher Debby Herbenick said in an interview with Men's Health. "So if birthing a baby isn't going to permanently change the shape of a woman's vagina, neither is your penis or how often you have sex."

Myth 3: Vaginas Get Too Tight Postpartum

Giphy

Vaginas do not become too tight postpartum, but they can become too dry, making it seem tighter. Dryness is a result of estrogen levels lowering after having a baby, according to National Health Service. Lower estrogen can lead to lack of desire, causing your vagina to feel less lubricated. That tighter feeling that comes from dryness isn't a good thing. Lube can help, as well as lots of foreplay.

Myth 4: Your Partner Will Think You're Too Loose

Giphy

According to What To Expect When You're Expecting, there won't be much of a difference in your vagina unless you've experienced a tear or trauma during birth. Those issues can be resolved over time. Many couples may still feel different about sex in a good way. Having a baby can make you and your partner feel even more bonded, allowing you to have more intimate sex.

It's normal to be concerned about how your vagina will fare during labor and delivery, and what it will look and feel like after giving birth. And while your vagina will stretch and be larger than it previously was after a vaginal birth, in most cases, it will eventually return to near its pre-birth size.

Powered by estrogen and relaxin, the connective tissue in your vagina stretches, and the ligaments and joints in your pelvic floor loosen during childbirth, creating room for your baby to make their debut. How much your vagina stretches during birth and how it retracts after depends on many factors, including genetics, your baby's size, the number of children you've had prior, and whether you had any perineal tearing during delivery.

These factors can contribute to a stretched vagina after birth:

The size of your baby: Pushing out a baby with a larger size will undoubtedly stretch the soft tissues inside your vagina more than a small baby will. However, your body has been preparing for this moment, and in most cases, is built to accommodate the size of your baby. Having a large baby doesn't mean your vagina will be looser or stretched out forever.

A forceps or vacuum extraction: Forceps or vacuum deliveries, which involve inserting additional tools into the vagina to aid with birth, are rare. But when they do happen, they can increase the odds of perineal damage, which can contribute to the feeling of a loose or stretched vagina after birth.

Increased relaxin hormones: Some moms' bodies simply produce more relaxin than others, allowing the joints, ligaments, and tissues in the pelvis and vagina to loosen and stretch during childbirth more than others. This doesn't mean your vagina will permanently be loose, as the relaxin production decreases in the postpartum months.

The amount of pushing and type of birth: If you had a c-section, you may still have vaginal stretching, especially if you pushed at all or your baby descended in the birth canal. Additionally, your growing uterus has put pressure on your pelvic floor over the past several months, which could potentially cause damage.

Your age and number of previous births: The more mothers go through, the more their vaginas may be impacted, whether it's from birthing multiple children (at once or over the years) or simply by getting older and having muscles loosen as part of the aging process. You can expect to have increased laxity – and a potentially longer recovery time – with each child.

How can I help tighten my vagina after birth?

It may be a good idea to do Kegels, simple exercises that strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. To do Kegels, imagine you're sitting on a marble and are trying to pull it up into your vagina.

Since Kegels also tone the muscle you use to stop and start the flow of urine, you can check if you've identified the right muscle by testing your technique while urinating: If you can stop the flow of urine when tightening, you're contracting the correct muscle. (That said, don't do Kegels regularly while urinating – it can cause muscle dysfunction and lead to urinary problems.)

As with any exercise, start slowly, and as your muscles get stronger, you can gradually increase both the number of Kegels you do and the length of time you hold each contraction. Do the Kegels in sets of ten and try to work up to three or four sets about three times a day.

Some women find that associating the exercise with certain activities (for example, while stopped at a red light, talking on the phone, or nursing the baby) helps them remember to do their Kegels. Besides improving vaginal tone after childbirth, pelvic floor exercises can help prevent urinary incontinence later in life.

For some women, their pelvic floor is weak for the opposite reason, because their muscles are overactive and constantly spasming. In that case, relaxation exercises need to be started before Kegels are attempted, as Kegels will actually end up worsening the problem. Talk to your healthcare provider about a pelvic floor physical therapy referral, so a physical therapist can assess your situation and determine the best way to help you recover.

How long will it take to heal my vagina after birth?

Every vagina is different, but if you're a younger mother who's had an uncomplicated vaginal delivery, you can expect to regain full pelvic floor tightness in around six months.

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However, if you're having a baby later in life, have had multiple vaginal births, or had a birth injury during delivery, you can expect a slightly slower process. Some mothers experience chronic vaginal laxity, and vaginal looseness may take longer than a year to heal.

If you're concerned or having symptoms that are bothering you, it may be worth seeing a pelvic floor therapist. (Your OB or midwife can refer you to one.) Pelvic floor therapists will assess your vaginal concerns and give you exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor beyond Kegels. In many cases, pelvic floor therapy helps women regain vaginal control more quickly, and can help with other concerning symptoms, including sexual dysfunction and urinary incontinence.

Talk to your healthcare provider about your vagina after birth if:

You have vaginal pain during sex, after you've been cleared to have sex again

You have any incontinence, such as peeing when you sneeze or jump. (While this is common, it isn't normal, so your healthcare provider should know about it.)

You're unable to keep a tampon in your vagina after it's okay to use them again

You have vaginal pain after more than a few weeks postpartum that isn't improving

You feel vaginal or rectal pressure or pain after prolonged periods of standing or sitting upright.

There's a bulge protruding from your vagina

It's completely normal and valid to have concerns about the impact that birth had on your body and mind, and that includes concerns about your vagina after birth. It's important to remember that it can take months (and sometimes years) to fully recover from all the impacts of childbirth.

As you physically heal, talking to your healthcare provider can help ease these concerns. Vaginal looseness is one of the most common medical conditions that new moms discuss with their healthcare providers after childbirth. So, you're not alone, but you will heal.

Following childbirth new mothers can feel distressed about the changes they see in their bodies. The majority of these changes go away naturally, but some changes can persist. One commonly held belief is that childbirth permanently stretches and thereby “loosens” the vagina. Is a “loose vagina” a common consequence of childbirth, and if so, is it treatable?

With the help of our Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist Katie, in this article I hope to give you a better understanding of vaginal laxity following childbirth: its prevalence, causes, risk factors, and of course treatment options – including what you can do on your own to address vaginal laxity (click here to skip ahead).

Contents [hide]

1 Can vaginal birth really cause a “loose vagina”?

1.1 How common is this complaint in mothers?

1.2 How could vaginal birth cause vaginal “looseness”? Am I at risk?

1.3 Vaginal laxity, not prolapse

2 Pelvic floor physiotherapy for vaginal laxity

2.1 How might pelvic floor physiotherapy help increase vaginal tightness?

2.1.1 Do Kegels tighten you?

2.2 What clinical evidence is there to support pelvic floor physiotherapy for treating vaginal looseness?

3 Are there other options for treating vaginal laxity besides physiotherapy?

3.1 Surgery for vaginal tightening

3.2 Creams, pills and ointments for vaginal tightening

3.3 Radiofrequency thermal therapy for vaginal tightening

4 Is there anything I can do about vaginal laxity on my own?

4.1 How to use classic Kegel exercises to increase vaginal tightness

4.1.1 #1 Learn to find and contract the muscles

4.1.2 #2 How much and how often?

4.2 Kegel Devices for increasing vaginal tightness

5 The bottom line on vaginal laxity and childbirth

6 References

CAN VAGINAL BIRTH REALLY CAUSE A “LOOSE VAGINA”?

For some women the answer appears to be yes. Vaginal delivery can result in persistent feelings of vaginal laxity. This laxity can reduce vaginal sensation during intercourse and diminish sexual satisfaction of both partners, which can in turn lead to decreased sexual self-esteem and a drop in sexual intimacy.

HOW COMMON IS THIS COMPLAINT IN MOTHERS?

Vaginal looseness is a subjective and self-reported sexual health concern. There are no objective measures of it, and so there are few good statistics on the prevalence of vaginal laxity following vaginal childbirth.

When it is investigated, vaginal laxity is typically lumped in with other female sexual dysfunctions. One recent Australian study of FIRST-TIME mothers found that some form of female sexual dysfunction was reported in 58% of mothers ONE YEAR after childbirth (ref 1). The main complaints included insufficient lubrication, abnormal vaginal sensation, vaginal laxity, vaginal tightness, pain with intercourse and incontinence during intercourse.

An earlier (but perhaps less reliable) survey of 25 to 45-year-old women with at least one vaginal birth, reported that approximately half of women expressed concern over vaginal looseness (ref 2). It has also been reported to be the most common physical concern discussed with OBGYNs after vaginal childbirth (ref 3).

So vaginal looseness appears to be a rather common complaint, or at the very least, a meaningful concern for many women following vaginal birth.

HOW COULD VAGINAL BIRTH CAUSE VAGINAL “LOOSENESS”? AM I AT RISK?

The walls of the vagina contain an elastic muscle that is normally folded up, holding the vagina closed tightly. During sexual arousal and childbirth hormones cause the muscle to relax. The vagina is designed to be able to relax and re-tighten repeatedly, without any loss of tone or tissue elasticity. Accordingly, regular sexual activity does not loosen the vagina. But there are limits to the elasticity of this muscle and associated tissues, and a few risk factors are known to contribute to chronic feelings of vaginal looseness.

Risk factors that contribute to vaginal laxity:

Age. Vaginal laxity can occur naturally with aging in some women, the result of a gradual weakening and atrophy of the vaginal muscles and tissues over time.

Multiple vaginal births. Evidence suggests that having multiple vaginal deliveries can increase the chance of vaginal fatigue and incomplete recovery of pre-pregnancy vaginal tightness.

Trauma during vaginal childbirth or other event. This category includes damage to muscles of the pelvic floor which surround and help maintain the position and shape of the vagina. Varying degrees of musculoskeletal trauma occur commonly with vaginal delivery, and so this is likely to be a common occurrence.

So in broad terms, a young mother with an uncomplicated vaginal delivery will usually fully recover vaginal tightness within the first 6 months of having her first child. Whereas women having children later in life, having multiple vaginal births, or having more significant injury during childbirth, are at a greater risk of experiencing chronic vaginal laxity that lasts beyond the first 6-12 months.

VAGINAL LAXITY, NOT PROLAPSE

Vaginal looseness is a condition that is distinct from vaginal prolapse, but can sometimes be confused with it. With vaginal laxity the vaginal tissue becomes loose or relaxed, and this is associated with feelings of reduced tightness. In contrast, with vaginal prolapse, displacement of pelvic organs (such as the bladder, rectum, urethra or small bowel) pushes on the walls of the vagina causing it to leave its normal position. This can manifest as sensations of “falling out”, and uncomfortable or painful intercourse.

PELVIC FLOOR PHYSIOTHERAPY FOR VAGINAL LAXITY

HOW MIGHT PELVIC FLOOR PHYSIOTHERAPY HELP INCREASE VAGINAL TIGHTNESS?

Even without looking at the clinical evidence, it seems like a good bet to assume that pelvic floor physiotherapy in the form of exercise therapy could help with vaginal looseness. Pelvic floor physiotherapy is a highly recommended non-invasive treatment for a wide variety of pelvic issues including incontinence, pelvic prolapse and pelvic pain. There is also a large body of literature supporting the effectiveness of physiotherapy treatments for a wide range of other musculoskeletal injuries, atrophies and deficiencies. So we might expect it to help with vaginal laxity as well.

Indeed, it is common practice in the medical community to use targeted pelvic physiotherapy interventions, specifically pelvic exercise therapy like Kegel exercises, to help reduce feelings of vaginal laxity.

Do Kegels tighten you?

Kegels and other exercises are often recommended to patients suffering from a variety of pelvic health concerns (although sometimes inappropriately) including women with complaints of having a “loose vagina”. These exercises are not intended to tighten the muscles of the vagina directly, instead, they may be used to help strengthen and tighten the pelvic floor muscles that surround the vagina. This in turn may increase feelings of vaginal tightness both at rest and when the woman voluntarily contracts her pelvic floor muscles. Below I’ll show you how you can get started on your own using Kegels to help decrease your feelings of vaginal laxity. Click here to skip ahead.

It has also been suggested by clinical researchers that good pelvic floor muscle tone, strength and the ability to effectively contract these muscles, can improve vaginal sensations during intercourse including feelings of tightness, orgasmic response and the pleasure of both partners (refs 4,5,6). However, it’s still a pretty small field of research with small study sizes and simple study designs, and so it’s not surprising that there are also a few studies that offer contradictory results as well (refs 7,8). More research is needed.

So, although pelvic floor muscle strengthening exercises to treat vaginal looseness makes good sense physiologically, is often recommended, and is supported by anecdotal evidence, clinical research evidence has been slow to accumulate.

WHAT CLINICAL EVIDENCE IS THERE TO SUPPORT PELVIC FLOOR PHYSIOTHERAPY FOR TREATING VAGINAL LOOSENESS?

As mentioned, there is not a large body of research in this field yet, however, the clinical studies that have been done are beginning to show promising results that pelvic floor physiotherapy can indeed help vaginal looseness.

One such study published this year directly asked this question in first-time mothers – would pelvic floor physiotherapy help with symptoms of sexual dysfunction following childbirth (ref 9). In this study the researchers evaluated 175 first time mothers and gave them either pelvic floor physiotherapy or no treatment, between 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum, and then examined the differences in sexual function between the two groups.

Overall, women in the physiotherapy group had the same outcomes as the non-physiotherapy group – there was no difference in vaginal symptoms or sexual dysfunction at 6 months postpartum between the groups as a whole. This is not surprising nor discouraging for the potential benefit of pelvic floor physiotherapy, as negative results are common in clinical trials of physiotherapy treatments. Sample sizes are often too small to show statistical differences when only a small percentage of study participants should be expected to have a condition that might benefit from physiotherapy. In other words, any positive effects experienced by the small sub group of patients that might benefit from the therapy is lost in the crowd. Pelvic floor physiotherapy is also not intended as a cure-all for all forms of sexual dysfunction, and sexual dysfunction is a hard subject to study.

Despite the challenges of this particular study, and the fact that it only evaluated first-time mothers, a subgroup of these study participants that had experienced trauma during childbirth to the levator ani muscle (a muscle of the pelvic floor that runs adjacent to the vagina) showed a 45% decreased risk of having feelings of vaginal looseness when they received pelvic floor physiotherapy, compared to the control group. Therefore, in new mothers with a risk factor for vaginal looseness (see risk factor #3 above), pelvic floor physiotherapy appears to help.

So alongside the anecdotal and theoretical support for pelvic floor physiotherapy, there is now some direct clinical data suggesting that pelvic floor physiotherapy could act to prevent symptoms of vaginal laxity, at least in one group of high-risk mothers who endured muscular trauma/damage during childbirth.

Overall, the best evidence suggests that pelvic floor physiotherapy helps encourage healthy pelvic floor muscle function and can thereby decrease feelings of vaginal looseness resulting from childbirth.

ARE THERE OTHER OPTIONS FOR TREATING VAGINAL LAXITY BESIDES PHYSIOTHERAPY?

SURGERY FOR VAGINAL TIGHTENING

Reconstructive surgery can be used to shorten and/or change the shape of the muscles and tissues around the vagina, and fat transplantation can be used to increase the fullness of the tissue. These and other surgical approaches can be very effective at increasing vaginal tightness in patients. However, surgery is invasive, and has associated risks including the potential for nerve damage and loss of vaginal sensitivity.

Surgical approaches are typically only recommended for patients with vaginal laxity that appears unresponsive to pelvic physiotherapy. If you are considering surgery, please discuss your candidacy and your options with your family doctor.

CREAMS, PILLS AND OINTMENTS FOR VAGINAL TIGHTENING

There does not appear to be any creams, pills or ointments with actual clinical data to back up their claims of improving vaginal tightness.

Non-prescription creams and pills are not medical products, and are not held to the same regulatory or efficacy standards as actual medical treatments. The claims made on such bottles often have no clinical data to support them. Nor are there any compelling reasons to believe that these products would work, especially as a long term solution for vaginal laxity.

Some of these products may also pose a safety concern, causing vaginal irritation, infection, and allergic reaction. In general, I would say that these products should be avoided. If you feel compelled by the claims made by the manufacturers of these products, please discuss them with your family doctor before trying them out.

RADIOFREQUENCY THERMAL THERAPY FOR VAGINAL TIGHTENING

Another product on the market directed towards vaginal tightening is radiofreqency thermal therapy. This is basically a device that can warm the vaginal tissue without burning the surface of the skin. The idea behind this product is that local heating of the tissue will stimulate collagen formation in the vaginal tissue and thereby re-tighten the tissue at the opening of the vagina. The commercial leader in this space appears to be the Geneveve product by Viveve.

Although marketing materials for these products claim that they are “clinically proven”, they are not. There have been a very small handful of studies published on this type of therapy, and nothing before 2010. All of these studies were designed without a proper control group, and used subjective (patient reported) measures for vaginal tightening and sexual satisfaction as the exclusive outcome measure. This means that the studies didn’t include a group of women who received no treatment that they could compare their test subjects to. Even better would have been a group of patients who believed they were receiving the treatment but were in fact receiving no therapy at all (a “blinded control”) – which presumably could easily have been achieved by disabling the machine so that the patient doesn’t know that it’s not working (as is commonly done in well-designed clinical trials of this sort).

So the studies published to date are basically only usable to show the safety of radiofrequency thermal therapy rather than the efficacy of it. Uncontrolled studies with subjective outcome measures such as these can suffer enormously from the placebo effect, and in most instances are entirely unreliable when it comes to determining how well a therapy actually works. In other words, there is currently NO clinical data supporting the proposed benefits of radiofrequency thermal therapy for vaginal laxity whatsoever.

IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO ABOUT VAGINAL LAXITY ON MY OWN?

Forget about creams and pills! The only clinically validated non-invasive treatment for vaginal laxity is pelvic floor strengthening. Pelvic floor strengthening is not intended to tighten the muscles of the vagina directly, but instead to strengthen and tighten the pelvic floor muscles that surround the vagina, which should increase feelings of vaginal tightness both at rest and when you voluntarily contract your pelvic floor muscles. Pelvic floor strengthening can be accomplished on your own with a little effort and practice. Kegel exercises are a well-known example of a pelvic floor exercise, and one that is well suited to this task.

Below I’ll explain two approaches to performing Kegels: the classic exercise, and using an intravaginal Kegel device (skip ahead).

HOW TO USE CLASSIC KEGEL EXERCISES TO INCREASE VAGINAL TIGHTNESS

#1 Learn to find and contract the muscles

The first and possibly most difficult step is to identify the correct muscles in your pelvis to strengthen. The best description I have heard for finding these muscles is to try to stop urinating mid-stream. Other common cues include trying to “stop gas” or “hold in a tampon”. The muscles that help you do this are the muscles that you need to contract to do a “Kegel”. You should actually try this, don’t just imagine trying it and assume you’ve found the muscles. You may be very good at finding these muscles, or you may be surprised that you can’t. A word of caution though: don’t regularly perform Kegels while urinating. It’s more just a way to try to “find” them so that you know which muscles to target.

When you perform a Kegel correctly it should feel like the area spanning from your pelvic bone to your tailbone contracts and lifts upwards and inwards, and not just the area towards the front or back. Do not contract your buttocks or abdominals, or hold your breath while performing a Kegel. These are very common compensations for a weak pelvic floor that are not functionally equivalent, and they will hinder your development of pelvic floor strength and endurance.

For some women finding these muscles and learning to consciously contract them can be very challenging. This is particularly true for women with low muscle tone, women that have sustained muscle injury in the area (which may reduce the tone and contractility of the affected muscles) and women with reduced pelvic floor sensation – all of which can be common in mothers. Finding the muscles and learning to contract them can also be difficult for women who previously learned to do Kegels the wrong way. Intravaginal Kegel devices (see below) can be a very effective tool for encouraging proper form.

You could also consider asking for a bit of help. A pelvic physiotherapist can help you quickly identify and learn to contract the correct muscles. They do this by offering you the right verbal cues while examining your body externally and/or internally (which is optional but very effective). It can also be harmful if you regularly perform Kegels incorrectly, and they are not recommended for women with an over-active pelvic floor. A pelvic physiotherapist will ensure that kegels are appropriate for you, teach you to use the correct muscles, and ensure that you are contracting them at the correct amplitude (strength of contraction). They will teach you supportive breathing, help you progress your strengthening routine with time, and help you develop a maintenance program to keep your gains in the future. A pelvic physiotherapist has many tools at their disposal that can be recommended to their patients, based on their individual needs.

After you have found the correct muscles, now it’s time to do some work. Thankfully this can be quite quick and completely discrete. A simple isometric approach (contracting and holding the contraction) can be effective, but some women may want to include physical devices in their exercise routines, such as trying to hold vaginal cones inside their vagina (more on this below). As strengthening progresses, it can also be beneficial to practice pelvic floor muscle contractions in different positions and during different activities, to help train the muscles to provide support for various demands.

#2 How much and how often?

This is something that varies a great deal between patients, based on the nature of their particular vaginal laxity, their ability to locate and contract the pelvic floor muscles correctly, the degree of weakness, and so on. Again, the exercise guidance that a pelvic physiotherapist provides can vary significantly between individuals, but generally you can think of pelvic muscle strengthening programs as very similar to other endurance strengthening exercise programs.

Here’s a good way to start your own exercise program for vaginal tightening:

Perform your Kegel exercises twice per day. Performing the exercise more frequently may not significantly improve gains, but will certainly make it harder for you to stick with it.

Get in a comfortable sitting or lying position and locate your pelvic floor muscles (as described in the proceeding section). You will likely find that you are better able to perform a proper full-span contraction in some body positions but not others. Find an optimal position for you. If the front of your pelvic floor is weak it will be more difficult to contract your pelvic floor if you have your pelvic floor ‘tucked under’, such as when you are standing and you lean your weight back into your heels. Tilting your body (and pelvis) forward will naturally help you achieve activation of the front of your pelvic floor.

Hold a 10 second contraction of your pelvic floor muscles 10 times in a row. Do this for three sets with a minute rest in between sets. So this equals 30 contractions, twice per day.

As your pelvic floor muscles improve their strength and endurance, progressing your exercise program can offer additional improvements in vaginal tightness. Such progression could include training the muscles while you are in other positions, or with movement such as during transition from sitting to standing. As with other strengthening exercises, it’s important to exercise them to the point of fatigue in order to build the muscles. But don’t sacrifice form; stop your set if you’ve reached the point where you can no longer perform a Kegel without contracting your buttocks or abdominals, or holding your breath.

DOES APPLE CIDER VINEGAR TiGHTEN YOUR WOMAN PARTH #thedoctors #drtravis #howtotightendownthere

To help you keep your hard-fought gains it is also important to develop a maintenance program. Similarly, you wouldn’t stop working out at a gym and expect to keep the results. Performing Kegel exercise three times per week is typically enough to maintain gains, while not being too big of a commitment to stick with it.

KEGEL DEVICES FOR INCREASING VAGINAL TIGHTNESS

One popular alternative to performing classic Kegel exercises is to use a intravaginal strengthening device. Remember above when I said to imagine “holding in a tampon” to help you find the right muscles for performing a Kegel exercise? These devices take that to the next logical step: instead of isometrically contracting the muscles, try holding a weight in your vagina instead. This can make finding the correct muscles easier, and can also be a very effective training tool. There is a wide selection of products designed for this purpose, and although they are all pretty similar, some are better than others.

Look for a Kegel exercise device that:

Includes a range of weights so that you can gradually advance your training, and so that you are not limited at the heaviest end.

Is an appropriate size. A one-inch diameter should fit most women, and compared to larger-sized devices, should offer a more strenuous workout.

Includes sufficient information on how to use the device and progress your training with it.

Is a safe device (hypoallergenic, and non-porous so that it is easy to clean).

There are many different permutations of Kegel devices available, so look around to find the right product for you. One good example we’ve found is the Intimate Rose Kegel Exercise System.

Intimate Rose Kegel device for vaginal tightness

Or if you are looking for something a little more sophisticated, devices like the Elvie Trainer can connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth and guide you through your Kegel training in detail. Instead of simply holding a weight, this device measures your contractions as you squeeze it, offering feedback, guidance, and workout routines. [Small disclaimer: if you purchase either item we may receive a very small fee which we use to help support our blog, but we would recommend them regardless.]

Elvie Trainer for vaginal looseness

THE BOTTOM LINE ON VAGINAL LAXITY AND CHILDBIRTH

Vaginal looseness can be a difficult topic to discuss, and so the frequency of this condition is likely to be under-reported clinically (ref 3). Despite this, accumulating evidence suggests that it is a common condition following vaginal childbirth. Risk factors for vaginal looseness include the mother’s age, the number of vaginal births and vaginal / pelvic floor trauma during childbirth.

If you’ve recently given birth, be patient with your body. It could take more than 6 months to recover normal vaginal tightness and sensation. But for those women with persistent laxity concerns that continue beyond the first year, or who otherwise wish to be proactive, you can get started right away on improving the fitness of your pelvic floor muscles.

In fact, for many women the best time to begin pelvic floor strengthening or to seek the advice of a pelvic physiotherapist is during pregnancy. Unfortunately, it can be more difficult to feel your pelvic floor muscles during pregnancy due to a natural loss of body awareness (“proprioception”). Despite the added challenge, this can be fruitful. It stands to reason that appropriate pelvic floor strengthening during pregnancy would lead to better pelvic floor health outcomes post-partum for a wide range of pelvic disorders including vaginal laxity. Kegel exercises are generally safe for women with uncomplicated pregnancies, and most women would benefit from doing them (unless they do them incorrectly, or have over-active pelvic floor muscles), but you should consult your health team before starting any exercise program during pregnancy.

If you are suffering from chronic feelings of vaginal looseness, try our suggestions above, and consider seeking out the advice of a pelvic health physiotherapist or other sexual health specialist. With a little bit of guidance, you may achieve some meaningful and lasting improvements.

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It all starts with your pelvic floor — and we’ll tell you everything you need to know. (Spoiler: We’re going way beyond Kegels.)

Kemal Yildirim/Getty Images

I’m going to blow your mind. Are you ready?

You are not destined to pee yourself for the rest of your life after having a baby.

It’s a common refrain — or perhaps, more aptly, a warning — spoken to pregnant people: Have a baby and get ready to welcome a life of compromised continence, among other undesirables. The underlying assumption is that childbirth dooms you to a busted pelvic floor and that’s just how it is.

Well, good news, that’s a big fat NOPE.

Surprise! Your pelvic floor is a group of muscles — and they need exercise

Now, there are many physical sacrifices a body will go through to grow and birth a child. And sometimes, because of pregnancy, childbirth-related trauma, or other existing conditions, the effects of childbirth will remain with the birth person well beyond the postpartum phase. Possibly for life.

However, for most uncomplicated vaginal and cesarean deliveries, the idea that you’ll forever pee yourself when laughing or coughing is a myth — and a harmful one at that. You won’t be peeing constantly, or don’t have to be, with dedicated treatment to your pelvic floor.

See, the pelvic floor is like any other muscle system in your body (but way cooler because it handles a sh*t ton of superpower work).

Get past any “it’s-connected-to-your-vagina” squeamishness, and you’ll start to see that it reacts, recovers, and deserves attention just like, say, your biceps or knee.

“The pelvic floor is an extremely important piece of our bodies, especially for women,” says maternal pelvic health specialist Ryan Bailey, PT, DPT, WCS, founder of Expecting Pelvic Health in New Hampshire. “Everyone should be acquainted with it, even before getting pregnant.”

With that said…

What even is a pelvic floor?

The pelvic floor is actually a group of muscles that sits like a hammock within your perineal area, connecting to your bladder, urethra, vagina, anus, and rectum.

Your bladder, bowels, and uterus rest on it, and the muscles in your pelvic floor crisscross front-to-back and side-to-side from your pubic bone to tailbone.

It can move up and down; control the opening and closing of your urethra, vagina, and anus; and it contains a rich network of connective tissue and fascia.

In other words, it’s a BFD. You engage your pelvic floor when you pee, poop, have sex, orgasm, stand up, sit down, exercise — just about everything.

And it’s massively affected by the weight of pregnancy and the trauma of vaginal birth (or pushing before an unplanned C-section), as it stretches, elongates, and experiences soft tissue damage.

The pelvic floor is full of surprises. Here’s what you need to know

1. Postpartum incontinence is normal — but only for a limited time

Given the journey your pelvic floor has been on with pregnancy and delivery, it will be weak post-birth.

Because of that, you may have trouble holding in your urine, particularly when you laugh or cough, for up to 6 weeks postpartum, says Erica Azzaretto Michitsch, PT, DPT, WCS, co-founder of Solstice Physiotherapy in New York City.

If you sustained an injury or had a third- or fourth-degree tear, you may experience incontinence for up to 3 months postpartum.

“Do we want it to happen? No,” says Bailey. “But it’s likely.” If there is no tearing or direct injury to the pelvic floor, Bailey mentions “there shouldn’t be any peeing of the pants” by 3 months.

Incontinence after delivery is more common if you experience incontinence during pregnancy, and about half of peopleTrusted Source experience incontinence while pregnant.

Most people will see the issue resolved within 3 months, but if your urine leaking lasts longer than 3 months, don’t be alarmed. In fact, 31 percent of peopleTrusted Source who delivered a baby still experienced incontinence 6 months after delivery.

That being said, even people who deliver without any tearing can still have postpartum incontinence, and people who didn’t have issues with leaking pee during pregnancy might have it after delivery.

Risk factors for postpartum urinary incontinence include:

vaginal birth

a large baby

incontinence during pregnancy

smoking

operative vaginal delivery, like the use of forceps

You should discuss any issues you’ve had with urine leakage during your postdelivery care appointment. While it is typical for a bit of time, prolonged incontinence may warrant additional review and treatment.

2. It’s very rare for you to be ‘loose’ after having a baby

The idea that you’re “loose,” isn’t just an offensive, sexist fear. It’s clinically incorrect! “Very rarely is someone ‘loose’ after birth. Your pelvic floor tone is actually higher,” explains Kara Mortifoglio, PT, DPT, WCS, co-founder of Solstice Physiotherapy in New York City.

The pelvic floor muscles elongate during pregnancy and are stretched with birth. As a result, after birth “the muscles usually tighten up in response,” Mortifoglio says.

Extended pushing, tearing, stitches, or an episiotomy only increase the tension, with additional inflammation and pressure to the area.

3. Perineal pain is common, but that doesn’t mean it’s OK

The perineum is the area of your body between the anus and vagina. This area can experience a lot of changes and a lot of trauma during pregnancy and childbirth.

There are many types of perineal pain a person may experience during pregnancy and postpartum, and it’s not uncommon that a pregnant person will experience pain in this area during these months.

In fact, 77 percent of pregnant people report low back pain, and 74 percent of pregnant people report “pelvic girdle” pain, or pain in the area that connects the pelvis to the legs. (This includes the perineum.)

After delivery, these numbers drop a bit: 52 percent of people experience low back pain after delivery and 41 percent experience pelvic girdle pain after delivery.

Weight gain, changes in posture, and hormone changes can all increase pain during pregnancy, especially in the low back and perineum.

According to Bailey, any pain that lasts longer than 24 hours during pregnancy — even if it only happens with a particular movement — is unacceptable and deserves attention.

But any severe, sudden pain during pregnancy or after delivery deserves medical attention quickly. Weakness, fever, or vomiting signal you need emergency attention.

What’s more, while perineal pain isn’t unusual, you shouldn’t ignore it. It’s safe to say that after you’ve healed and are starting to resume normal(ish) activities anywhere from weeks to several months after baby, you shouldn’t disregard pain and discomfort.

Talk with your OB-GYN or head straight to an accredited pelvic floor therapist specializing in pelvic health. (Indeed, there are PTs who specialize in the pelvic floor, just as other PTs specialize in shoulders, knees, or feet. More on this below!)

4. Kegels are not a one-size-fits-all solution

Now, for the biggest surprise of all: Kegels are not a magic fix. In fact, they can do more damage than good, especially if that’s the only way you are engaging your pelvic floor.

“If you have a little stress incontinence and are told to, ‘Go do Kegels,’ that’s inadequate,” says women’s pelvic health specialist Danielle Butsch, PT, DPT, of Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Centers in Connecticut. “A lot of people need to down-train, not up-train. You need to loosen up the tissue and do some manual work [to relax it]. You don’t need [patients] Kegeling away.”

She adds, “Even when Kegels are appropriate, we’d never say, ‘Just do Kegels.’ We don’t treat anything else like that.”

For example, if you had a tight quad, would you just keep strengthening it? Of course not.

“Sometimes you need to strengthen, but sometimes you need to stretch. Your pelvic floor is no different, it’s just hard to get at,” she says. “It’s so frustrating. Women are told to do Kegels. And then, if that doesn’t work, they’re given bladder sling surgery. When there’s actually a whole huge area in between those two options, and that’s where [pelvic floor] physical therapy resides.”

5. Sex should not be painful after you’ve recovered

Bottom line: You need to be ready. And what “ready” means is entirely subjective. “People feel so much pressure [to resume sex after having a baby], but everyone’s experience is extremely different and everyone heals differently,” Azzaretto Michitsch says.

Pregnancy-related issues can impact sexual arousal and comfort postpartum. These include:

trauma from childbirth

tearing

episiotomy

pelvic floor dysfunction

operative vaginal delivery, such as the use of forceps

Healing from tears or episiotomy is usually complete in 6 weeks but may take up to 3 to 6 months. During that time, sex and penetration may remain uncomfortable or painful.

But a whole host of other issues can also cause low sexual arousal or pain, and they may have nothing to do with the physical toll of pregnancy and delivery.

Common causes of postpartum sexual issues include:

hormonal changes of the vagina, especially if you’re breastfeeding

infections

sleep deprivation

adjustments to life with a baby

new or changing stressors

interpersonal relationship issues

postpartum depression

All of these situations can and should be addressed by your OB-GYN and a pelvic floor physical therapist. “The pelvic floor has to relax in order to allow any sort of insertion,” Azzaretto Michitsch says. It’s also involved with orgasm.

“If the pelvic floor muscles are very tight or have high muscle tone, you might have more trouble orgasming. If the muscles are not as strong, insertion wouldn’t be a problem, but climaxing could be,” she adds.

All people should have routine postpartum care no later than 6 weeks after delivery. Some people may need to be seen sooner, especially if you’re experiencing issues that are impacting healing and daily life. The first postpartum appointment should be no later than 12 weeks after delivery.

6. Warning signs can be silent

Pelvic floor damage or weakening of the pelvic floor muscles do not always manifest the same way. Only in extreme cases will you see a hernia or feel a prolapse when wiping.

After about 6 weeks postpartum, book an appointment with your OB-GYN. If you have any of the following symptoms, be sure to bring them up:

a feeling of heaviness in your perineal area

pressure in your perineal area

the feeling of sitting on something when you sit but nothing is there

leaking after peeing

difficulty urinating

sustained constipation

difficulty passing a bowel movement even when it’s soft and not compacted

7. Pelvic floor physical therapy is intimate but shouldn’t be invasive

I know, I know, I know. A pelvic floor PT will want to work on your pelvic floor through your friggin’ vagina and that is all kinds of weird/scary/intense. It’s the biggest hurdle to the pelvic floor being talked about and treated like other muscles in your body.

In case you’re concerned, however, know this: It’s not like a clinical exam. There is no speculum nor flashlights.

“The most invasive we get is one finger’s worth of assessment,” Butsch says. That way, “we can assess both how strong you are and how long you can hold a contraction — your power and endurance — and we also assess how well you are able to relax.”

Manual therapy will involve finger insertion, but a pelvic PT can also work with you on physical exercises, visualization techniques, and body movement and posture based on your needs.

8. You can see a pelvic floor therapist before there’s a problem

If you had shoulder surgery, would you go home afterward, DIY your recovery, and only see the doctor one time 6 weeks after? Of course not. You’d recoup for a week or two and then begin a rigorous course of physical therapy.

“People who run a marathon have more care than women after [childbirth],” Bailey says. “Everyone should seek a pelvic physical therapist [after birth] because of the huge amount of change. It’s amazing how much our body changes over 40 weeks. And in a matter of hours or days after birth, we’re completely different again. Not to mention some of us have had major abdominal surgery [with a cesarean].”

Azzaretto Michitsch agrees: “Go to pelvic floor therapist and ask, ‘How am I doing? How’s my core? My pelvic floor?’ Ask the questions you want to ask, especially if your OB-GYN isn’t answering them. These things can all be addressed. There’s no reason not to seek help if you’re unsure.”

Many women can also benefit from seeing a pelvic floor therapist before giving birth as well.

That said, while pelvic PT should be available to every postpartum patient (like it is in France), it’s not always available due to insurance coverage, so some patients would need to go out of pocket. Talk with your healthcare professional and see what works for you. If you’re looking for someone in your area, start here or here.

Real parents talk

Real moms share their own experiences with pelvic floor recovery.

“I went into physical therapy for my back issues (thanks, kids) and found out the main cause of all the pain was the pelvic floor. Nothing like doing Kegels while someone has a finger up there. But about 4 months later, I am doing so well and don’t have nearly as much pain as before. Who knew you didn’t have to pee every time you sneezed? I always thought that came with having kids.” — Linnea C.

“My recovery after my son was born in 2016 was really rough. I had trouble walking for several weeks, couldn’t do much physical activity for months, and really didn’t feel back to myself until about a year postpartum. When I got pregnant with my daughter in 2018, I found a new provider who told me she would have referred me to pelvic floor physical therapy and that I probably would have benefited. My daughter was born in February this year and my recovery this time has been so much better.” — Erin H.

“I didn’t know I had pubic symphysis dysfunction with my first until the end when my specialist saw how much screaming pain I was in trying to roll over during an ultrasound. That explained so much! It was a searing, ripping sensation that only eased a little with pelvic floor physical therapy postpartum. Had I known what was happening and that it was not normal to be in that kind of pain, I’d have done things differently. — Keema W.

Women have been influenced to believe that having a tight, well-lubricated vagina is necessary for sexual attractiveness. However, that is not true. At the same time, a loose or lax vagina can impact a woman's health, comfort, and sexual well-being.

What Causes Loose Vagina

When the muscles in your pelvic floor weaken due to ageing or childbirth, you may inadvertently leak urine or pass wind, feel compelled to go to the bathroom frequently, suffer from pelvic pain, feel pain while having sex.

There have been a lot of assumptions around what causes the vagina’s looseness.

Many individuals believe that having frequent intercourse will 'loosen' your vaginal canal, but this is not true. The vaginal muscles are quite flexible.

It does not matter the number of times you have had sex; it remains its regular form and size thereafter without losing its suppleness. While many people also believe that loose vaginal lining is the result of having too many sexual partners; It is a pure fallacy.

As previously said, your vagina is quite flexible. It only relaxes while you are excited or turned on and then contracts back to its original shape.

If you are not going through any difficulty due to the loosening of the vagina, then there is no need to go for vagina tightening treatment. However, many women believe it is vital because of urinary incontinence (involuntary pee leakage) or sexual pleasure. So, here is what causes a loose vagina:

Having a child naturally: The muscles surrounding the vaginal area are subjected to a great deal of stretching and stress during normal delivery, thus weakening them. As a result, it loosens up. Your vaginal muscles are more prone to lose some flexibility if you have had several childbirths.

Loss of oestrogen: A decrease in oestrogen levels, whether due to age or health conditions, causes the tissue present inside the vagina to become dryer, thinner, acidic, and less elastic. In your 40s, you may notice a reduction in the suppleness of your vaginal wall. As you enter the perimenopausal stage, the oestrogen levels may decline, and once you enter complete menopause, these changes may become more evident.

How to Tighten Vagina

There are a lot of pelvic floor and vaginal tightening exercises that can help women regain not only their previous strength but also attain a strong body. Pelvic floor exercises are an excellent technique to strengthen the muscles in your pelvic floor. These muscles are a part of your core and support the bladder, rectum, uterus, and small intestine.

how to tighten vagina using apple cider venigar..vergin is back

1. Pelvic Thrust

It comprises of pushing the pelvic region. Lay the top half on a platform, and move your lower body down and up. In this, you can use barbells or weighted plates to apply pressure to the lower abdominal area. Your core gets stimulated, and the pelvic region is worked out as a result of the excess weight on your abdomen region. The pelvic strength you require to move aids in the contraction and relaxation of the pelvic floor muscles, which aids in vaginal tightening treatment.

2. Bridge Hold

This is the yogic method that comes under vaginal tightening exercises. It is essentially a pelvic floor plank. Simply lie in the bridge pose, compress your buttocks, suck your lower abdomen, and hold the position. The longer you retain this position, the more your pelvic region will contract, causing your vagina to constrict.

3. Weighted Squats

Weighted squats serve to strengthen pelvic floor muscles as well as offer you a rounder buttock. However, make sure that whenever you are doing weighted squats to tighten your vagina, you will need to apply pressure to the pelvic region to get the best results!

4. Kegels

Kegel exercises can be used to help strengthen the pelvic organ, improve bladder control, and reduce the risk of faecal incontinence during pregnancy or after childbirth. To begin, you must first recognise your pelvic floor muscles. To do so, come to a complete stop in the middle of peeing. If you succeed, you have identified the correct muscles. During Kegels, try not to tighten your thighs, abs, or buttocks. Concentrate solely on your pelvic floor. Practice three sets of Kegels five to 10 times each day for optimum results.

Once you are done with that, follow these instructions:

For Kegels, most individuals lie on their backs.

Tighten the muscles in your pelvic floor.

Hold for five seconds and then relax for five seconds.

Repeat this exercise at least five times in a row and repeat the procedure.

Increase the time to 10 seconds as your strength improves.

5. Pelvic Tilt Exercise

Pelvic tilt exercise improves your vaginal muscles to help tighten the vagina.

Start by facing towards a wall with your shoulders and buttocks. Keep your knees soft on both sides. Draw your belly button closer to your spine. Your back should flatten against the wall as you do this. Tighten your belly button for four seconds before releasing it. Repeat the exercise 10 times, up to five times each day.

How to Tighten Your Vagina After Giving Birth

It is common to experience vagina loosening after giving birth naturally. Here are some vagina tightening exercises and tips that can help you tighten your vagina after childbirth.

1. Orgasms

Were you aware that during orgasm, the pelvic floor muscles clench and release? This implies that orgasms can aid in vaginal tightening. The more and better you orgasm, the stronger your pelvic floor muscles become.

2. Vaginal Cones

A vaginal cone is a cone-shaped device with weights attached that appears like a conventional tampon. Place the lowest weighing cone into your vagina and attempt to keep it in place with your muscles. This can be done twice each day for 15 minutes every time. Then, as you get stronger, progressively increase the weights. Make sure you wash the cones with warm soapy water after each use.

3. Ben Wa Balls

Ben Wa balls are small marble-sized balls that constrict the vagina and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. You can also lubricate the balls to have them glide in easier. Clenching your leg muscles and practising kegel exercises will help you keep the balls inside you. Begin your routine by doing this for 15 minutes, and then mend your timings up.

4. Diet

You are what you eat; it means the same for your vaginal health as well! Fenugreek, sesame seeds, pomegranates, soybeans and their products, carrots, wheat berries, and apples are high in natural estrogens and can help tighten your vagina after giving birth. Lots of wholegrain organic carbs, fresh organic veggies and fruits, and organic lean animal protein are also excellent since they contain anti-inflammatory amoeba three that will keep the muscles of the vagina tightened.

Also Read: 15 Easy & Effective Home Remedies for Vaginal Itch

Summing Up on How to Tighten Vagina

Movement is the key to these vaginal tightening exercises. Your pelvic floor muscles move as you practise these movements, resulting in maximal contraction and relaxation.

But, ladies, remember that you can only do these workouts when you have fully healed from your pregnancy. Otherwise, it will place undue strain on an already frail and susceptible area, leading to other pelvic problems.

So, try these vagina tightening exercises and get back on track with your healthy self naturally.

FAQs

1) What should I eat to tighten my vagina?

A. One can follow a diet high in estrogens and protein.

2) . Does hot water tighten your vagina?

A. There are many home treatments that claim to strengthen your vaginal muscles. Heat, chemicals, or food ingredients are frequently used in these cures, resulting in burns and infections. So, no, you cannot use hot water to tighten your vagina.

3) . How do you keep your vagina clean and smelling good?

A. After intercourse, wash your lady parts with a non-fragrant soap. Simply swab outer parts with a warm washcloth and soap and water (or just warm water), going from front to back. At the same time, you should avoid interiors; the vaginal wash cycle keeps the vagina clean and balanced on its own.

E.O Wilson, an influential biologist, said it eloquently…

“We are drowning in information while starving for wisdom.”

Every day, we are overwhelmed with a vast number of resources on the internet, and the distinction between facts and fake news (sometimes dressed as sarcasm) has become blurry.

The world of medicine isn’t exempt from this. Although fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, and other natural ingredients are healthy for your body, when it comes to treating your vagina with them — we might need to draw the line.

You might have been wondering how to tighten your vagina naturally? Assuming this is safer and better than surgery. It is, but not when directly applied to your vagina, which is the most delicate part of your body.

Even when there are cheaper, easier, and more accessible options, you wouldn’t want to risk the health of your intimate parts, especially your vagina on unfounded home remedies.

In this blog, we look deeper into a list of well-known home remedy “myths” that some women claim and pass on to their friends and family. We will clarify whether each “myth” is safe or not based on research and the advice of health experts.

But first…

What causes a loose or saggy vagina?

It is not true that the amount of sex will affect your vagina's wideness or shape.

One thing’s for sure, it’s not due to frequent sex or a lack thereof.

The term “loose” vagina has been used to shame women from having multiple sexual partners or from having a lot of sex in general.

So, if you were told that too much sex makes your vagina “loose”, we must inform you that you were lied to. The truth is that sex has no effect on the size or strength of your vaginal opening.

It’s natural for your vagina to stretch when aroused — what’s not natural is painful sex. A tight vagina during intercourse could actually mean that you’re anxious or not turned on, so while your partner prefers the “tightness” this could be hurting you.

The right medical term for loose / saggy vagina is “vaginal laxity” and it is caused by childbirth, ageing, and certain medical conditions. However, by creating a reflexive pelvic floor you can get your vagina back in good shape.

Here are some other factors that can influence vaginal laxity:

Menopause

Previous pelvic trauma

Regular intense exercise

Frequent lifting of heavy items

Previous gynecological surgery

Top 10 Homes Remedies ‘Believed’ To Tighten The Vagina

Home remedies aren't always safe especially when applied on the vagina, iyour vagina is a very delicate part of your body that should not be exposed to such harsh ingredients despite being natural.

Vaginal “looseness” is more than just a cosmetic issue. Although some women want to keep their vagina extra “tight” to please their partners, others have a really unsatisfied sex life because their vaginal walls are less sensitive to sexual penetrations or are experiencing pain because of it.

But no matter how tempted you are to try a cheap and quick way to tighten your vagina, please don’t do it.

Some ‘natural remedies’ can be misleading! Even though fruits, vegetables, and spices are natural ingredients and safe to eat, that doesn’t mean they can be effective for your vagina. And it’s possible they might even cause infections that were not there in the first place.

Here are Top 10 natural home remedies you (ironically) should never try at home:

1. Lemon juice

If you’re wondering how to tighten your vagina with lemon juice the right way, stop right there — it’s not worth the risk. In fact, douching in general (cleansing your vagina with any type of fluid) is not a good idea.

Despite lemon’s numerous health benefits when taken orally, lemon juice can cause pain, irritation, and inflammation when directly applied to the vagina, vulva, and labia. It causes imbalances in your vagina’s healthy pH levels, which can cause urinary incontinence (peeing involuntarily) because of its acidic nature, and it does not prevent sexually transmitted diseases, as some people believe.

2. Aloe vera

Aloe Vera gel is known for its lubricating properties among other health benefits, but there are no researches that have proven its effectiveness to tighten the vagina.

This lack of data for a popular home remedy is one of the reasons why you must think twice and consult your trusted OB-GYN first before applying aloe vera (or anything) on your vagina, especially if it’s mixed with other ingredients.

3. Epsom salt

Also called “bath salt”, magnesium sulfate or epsom salt is known to relieve different ailments including swelling, muscle aches, sprains, and bruises.

But does epsom salt tighten your vag? Truth is, there is no evidence to prove the health benefits of epsom salt especially when it comes to vaginal tightening. In fact, a study revealed that transdermal application (through the skin) of magnesium sulfate is not scientifically proven to be effective at all.

4. Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a common spice used for baking and cooking. Based on different studies, it also has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, and antimicrobial properties.

But cinnamon along with milk as a “hack” to boost libido is a completely different story. Neither does it make your vagina tighter nor will help you last longer in bed. In reality, taking too much cinnamon can cause an allergic reaction, breathing problems, and drug interaction.

5. Turmeric

Also known as the “Golden Spice” or “Indian Saffron”, turmeric is famous for its numerous health benefits that has been widely studied and proven for years.

However, until now, no research can confirm that turmeric (regardless of its method of application) can tighten the vagina.

home Remedy Instantly Tighten Loose V@g!n@ See result right away! enjoy IT better

6. Cloves

Washing your vagina with a feminine wash is unnecessary — let alone using a clove-based wash. Although researchers found that cloves are good for mouthrinse, there’s no evidence that it’s going to tighten your vagina.

Disclaimers on social media casually dismiss the fact that it can cause harm to your vagina by saying, “discontinue use if it burns” as if it’s no big deal. Your chances of getting infections, severe inflammation, candidiasis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and urinary tract infection (UTI) are way higher than getting a tight vagina when using cloves for bathing or douching.

7. Vinegar

The trend of washing your vagina with vinegar is dangerous. And vinegar doesn’t clean menstrual residue on the cervix either — your vagina cleans itself and a “clean cervix” has no relation to a “loose” vagina.

Vinegar is very acidic regardless if it’s diluted or milder like an apple cider vinegar and can cause an imbalance in your vagina’s pH (when used as a feminine wash).

8. Herbs & Spices

Gooseberries, witch hazel, black cohosh, asparagus, and garlic are all beneficial to our health and are best consumed orally through food or beverages. They can also be used in essential oils or vaginal steaming. However, they should never be applied directly to your vagina because they have no relevance to the tightness of your vagina.

There is no scientific proof that these herbs are good or safe as vaginal cleansers and those who swear by it are probably enjoying temporary “firmness” but long-term side effects could be possible.

9. Wasps nest

Oak galls are tree deformities caused by wasp nests. So even when grounded, the thought that it has been a home of wasps doesn’t sit right. Sellers entice their customers by ‘claiming’ that it can tighten the vagina, cure UTI, and get rid of vaginal odor without providing substantial evidence.

In fact, cleaning your vagina with oak galls can make you more vulnerable to HIV, cause painful sex, and decrease your vagina’s healthy bacteria.

10. Hot shower

Although a hot shower feels good and helps relieve muscle tension before sleeping, there is no evidence that it can tighten the vagina. Same is true with hot baths. If you use boiling hot water in your vagina, you risk getting a burn on your most sacred body part. And that won’t be pretty at all!

Is vagina tightening surgery worth it?

Surgery poses far too many risks, not to mention the fact that it does not always go as planned.

Surgery sounds like an easy fix, but it does not guarantee a healthy vagina.

Other than life-threatening conditions or extreme discomfort, surgery should be your last resort. Why? Because you could be spending thousands of dollars on vaginal rejuvenation treatments when the real cause of a “loose” or “saggy” vagina is actually a weak, and tense pelvic floor!

What about topicals: do vaginal tightening creams work?

Vaginal tightening creams can either dry out your vagina or induce swelling, which can be mistaken for tightening.

Contrary to their marketing claims, vaginal tightening creams either dry out your mucosa which is responsible for producing natural lubrication, or causes swelling which can be misinterpreted as “tightening.” Although, without enough lubrication, your vagina will eventually hurt and may even result in tearing, making it more prone to infections and irritations.

If you’ve already been persuaded to use vaginal tightening creams, the best course of action is to discontinue use and consult a physician, especially if you’re already experiencing discomfort.

Do Kegels help tighten your vagina?

We do not advise the use of kegels, they will just do more harm than good if you have tight pelvic floor muscles.

Kegels can do more harm than good when used inappropriately and excessively, especially if you already have tight pelvic floor muscles. Instead of Kegels, there are safer alternatives to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles such as:

Hypopressives

Scar tissue massage

Yoga or Pilates

Yoni or vaginal steaming

Belly dancing

Homeopathy

Block therapy

Why do people recommend these ‘home remedies’ for vagina tightening despite the risks or possible side effects?

Do not use just any home remedy you find online unless it has been clinically proven to be safe and effective.

There are several possible reasons why women try or continue using home remedies despite the lack of scientific proof:

A misconception that it’s safe because it is advertised by celebrities and influencers publicly.

It’s cheap and more accessible than vaginal rejuvenation using laser treatment and surgeries.

Their peers have been using it and declared it has worked for them.

Misinformation from seemingly reliable sources.

Belief that it wouldn’t hurt to try because it’s “all natural”.

Today’s stigma and expectations of how women should look, can also take a toll on us. And we may get pressure from our partners to have a tighter vagina, which also takes its toll.

But if you want to keep your vagina in good shape and healthy for yourself first, then there’s great! But please DO NOT risk your health for a false hope that this quick solution ‘might tighten’ your vagina. Leave that to experts with vast knowledge and extensive experience in determining safe and effective treatments.

Instead, use…

Natural, Safe and Effective Ways to Keep Your Vagina in Good Shape

Hypopressives, Myofascial massage, Yoni steaming, Block Therapy, Clean Eating, Visualization and Affirmations can all help and contribute to keeping your pelvic floor healthy, resulting to a healthy overall vaginal health.

You have to understand that taking care of your vagina is part of the whole picture. Just like man, no organ is an island. Because every part of your body is linked to one another, so it’s essential to find the root cause before pursuing a course of action.

This means finding out what caused your vagina to lose its elasticity. Is it because of childbirth? Ageing? A medical condition? A previous surgery or pelvic trauma? Or from the misconception of having too much sex?

Not to worry though because there are natural, safe, and effective practices — lots of them in act — that can keep your vagina in top condition:

Myofascial massage – applies pressure on targeted areas of the fascia that surround your muscles and bones so you can move more freely.

Block therapy has been proven to help a lot in terms of keeping your vagina healthy and the pelvic floor strong.

Hypopressives – a series of breathing and postural exercises to improve your overall pelvic floor health.

Yoni steaming – involves sitting over warm herbal-infused water to relax your pelvic floor muscles.

Block Therapy – a combination of blockwork and diaphragmatic breath that focuses on the fascia, which will help strengthen your pelvic floor for good vagina health.

Clean Eating – this will support your body’s nutritional needs which in turn decreases unnecessary stress and imbalances.

Visualization and Affirmations – works by seeing and affirming your desired outcome, such as optimal health or a good sex life.

Vagina Tightness and Your Sex Life

Other people's love for you will be based on how you love yourself.

Sex is a two-way street. And though a “tight” vagina could increase sexual sensations, surely, it is not the only way to enjoy an intimate time with your partner.

Here are other ways that might help improve your sex life:

Educate – your partner needs to know what causes a “loose” vagina as much as you do.

Try something new – explore sexting, foreplay, or new positions to spice things up.

Communicate – sex is better when you can fully trust and be vulnerable with your partner; and

Love yourself – being confident in your own skin makes a huge difference and is a turn on to your partner.

A “loose” vagina is neither a sign of infidelity nor something you should be worried about unless it’s causing pain or discomfort. There’s no need to fix something that’s not broken.

What matters most is how you feel about yourself and to be sure your vagina is healthy and properly taken care of as it’s a sacred part of you.

Don’t settle for cheap yet unproven home remedies!

Your vagina is an amazing and divine part of your body that works hard, so keeping it healthy is a lifelong commitment.

We understand that in many countries and cultures, women’s reproductive health is still a taboo subject. This is why it’s important to find the right community for you, one where you’ll be heard, accepted and guided.

The vaginal is naturally elastic, meaning that it can stretch in certain situations, such as when you have sexual intercourse or give birth. However, it doesn’t take long for the vaginal muscles to return to their usual shape.

The pelvic floor muscles surrounding the vagina may weaken over time, which can happen as you age and after having children. We refer to this as vaginal laxity.

This article helps you understand what causes loose vaginal walls, provides you with helpful tips on how to tighten your vagina naturally and what to avoid for vaginal tightness.

What Causes Loose Vaginal Walls?

The common factors that can cause your vaginal walls to weaken are the below:

Sexual Intercourse

When you’re aroused, the vaginal walls tighten and you can engage in penetrative sex. Then, after sex, the vaginal muscles go back to their original shape.

Many people think that sexual intercourse weakens the vaginal muscles, but there is no evidence that sex causes vaginal laxity over time.

However, sex can cause the vagina to open more, but this is temporary. The same happens when you engage in sexual activity for the first time – Penetrative sex can slightly stretch the hymen, a thin membrane around the vagina, and as a result, many women feel that the vagina is more open.

In addition, if vaginal laxity is something you’re worried about when you have sex, you may try different sexual positions. These can sometimes change how tight or loose a vagina feels.

Childbirth

Woman Giving Birth With Husband Holds Her Hand in Support and Obstetricians Assisting.

During childbirth, the vaginal walls may tear and cause the vagina to become loose, as the vaginal muscles have to stretch to allow the baby to pass through.

After childbirth, the vagina shrinks back, but it may not return to its original shape during the pre-pregnancy period. Also, the vaginal muscles may lose a little bit of elasticity in women who have had multiple childbirths.

Aging

As we age, it is normal for our muscles and skin to become less firm.

When you’re going through menopause, your estrogen levels drop, and this causes the vaginal lining to become drier, thinner, and less flexible.

As a result, you may experience discomfort during sex, as there isn’t enough natural lubrication. Some people use a lubricant or a hormonal cream if sex feels different, as these can help make sex more comfortable.

What Are The Symptoms of Vaginal Laxity?

Some of these symptoms that you may experience if you have loose vaginal walls include:

Decreased pleasure during sexual intercourse

Pain during intercourse

Urinary incontinence

Bleeding after sex as there is less natural lubrication

Low libido

Difficulty reaching orgasms

That said, it is best to book a gynecology appointment, as your doctor can evaluate your situation and discuss any treatment options that might be helpful to alleviate your symptoms.

Now that we’ve discussed the causes and symptoms of vaginal laxity, we can move to the next section, which describes how to tighten vaginal walls naturally.

How To Tighten Your Vagina Naturally

If you’re wondering how to tighten your vagina naturally, the following section explores some exercises that a lot of women do to help with vaginal tightness:

Exercises

Pelvic Floor Or Kegel Exercises

When your vaginal walls weaken, you may accidentally pass wind, leak urine, feel the constant need to pee, and experience pain during sexual intercourse.

Fortunately, there are pelvic floor exercises that you can do to help strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, as these support your uterus, bladder, rectum, and small intestine.

Further to that, before performing a kegel exercise, you have to ensure your bladder is empty. You can then either sit or lie down and contract your muscles for some seconds before relaxing them. You mustn’t overdo Kegels or do it while urinating to avoid other complications.

You should do this 8 – 10 times every day.

Weighted Squats

When you perform weighted squats, you move your pelvic floor muscles up and down, leading to maximum contraction and relaxation.

It is best to do these once you’ve recovered from your post-pregnancy period, as they can cause unnecessary pressure leading to pelvic issues.

Leg Ups

Legs ups help build pelvic muscle strength. You can lie flat with your back on the floor, tense your abdominal muscles and then lift your legs slowly, one after the other, without bending your knees.

Other Methods

Other methods that we recommend doing include:

Using Vaginal Cones

You can use vaginal cones to help with vaginal tightening.

How does this work?

Vaginal cones are available in different weights, and they come in shapes similar to a tampon. All you have to do is put the smallest cone into your vagina and tighten your muscles around it for 15 minutes. We recommend doing this twice a day.

You can also increase the weight of the cones as your muscles become stronger.

However, you should not use vaginal cones if:

You have a vaginal infection.

You’re menstruating.

You are pregnant

You’ve had a history of miscarriage.

Following a Healthy Diet

You should also follow a healthy diet to keep your vagina healthy.

Some foods and fruits contain a naturally high level of estrogen, so they can help strengthen your pelvic floor. These include:

Carrots

Berries

Apples

Pomegranates

Tightening Methods You Should Avoid

Serious Female Doctor Consulting and Diagnose Desperate Woman

There are a lot of remedies that people claim will tighten your vaginal muscles. We advise you to visit a women’s health clinic before trying any treatments to make your vagina tight.

However, here are the most common vaginal tightening remedies that you should avoid at all costs:

Vinegar

Vinegar is acidic, and you shouldn’t use it to make your vagina tight.

It can cause pain and irritation and disrupt your vagina’s natural balance of bacteria.

Food

Food goes in your mouth and not inside your vagina.

Eating well can indeed affect your vaginal health, but there are no foods that you can insert into your vagina to tighten the vaginal canal.

It’s important to remember that the vagina is a self-cleaning organ, so it doesn’t need outside cleaning help.

If you have an infection, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.

Pills, Gels, and Creams

Some companies stock pills, gels, and creams that claim to tighten your vagina.

There are no products that will help with vaginal tightness.

Most of these gels and creams are made of glycerin, which can increase your risk of developing yeast or bacterial infections.

Book Your Appointment Today

It is completely normal for your vaginal walls to weaken after you give birth and as you age. You may also feel that your vagina is more open during sex, but this is temporary, as then it reverts to its original shape.

You can use various methods to help tighten your vaginal walls naturally, such as doing pelvic floor or kegel exercises, using vaginal cones, and following a healthy diet.

If you are concerned about your reproductive health or want to know more about the remedies you can use to help with vaginal tightening, call our gynecologists’ office in Boca Raton. You can also request an appointment online.

We, at Women’s Healthcare of Boca Raton, specialize in gynecology and obstetrics. During your appointment, we can evaluate the symptoms you’re experiencing and provide you with treatment options to reduce discomfort and keep your vagina healthy.

If it itches down there, it means you’ve been ignoring your vaginal health. Here are a few mistakes you’ve been making with intimate care.

Nikita Bhardwaj 71 Likes

vaginal hygieneBe gentle with your vagina to keep it safe. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

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What can be more uncomfortable than an itchy vagina, right?

Many believe that your vagina is a self-cleaning organ and while that is true, it still needs care. However, we end up making a lot of hygiene mistakes that can end up with us facing a lot of troubles down there.

According to D. Pratima Thamke, obstetrician and gynecologist at Motherhood Hospital, Pune, douching is the most common mistake women make when it comes to maintaining vaginal hygiene.

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“You think you might be keeping it clean, but you are disturbing the entire biome of your vagina by killing the good bacteria”, she explained.

But apart from douching, Dr. Thamke addressed seven more mistakes that affect our vagina:

1. Touching it with dirty hands

Wash your hands before touching your lady part. Dirty hands mean an open invitation to bacteria and viruses which can wreck the flora of your vagina. In fact, if you use a loofah while bathing, ensure that it is clean before you use it down there.

vaginal hygieneNo touching with dirty hands, please. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

2. Not peeing after sex

Peeing after sex will not just reduce your chances of acquiring a UTI or urinary tract infection, but it also cleans the bacteria that might be left in your vagina. “Semen is alkaline in nature and it might change the protective mechanism of your vagina. That’s why, it is advised to pee after sex and clean gently”, she explained.

3. Eating too much sugar

“Unprocessed sugar is an enemy to your vaginal health as it can lead to yeast infection. If you are diabetic, then you have to be all the more cautious”, she suggests.

4. Wearing synthetic panties

Of course, synthetic panties are sassy to wear but the fact is that they are not capable of soaking enough sweat. Sweat is one of the major reasons why you get a fungal infection down there. In fact, wearing tight panties is also not a great idea as it doesn’t allow the sweat to dry out. “You must go for cotton panties, especially in summers. In case you are sweating too much, don’t use non-medicated talcum powders on your vagina because it can increase the chance of infection”, she suggests.

vaginal hygieneGo for cotton undies. Image Courtesy: Shutterstock

5. Using scented soaps and sprays

“Using scented soaps or sprays can disturb the pH balance of your vagina and can lead to vaginal infection like chlamydia”, she warned.

6. Wrong cleaning technique

When it comes to washing your vagina, always go from front to back, i.e., from your vagina to the anus. Going the other way round can push the anal bacteria towards the vagina, making it prone to infections.

7. Change your sanitary pad, menstrual cup, and tampons

“Don’t wait for your pad or tampon to get soaked in period blood as it can lead to itchiness and infection. If you have a heavy period flow, then you must change your sanitary napkin every 4 hours. In the case of a light period, change it every 6 hours. For tampons, make sure you’re going for a change every 4 hours and when using a menstrual cup, ensure that it is clean before insertion to avoid infections”, explained Dr. Thamke.

vaginal hygieneDon’t wait for your tampon to get soaked in period blood. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

“These mistakes are fairly common but the point to be noted here is that self-medication is a complete no-no in case you experience discomfort down there. If you find any infection cropping up, you must visit a doctor and get yourself checked. Otherwise, it can become a painful mess”, she concluded.

What an eye-opener, right? Ladies, now you know what all mistakes you have been making. But, a little change goes a long way in protecting you from infections.

If you’ve recently given birth and are wondering if vagina tightening hacks really work, then do this article a read.

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clotorisCan you tighten your vagina? Let’s find out. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

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While the loosening of the vagina is linked to many myths, none of them make far too much sense. Loosening of the vagina is not something that happens overnight but when it happens, it is very natural. And with a loose vagina comes the pertinent question: can you tighten your vagina?

But before we get to that, let’s break some myths shall we?

1. Your vagina gets loose because of having a lot of sex

Many people believe that a lot of sex can ‘loosen’ your vagina, but this is not the truth. The vaginal muscles are very elastic. It retains its normal shape and size after sex without losing its elasticity, no matter how much sex you have had.

Also, read: Solving the age-old mystery: Can you actually regain your virginity?

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1. Pelvic thrust

Pelvic thrust is one of the most common and simplest exercises you can do. As the name suggests, it involves thrusting of the pelvic region. In this case, you put some pressure on the lower abdominal area using barbells or weighted plates, rest your upper half on a bench, and move your lower body up and down.

Due to the extra weight on your abdominal area, your core gets activated and works out the pelvic region. The pelvic strength that you need to move helps in the contraction and relaxation of the pelvic floor muscles, thus helping in tightening your vagina.

2. Bridge hold

This is the yogic way to tighten your vagina. It’s basically plank for your pelvic floor. Just lie in the position of the bridge pose, squeeze in your butt, suck in your lower abdomen, and hold the pose. The more you hold this position, the more your pelvic region will fire up, and eventually tighten your vagina.

vaginal tightening exercisesAnyone can do Kegel exercises. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

3. Weighted squats

Weighted squats don’t just give you a rounder butt, but also helps to strengthen pelvic floor muscles. But remember if you’re doing weighted squats, especially to tighten your vagina, then you must exercise pressure on the pelvic region to make it super effective!

vaginal tightening exercisesHold that squat to get a tight pelvic muscle. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

The secret of these vaginal tightening exercises lies in the movement. When you perform these exercises, your pelvic floor muscles move up and down, leading to maximum contraction and relaxation. And that means a tight vagina in no time!

But ladies, you are eligible to do these exercises, only when you’ve completely recovered post your pregnancy. Otherwise, it will put unnecessary pressure on an already fragile and vulnerable region, and instead cause other pelvic issues.

So, how about giving these three vaginal tightening exercises a try, and bringing your sex life back on track naturally? We hear a BIG yes!

People consider tightness of the vagina as central to sexual pleasure. Though not true, it is believed that the vagina can lose its elasticity and become loose forever. Vaginal tightness during sex is dependent on the sexual arousal and pelvic floor muscles around the vagina. The sexual arousal determines how the pelvic floor muscles contract or relax during sexual intercourse. The feeling of sexual arousal relaxes the muscles making the vaginal space less constricted, or “looser” and feelings of anxiety make the muscles become more engaged and “tighter.”

The ability of the vaginal tissue to stretch and then return to the same size may change slightly with age and after childbirth, but such changes are attributed to changes in the pelvic floor muscles. The health of the pelvic floor muscles may influence sex soon after child birth or during post-menopausal phase of life. Hormonal fluctuations and physical strain or stress on the vagina and other pelvic organs can lead to vaginal laxity. Regaining pelvic floor muscle strength can help them return to their normal self. A healthy pelvic floor can also influence sex by preventing prolapse and incontinence.

A healthy vagina is key to pelvic health and overall happiness. Vaginal laxity can be overcome by some easy, painless, natural options:

The first and foremost step would be to follow a proper good diet that will improve inner muscle strength and thus contribute to better vaginal health. Eating a healthy diet that is high in fibre can help maintain a healthy body weight and also reduces the chances of frequent constipation that can cause weakening of pelvic muscles. Pelvic floor can be strengthened with a strict diet that include oestrogen rich foods like pomegranates, soybeans, carrots, apples, berries etc….

Pelvic floor can be kept stronger by controlling stress and limiting unnecessary strain by avoiding lifting heavy weights and to adopt a squatting position during bowel movements specially if constipated.

The pelvic floor is part of a larger group of muscles called “core.” Keeping all the core muscles toned, along with thighs and glutes, might be the best option for pelvic floor health. Exercises that can strengthen the pelvic floor are:

Kegel exercises are one of the most recommended and popular ways of tightening the vagina. The clench and release exercise is what constitutes the Kegel exercise. Kegel’s exercise is the action of engaging the pelvic floor muscles, holding for 5–10 seconds and releasing. This is done about 5–10 times in a row, a few times a day. The pelvic floor muscles become stronger because of this and thus help in tightening the vagina.

Having great sex is fantastic for strengthening pelvic floor muscles and is as effective as Kegel’s exercises. There is no right or wrong of enjoying sex. The contractions a woman has while reaching orgasm are the ideal strengthening for vaginal muscles. Vaginal walls contract at approximately 0.8-second intervals and then relax as the climax subsides.

squats are good for pelvic floor toning and vaginal tightening. Standing with legs spread and the hips turned out, have to go down like sitting on a bench. Then, go up, stand for some time and then again squat and sit down.

squats for vaginal tightening - chennai Gynecologist

Pelvic stretch can be done to strengthen the pelvic muscles. Easiest way to do the pelvic stretch is to sit on the edge of a chair and keeping the legs spread, bend towards the ankles and spread the arms out. Pelvis area has to be folded inside. This exercise is one of the most effective ways of strengthening vaginal muscles and tightening the vagina.

pelvic stretch exercise for vaginal thightening - chennai Gynecologist

Glute bridges are great for tightening the vagina, while lying down. Positioning the knees up and parted slightly apart with feet touching the floor, slowly but surely raising the hips up off the floor and tensing the glutes, form a bridge from the shoulders touching the floor and hold at the top, before slowly bringing the hips back down.

glute bridge for vaginal tightening - chennai gynecologist

Leg ups are great exercises for tightening the vagina, helping to build pelvic muscle strength. Lying flat with back on the floor, tense the abdominal muscles and slowly lift the legs without bending the knees, one after the other up towards the ceiling. This will really help to work pelvic floor muscles and keep them right and tight.

legs up exercise for vaginal tightening- chennai gynecologist

Medicine ball sit ups is a more advanced method of vaginal tightening and it’s great for helping the abdominal packs as well. Sitting with knees bent and feet on the floor, go to lying down with back on the floor. Holding a medicine ball in outstretched hands, slowly sit up, tensing abdominal muscles gradually.

Sit up with Medicine Ball toss for vaginal tightening - chennai gynecologist

Pelvic tilt exercises can strengthen vaginal muscles. Standing with shoulders and back against a wall and keeping both the knees soft, pull the bellybutton in towards the spine, While the back should flatten against the wall. Tighten the bellybutton for 4 seconds, then release. A set of 10 repetitions is ideal to work the pelvic muscles.

pelvis tilt exercise for vaginal tightening - chennai gynecologist

Vaginal cones strengthen pelvic floor muscles by using resistance. Also known as vaginal weights, this is weighted, tampon-sized bulbus shaped object that when inserted in to the vagina, muscles squeeze to hold it in place through passive contraction. Weights can be paired with active contractions or other exercise at the same time. The weight of the cone can be increased to hold the cone in place, thus increasing the work for vaginal muscles.

Vaginal cones for vagina tightening - chennai gynecologist

Vaginal weights are worn for short periods of time up to several times a day. Duration of use will depend on how heavy they are and on independent goals.

Herbal Remedies – Soaking in baths of vinegar dissolved in water is a popular and easy home remedies for a tight vagina. Aloe vera gel can be diluted in a bowl of water and used as a wash for the vaginal area. The astringent property of Aloe vera is known to help tighten the tissues. These remedies followed over a period of time can help restore vaginal tightness.

herbal remedies for vaginal tightening- chennai gynecologist

Yoga’s potential sexual benefits may result from its relaxing effects, the way it focuses attention on sensation, the pelvis-strengthening effects of many yoga poses, improved self-image from engaging in exercise, or a mix of these.

yoga for vaginal tightening - chennai gynecologist

While many of the above discussed natural methods are safe and appropriate for women of various fitness levels, elderly women and those with mobility issues or osteoporosis should check with their healthcare provider. Guidance from a urogynaecologist and a pelvic floor physical therapist can help achieve desired vaginal tightness naturally.

There’s a common misconception about what happens to our bodies, and more specifically our vaginas, as we get older or as a result of having a baby. There’s this idea that we’re irreversibly weakened and that we need to turn to surgery or other unsafe means to try to put a bandaid on the problem.

The reality is that our muscles weaken over time, just like any other muscle in the body unless we have a strong pelvic floor training routine to keep us strong. For 43% of women, weak pelvic floor muscles result in sexual dysfunction, including vaginal dryness, anorgasmia, and laxity/looseness.

Fortunately, that doesn’t have to be the case. There are several natural pelvic floor and vaginal “tightening” exercises to help women not just get back to the strength they are used to but rather achieve their strongest body ever.

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Natural methods vs. surgery vs. medication to “tighten” your vagina

Before we can address how best to “tighten” your vagina, it’s important to understand a second misconception at play. Namely, a tight vagina is not a healthy one nor an ideal. The ideal to aim for is to have strong muscles that can squeeze but also relax and release.

In reality, what most women really want when they use the word “tight” to describe it is to improve the squeeze and strength of the vagina. So to be clear, when I write about how to make your vagina “tighter,” I put the word in quotation marks since we now know that is a colloquial expression to describe strong, healthy pelvic muscles.

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For example, a common surgical method used to tighten the vagina after childbirth is called the husband stitch. This essentially removes excess skin in an attempt to address laxity, but really it just makes the vaginal opening more narrow, but that doesn’t address the root problem. So after that kind of surgery, the skin and muscles can just be stretched or become lax. Even worse is the surgery itself that may result in cutting through nerves, which can leave one with pain or numbness or a combination of the two.

Vaginal rejuvenation surgery performed by a plastic surgeon is similar to the husband stitch technique. Still, even more muscle is cut into to artificially narrow the entrance to the vagina. Again, that creates a false sense of “tightness” as the true goal are muscles that can contract and release, and again, cutting into a sensitive part of the body can leave one with numbness or pain if there is nerve damage.

Pelvic mesh surgery, which is now considered high-risk by the FDA, tried to address weak pelvic floor muscles by inserting a mesh that was supposed to hold up the organs when the muscles were too weak to do so. Instead, many women ended up with life-long pain and side effects. A woman would be mistaken if she thought pelvic mesh would in any way make her vagina “tighter” or able to squeeze more, just the opposite. Since the hammock of muscles is interrupted with a piece of plastic, the woman loses the muscle’s integrity and loses the ability to squeeze.

How to “tighten” your vagina naturally, or rather strengthen it, is by strengthening the pelvic floor muscles responsible for generating the squeezing and sucking capacity of healthy and toned female genitalia. This can start as early as you want through kegel exercises and other natural pelvic floor strengthening solutions. Fortunately, there are many ways to make your vagina “tighter” that will keep you strong instead of just a short-term solution.

4 natural ways to keep it “tight” down there

Kegels

Kegels are free and medically proven to address several vaginal and pelvic floor problems, including how to “tighten” your vagina naturally. Think of Cardi B singing in W.A.P “I do a kegel while it’s inside” and why that movement gets a special mention in a song devoted to amazing vaginas.

Kegels are an exercise that consists of isometrically squeezing the pelvic floor muscles. Not only do they treat and prevent laxity/looseness, but also incontinence, prolapse, sexual dysfunction, and vaginal dryness.

Unfortunately, to maintain your pelvic floor muscles with kegels, it’s required to kegel at least three times a day every day, which can add up to 100 minutes a week. Not only that, but numerous studies have proven that most women can’t do them properly, even with instruction.

Pilates

Pilates is one of the few full-body exercises that can help tighten and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. This is achieved by focusing on engaging the core muscles, including the abdominals and pelvic floor muscles, throughout the different movements.

While Pilates is a great way to support natural pelvic floor strengthening, the classes can be expensive. Unless the routine is consistent with an instructor who emphasizes pelvic floor exercises and guides one properly to focus on the pelvic floor, it may not provide enough strengthening to be effective when it comes to making your vagina “tighter.”

Buff Muff Challenge

This 28-day challenge is run by one of our favorite vagina experts, The Vagina Coach. She has created an app-based challenge to help change the way women workout for the better and create a healthy pelvic floor fitness routine.

This challenge is a great option for women who want to be proactive about strengthening their pelvic floor muscles.

Kegelbell

For those wondering how to “tighten” your vagina naturally, Kegelbell is one of the fastest and safest ways to do it. Kegelbell is the first externally weighted way for women to strengthen their pelvic floor muscles and decrease laxity/looseness.

In muscle-building mode, women use Kegelbell five minutes, three times a week in the privacy of their own home or once a week in maintenance mode. Unequivocally, one’s vaginal squeeze becomes extremely strong as a result of holding in the insert much the way one gets strong bicep muscles with a kettlebell workout.

Not only is it the first externally weighted solution, but the Original Kit is also the heaviest vaginal weight kit on the market before adding the Extension Kit that doubles the weight further. Kegelbell is made with medical-grade ingredients and is comfortable to use, with the insert similar in size to a large tampon.

Learn more about how Kegelbell can tighten your vagina naturally →

tighten vagina

Avoid these ineffective (and sometimes dangerous) home remedies

When women are trying to figure out how to keep it “tight” down there, it’s easy to get distracted by all sorts of different “home remedies” to make your vagina tighter. The reality is that at best, these are ineffective, and at worst, they could be harmful to your body.

When it comes to any sort of juices (lemon, apple cider, etc.) or herbs to tighten your vagina, we like to generally advise that it’s not healthy to put any chemicals that aren’t medical-grade inside your body.

Your vagina has a natural pH balance, and adding these sorts of intense substances can throw off your body’s natural way of self-regulating. Many of those so-called home remedies are very acidic. The herbal chalky wands/sticks are simply just irritating the tissues so that they get inflamed, which gives the illusion of a tighter vaginal canal when really the lining of the vagina becomes puffy with inflammation.

This is not the right way to approach the issue. Moreover, irritation certainly will not make intercourse more pleasant for the woman, nor would the pH imbalance those substances cause her long after applying the foreign substance.

Some women also wonder if just doing squats “tighten” your vagina. The reality is that most exercises and activities that we engage with cannot target the pelvic floor muscles. That’s why it’s so important to establish a routine that is specifically intended to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.

Try the FDA registered Kegelbell to tighten your vagina naturally

While it’s not possible to just snap your fingers and instantly have strong pelvic floor muscles and great squeeze, Kegelbell is pretty close! By using Kegelbell just five minutes, three times a week for two weeks, we guarantee that you’ll see an improvement or your money back!

Kegebell was created to solve the gap in the market of effective ways for women to strengthen their pelvic floor muscles. So often, women turn to surgery or other unsafe solutions to address a problem that is actually quite easy to solve with the right tools.

Women who live life and do things like, well, have bodies, go through pregnancy, deliver babies or experience menopause or reproductive health issues will likely at some point experience some degree of vaginal laxity. And let’s face it, that’s just about all of us. Yet many women don’t discuss the issue with their physicians because they feel embarrassed or they are concerned that the only option for tightening the vagina is surgery. Vaginal tightening is not a vanity project. A healthy vagina is key to pelvic health and overall health and happiness. Fortunately there are some easy, painless, natural options that women have found successful in treating vaginal laxity, or looseness.

Causes of Vaginal Laxity

Hormonal fluctuations and physical strain or stress on the vagina and other pelvic organs can lead to vaginal laxity.

Common causes include:

Vaginal childbirth that stretches muscles, tendons and vaginal walls

Decreased estrogen levels caused by  menopause

Reduced estrogen levels caused by health issues

Aging muscles and tendons creating a weakened  pelvic floor

A woman’s genetically determined physical structure

What are the Symptoms of Vaginal Laxity?

Symptoms of vaginal laxity can include:

Vaginal dryness

Vaginal pain or discomfort during intercourse

Unusual bleeding after sexual activity

Lack of lubrication during intercourse

Urinary incontinence

Burning during urination

Unexpected and urgent needs to urinate

Frequent urinary tract infections

Abnormal vaginal discharge

Burning or itching in the vaginal or vulvar areas

Decreased libido

Lack of sexual arousal

Reduction in sexual satisfaction during intercourse

Tightening Your Vagina Naturally

Exercise, estrogen and herbs can all help reduce vaginal laxity with a little effort every day.

Kegel Exercise

Kegels are extremely effective for toning the pelvic floor, decreasing incontinence and improving sexual satisfaction.

Kegels are tightening the muscles of your pelvic floor in several sets of repetitions throughout the day. Think about the muscles you would use to stop urinating – those are the ones you want to target. However, while your pelvic floor muscles help support the vagina and surrounding structures, they are not what make up the vaginal walls. Still – having better tone and support for all of your pelvic organs is important for vaginal health.

Estrogen Therapy

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) used to be a sort of scary, hit-or-miss treatment. Today women can have their HRT custom formulated and designed to suit their bodies, needs and goals. HRT replaces the hormones the body no longer makes after menopause or when the body decreases the production of estrogen and other hormones for other medical reasons. 

HRT creams offer customization, flexibility and simple, easy application of hormones that are then absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream. HRT cream allows the right dose of hormones to be absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream to help relieve hot flashes, night sweats, depression and other  symptoms of menopause.

Herbal Treatments

Herbal creams and spray can be effective in treating vaginal laxity. Talk to your urogynecologist for recommendations to ensure what you are using is non-toxic and safe for vaginal application.

What Doesn’t Work

Vaginal tightening pills may boast all-natural ingredients and promise miraculous, long-term results, but they don’t have the science to back up their claims – and they don’t work. In some cases, these pills may even be harmful – plenty of “natural” ingredients can cause adverse reactions.

Taking the Next Step

If your discomfort and symptoms of vaginal laxity are persistent, consult your urogynecologist. If your condition is severe, your urogynecologist may recommend a surgical solution known as a vaginoplasty, which is used to treat extreme stretching, muscle separation or tearing during childbirth. The surgery can also improve  urinary incontinence.

diVa® laser vaginal rejuvenation  promotes the growth of new collagen structures, which strengthen, firm and “plump” the vaginal walls. It also resurfaces the vaginal lining to improve natural lubrication. diVa® is also used to help mild cases of urinary incontinence.

Contact Coyle Institute and set up your consultation to learn more about options for treating vaginal laxity and improving your vaginal health. Regain your sexual confidence and regain the pleasure you once enjoyed while being intimate with your partner.

We’ve had cucumbers, we’ve had ozone gas, and we’ve even had wasp nests. Now it’s time for the latest episode of ‘What You Shouldn’t Be Putting in Your Vagina’, starring apple cider vinegar.

A wealth of online forums are encouraging women to put vinegar into their vaginas in a bid to tighten things up down there.

Vinegar fans are suggesting mixing apple cider vinegar with water then soaking a tampon in the concoction.

As well as the (wrong) assumption that the dilution will help tighten the vagina, people think it will clean up any ‘excess’ menstrual residue.

One expert has unsurprisingly dismissed the claims. She says that women could actually be doing more harm than good with the super acidic substance.

Some women believe that apple cider vinegar will help tighten their vaginas [Photo: Getty]

Professor Linda Cardozo from London’s Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists warned that the vinegar could disrupt the vagina’s ‘good’ bacteria, putting women at a higher risk of irritation and infections.

She also pointed out that vaginas are self-cleaning, so no removal of ‘menstrual residue’ is necessary.

“Putting cider vinegar in your vagina would not only be uncomfortable but it also has the potential to cause damage and disrupt the natural flora of the vagina,” Professor Cardozo told Metro.

If women are worried about the looseness of their vaginas, she recommends performing pelvic floor exercises three to four times a day.

“There are various different ways in which women can carry out pelvic floor exercises but the easiest is to sit or stand comfortably with knees slightly apart and then draw up the pelvic floor muscles as if trying to avoid passing urine or flatus,” she commented.

Apple Cider Vinegar/Women Health Vigina Cleanser

Each contraction should last around 10 seconds to help strengthen and tone the vagina.

For anyone suffering from looseness due to pelvic organ prolapse, Professor Cardozo recommends a trip to a GP.

So there you have it. Yet another thing you obviously shouldn’t be putting inside yourself.

Women’s bodies go through several changes, whether it’s stretch marks, hot flushes or sagging skin.

however, losing vaginal tightness isn’t as openly discussed and can sometimes come as a shock, leaving many unsure of how to deal with it.

Yet women are often too embarrassed to seek medical advice, with many turning to the internet for guidance instead.

It’s important to separate the doctor-recommended treatments, which have had success with strengthening the vaginal muscles, from the dangerous trends that should be avoided at all costs.

Due to the rise of bloggers, forums and social media, there’s a surge of health hacks appearing online that promise to provide an easy solution to weak vaginal muscles. But do they have any proven benefits or could they actually cause harm?

Apple cider vinegar feminine wash

An unusual douching technique that has emerged in recent years is using apple cider vinegar to tighten the vagina. Professionals were quick to warn women against using this method, which involves soaking a tampon in the vinegar before insertion or making a watered-down vinegar bath.

Dr Shree Datta, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at My Healthcare Clinic, said: “I wouldn’t recommend inserting vinegar into your vagina as it can alter the pH balance of the area and increase the risk of infection. In some cases, it can also sting, without any real tangible proven benefits.”

Apple cider vinegar feminine wash

Inserting wasp nests into the vagina

The bizarre health hack of using wasp nests - known as oak galls - to tighten the vagina, previously became widely discussed online.

The balls containing bark and the excretions of wasps grow when a gall wasp punctures an oak tree and unloads their larva.

Some believe that applying a paste of grounded oak galls into the vagina or boiling them in water to create a feminine wash can restore the natural elasticity and tighten the pelvic muscles.

I believe that this method could have detrimental results.

As well as potentially causing stinging, this remedy would induce dryness and destroy the vagina’s protective barrier against germs and infections. This can cause pain during sex and increase the risk of contracting HIV.

Natural herbal remedies

Some think pouring a blend of boiled gooseberries and water onto the vagina can increase the elasticity of the vaginal muscles. However, there’s no scientific data to back up this theory.

Applying anything that isn’t doctor-approved to your genitals could disrupt the vagina’s natural flora and lead to infection. Spreading aloe vera gel onto the internal and external areas of the vagina can supposedly tighten the pelvic muscles.

Although aloe vera has several health benefits, there isn’t enough research to confirm how effective or safe it is to use on genitals.

Natural herbal remedies

“Seek medical advice from a specialist Gynaecologist before undertaking self-treatment to make sure you aren’t missing a medical problem that might need surgical treatment”, Dr Datta said.

Some believe that pouring an extract of the herb Curcuma comosa onto the vagina once a month can prevent the vaginal walls from prolapsing, as well as strengthen and tighten the vagina walls.

But, again, these results are unfounded.

A change in diet

Online discussions advise amending your diet to influence the pelvic floor muscles. Here are some examples:

Avoid foods high in citric acid (e.g., grapefruit, lemon, and raspberries) which can irritate the pelvic floor and worsen urinary incontinence symptoms.

Foods containing vitamin D (e.g., egg yolks and cheese) can reduce the risk of weakening the pelvic floor muscles.

Caffeinated beverages (e.g., coffee, tea, energy drinks) should be avoided as they can irritate the bladder, and lead to incontinence issues.

Dr Datta added: “Whilst topping up your diet (with oestrogen) can help maintain the integrity of the vulval mucosa and help lubricate the tissue, there’s no evidence to suggest that the vaginal muscles can be tightened by this alone.”

Pelvic floor exercises

For mild symptoms, pelvic floor exercises, also known as Kegel exercises, are a great way to strengthen the vaginal muscles safely.

While sitting, standing or lying in a comfortable position, tighten your pelvic floor muscles - which you use to control the flow of urine - for five seconds, and then relax for another five seconds. You can do these before, during and after pregnancy

Avoid holding your breath and tightening your buttocks, thighs, and abs during the exercises. Carry out three sets of eight to 10 exercises a day and as you build up strength, increase the contraction time to ten seconds.

Pelvic floor exercises

Dr Datta said: “Just remember this may only prevent the muscle strength from deteriorating, with some limited improvement sent. If this doesn’t help, we would recommend you consult your gynecologist to review and identify where the problem lies.”

A course of bladder training - waiting longer between feeling the need to urinate and passing urine - can also help urinary incontinence, combined with pelvic floor exercises.

“Yoga and Pilates also help to make your vagina tighter by encouraging you to focus on pelvic floor exercises during the workout”, added Dr Datta.

If you’re unable to contract your pelvic floor muscles, electrical stimulation may be recommended. This involves inserting a small probe into the vagina that stimulates electrical signals to the muscles. However, some find this technique uncomfortable or difficult, so it’s best to gain medical insight from a professional before use.

Women can also carry out pelvic floor exercises with the addition of a weighted vaginal cone. They are inserted like a tampon and strengthen vaginal muscles by causing them to contract around the device. Hold the cone for one minute twice a day and gradually increase this time to 15 minutes.

A study from 1998 found that pelvic floor exercises and cones were equally effective in the treatment of stress incontinence. Further research discovered that women experiencing urinary incontinence could experience positive long-term effects from carrying out pelvic floor exercises, with or without vaginal cones.

However, many circumstances would make this method unsuitable. For example, you should avoid this if you are pregnant, have a vaginal infection, have a history of miscarriage or have had a prolapse. Side effects may also include vaginal bleeding or vaginitis.

Vaginal rejuvenation

Instead of trying dangerous health trends, women who have experienced severe symptoms from looser vaginal muscles may benefit from undergoing vaginal rejuvenation, with a device called Femilift. Using laser technology, this stimulates collagen growth within the vaginal wall and increases tightness. This relieves symptoms of urinary incontinence and improves sexual fulfillment.

Some women may turn to home remedies out of fear that this treatment hurts, but it’s completely pain-free and has no side effects. It’s also very efficient, as it takes less than an hour and has no recovery time.

When a course of three treatments is carried out at four to six weekly intervals, the results can last up to two years.

There’s a myth that vaginas need to be extremely tight for sexual pleasure and aesthetic purposes. However, this is completely untrue and can actually cause several other problems, such as discomfort.

If weakened vaginal muscles are putting a strain on everyday activities or romantic relationships, speak with a healthcare professional to determine what the right treatment option is for you.

Although visiting a doctor for such a personal issue may seem daunting, unreliable natural remedies could potentially aggravate the existing symptoms and lead to infections.

It’s crucial to seek medical advice to determine the cause of your weak pelvic floors and find out how to effectively ease the symptoms safely.

Dr Rekha Tailor, founder and medical director of Health & Aesthetics, shares some of the unusual methods women are using to tighten their vaginas.

Women’s bodies go through several changes, whether it’s stretch marks, hot flushes or sagging skin. But losing vaginal tightness isn’t as openly discussed and can sometimes come as a shock, leaving many unsure how to deal with it.

Losing some elasticity in the vagina is extremely common and can be caused by giving birth, menopause, being overweight and even smoking. Weak pelvic muscles can lead to urinary incontinence, dryness, and pain during intercourse. Yet women are often too embarrassed to seek medical advice, with many turning to the internet for guidance instead.

Dr Rekha Tailor, founder and medical director of Health & Aesthetics, said: “It’s important to separate the doctor-recommended treatments, which have had success with strengthening the vaginal muscles, from the dangerous trends that should be avoided at all costs.”

Apple cider vinegar feminine wash

Inserting wasp nests into the vagina

The bizarre health hack of using wasp nests––known as oak galls––to tighten the vagina, previously became widely-discussed online. The balls containing bark and the excretions of wasps grow when a gall wasp punctures an oak tree and unloads their larva.

Some believe that applying a paste of grounded oak galls into the vagina or boiling them in water to create a feminine wash can restore the natural elasticity and tighten the pelvic muscles.

But Dr Tailor warns this method could have detrimental results: “As well as potentially causing stinging, this remedy would induce dryness and destroy the vagina’s protective barrier against germs and infections. This can cause pain during sex and increase the risk of contracting HIV.”

Natural herbal remedies

Some think pouring a blend of boiled gooseberries and water onto the vagina can increase the elasticity of the vaginal muscles. However, there’s no scientific data to back up this theory.

Dr Tailor continued: “Applying anything that isn’t doctor-approved to your genitals could disrupt the vagina’s natural flora and lead to infection.”

Spreading aloe vera gel on to the internal and external areas of the vagina can supposedly tighten the pelvic muscles. Although aloe vera has several health benefits, there isn’t enough research to confirm how effective or safe it is to use on genitals.

“Seek medical advice from a specialist Gynaecologist before undertaking self-treatment to make sure you aren’t missing a medical problem that might need surgical treatment,” Dr Datta said.

Some believe that pouring an extract of the herb Curcuma comosa onto the vagina once a month can prevent the vaginal walls from prolapsing, as well as strengthen and tighten the vagina walls. But, again, these results are unfounded.

A change in diet

Online discussions advise amending your diet to influence the pelvic floor muscles. Here are some examples:

Avoid foods high in citric acid (e.g. grapefruit, lemon, and raspberries) which can irritate the pelvic floor and worsen urinary incontinence symptoms.

Foods containing vitamin D (e.g. egg yolks and cheese) can reduce the risk of weakening the pelvic floor muscles.

Caffeinated beverages (e.g. coffee, tea, energy drinks) should be avoided as they can irritate the bladder, and lead to incontinence issues.

Pelvic floor exercises

For mild symptoms, pelvic floor exercises, also known as Kegel exercises, are a great way to strengthen the vaginal muscles safely.

While sitting, standing or lying in a comfortable position, tighten your pelvic floor muscles––which you use to control the flow of urine––for five seconds, and then relax for another five seconds. You can do these before, during and after pregnancy

Dr Datta said: “Just remember this may only prevent the muscle strength from deteriorating, with some limited improvement sent. If this doesn’t help, we would recommend you consult your gynaecologist to review and identify where the problem lies.”

A course of bladder training––waiting longer between feeling the need to urinate and passing urine–can also help urinary incontinence, combined with pelvic floor exercises.

“Yoga and Pilates also help to make your vagina tighter by encouraging you to focus on pelvic floor exercises during the workout,” added Dr Datta.

FEMININE HYGIENE TIPS EVERY GIRL SHOULD KNOW ! Keep it clean and fresh | SOUTH AFRICAN YOUTUBER

Vaginal rejuvenation

Instead of trying dangerous health trends, women who have experienced severe symptoms from looser vaginal muscles may benefit from undergoing vaginal rejuvenation, also known as Femilift. Using laser technology, this stimulates collagen growth within the vaginal wall and increases tightness. This relieves symptoms of urinary incontinence and improves sexual fulfilment.

“Some women may turn to home remedies out of fear that this treatment hurts, but it’s completely pain-free and has no side-effects,” Dr Tailor said. “It’s also very efficient, as it takes less than an hour and has no recovery time.

When a course of three treatments is carried out at four to six weekly intervals, the results can last up to two years.

Dr Tailor added: “There’s a myth that vaginas need to be extremely tight for sexual pleasure and aesthetic purposes. However, this is completely untrue and can actually cause several other problems, such as discomfort.

“But if weakened vaginal muscles are putting a strain on everyday activities or romantic relationships, speak with a healthcare professional to determine what the right treatment option is for you.”

Although visiting a doctor for such a personal issue may seem daunting, unreliable natural remedies could potentially aggravate the existing symptoms and lead to infections. It’s crucial to seek medical advice to determine the cause of your weak pelvic floors and find out how to effectively ease the symptoms safely.

DOES APPLE CIDER VINEGAR TIGHTEN VAGINAS?

Experts are urging women not to use trendy apple cider vinegar to 'tighten' their vaginas.

Online blogs and forums are encouraging women to carry out this bizarre douching technique with the promise of making vaginas tighter, as well as cleaning excess menstrual residue.

Aside from vinegar being completely ineffective at tightening the vagina, Professor Linda Cardozo from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in London warns it could disrupt the organ's delicate 'good' bacteria, putting women at risk of irritation and infections.

To maintain the vagina's strength and tone, women should perform pelvic floor exercises regularly, Professor Cardozo recommends.

Vagina's are also self cleaning, with additional 'menstrual residue removal' being unnecessary.

Countless forums suggest mixing the health-food staple apple cider vinegar with water before soaking a tampon in the solution or creating a diluted vinegar bath.

Promises of tightened vaginas are unfounded as vinegar does not stiffen skin in other parts of the body, with the female genitalia being no exception.

In addition, the vagina self cleans its menstrual residue naturally.

This residue also does not play a role in the organ's looseness.

As we age, some parts of our bodies don’t seem to work the way that they used to. It’s easy to write off some ailments as “just aging”, reasoning to ourselves that, “Well, this is just life now, I guess.” This reaction is even more common when it comes to our reproductive and sexual health.

For some, it’s because they’ve heard from other women in their lives that these things just happen, especially after childbirth or menopause, but for many more, it’s because of the embarrassing and private nature of the problems. No one wants to admit to problems down there or to have to ask a doctor about ways to make your vagina tight.

At this point, many women may be tempted to turn to Dr. Google — who, it turns out, does not actually have any sort of medical degree and should not be trusted. The vaginal tightening home remedies you may find on Google range from medically-sanctioned to downright horrifying, which is why you should consult your doctor first before trying any treatments for sexual or reproductive health problems.

Here are 3 popular vagina tightening home remedies that you should avoid at all costs:

Food of Any Kind

Woman Squeezing Lemon Juice Into Glass on Table

Food goes in your mouth. Nowhere else. Do not put any food items inside your vagina, period. Your doctor would never recommend this and any online resource or friend who does is sharing bad information.

People have long touted various food items as miracle cures for various vaginal maladies. Apple cider vinegar and lemon have been said to reset the acidity levels in your vagina and possibly tighten the vaginal walls. Because of their high acidity, both of these can cause major pain and irritation inside and around the vagina, vulva, and labia, and can even worsen incontinence. Lemon and lime juice also do not prevent the spread of HIV or other STIs, as some people claim.

Some people also use yogurt because of its low acidity, hoping to balance pH levels, tighten the vaginal canal, or replenish the good bacteria inside their vaginas. This is also nonsense. Yogurt does not carry the same strains of bacteria as those that make up your vaginal microbiome. In fact, most yogurts contain sugars that, when introduced, could cause or worsen yeast infections.

While eating well can have an overall effect on your vaginal health, there are no foods that can be eaten or inserted that can tighten your vaginal canal. Moreover, your vagina is a self-cleaning organ and does not need outside cleaning help. If you have an infection, your doctor can prescribe antibiotics.

Herbs and Spices

Your vagina is an organ, not a soup, so do not insert herbs and spices into it! Turmeric, a spice frequently touted as a miracle cure for everything from arthritis to cancer does have some health benefits but has not been shown to tighten the vagina when ingested or inserted. Inserting turmeric could lead to irritation.

A related plant, Curcuma comosa, shows up frequently in vagina-tightening marketing ploys as a proven tightening agent. However, these effects are far from proven! Curcuma comosa did lead to some tightening in rats’ uteruses in one decades-old study but has not been tested on, let alone proven to help human women.

Witch hazel and aloe vera are also often used as remedies for a wide range of ills. Some women prefer aloe as a natural lubricant, and while it may not be as harmful as some of the other items on this list, it does not offer any tightening effects and should not be applied internally without first consulting your doctor, especially if it contains anything other than 100% pure aloe, straight from the plant.

Similarly, plants like boiled gooseberries should not be inserted. At best, they will have no effect. At worst, they can cause damage like burns and tears if they’re too hot when inserted! In fact, you should always avoid using hot water near your vagina, including inserting or spraying hot water inside or squatting over steam baths. Hot water can scald the inside and outside of your vagina and vulva area and may introduce harmful bacteria.

Wellness - Woman Receiving Massage Whit Aloe Vera in Spa

Tightening products, pills, gels, and creams

It is also worth pointing out that there are plenty of products available that supposedly help you tighten your vagina, but they are simply scams that monetize your insecurities and feed you a placebo effect. There are no pills you can take orally that will help with the tightness of your vaginal walls or pelvic floor.

Similarly marketed tightening creams and gels are made of glycerin, just like some lubes — so not only do they have no effect on tightness or firmness, but glycerin has also been known to lead to yeast or bacterial infections. No thank you!

These products cannot help you with your genuine health concerns and, even worse, they prey on your insecurities to convince you that something is wrong with your body even when that’s not true.

What Should You Do Instead?

Consult a physician if you have any concerns over your sexual or reproductive health. If you’re wondering how to tighten your vagina naturally, the best option is pelvic floor exercises. You can get started with Kegels at home and they don’t cost you a dime.

These exercises strengthen the muscles in the pelvic floor, which supports your pelvic organs — uterus, bladder, rectum, and even your small intestine. It’s kind of like squats for your vagina! You can do these on your own, or you can see a pelvic floor specialist who can guide you and teach you pelvic floor exercises to bring home.

You can safely add vaginal weights to Kegels, too, which not only helps strengthen your pelvic floor muscles but can also lead to better and more dependable orgasms. Just be careful not to start with weights that are too heavy for you and to use the proper technique.

Vaginoplasty has seen a rise in popularity over the last several years, once again largely driven by insecurities over the tightness of vaginas. Vaginal tightening surgery may be the right option for you if you’ve had significant tearing and other major symptoms after giving birth. But any surgery, especially an invasive one in this area, carries significant risk and a heavy price tag along with it, so it’s not for everyone.

There are also non-surgical procedures available. Laser treatment like MonaLisa Touch is non-invasive and performed as an out-patient procedure and we use lasers to stimulate the collagen within the vaginal walls. This treatment helps fight dryness, loss of elasticity, incontinence, pain, and burning.

The fact is, you don’t have to resign yourself to a life of vaginal dryness, weakness, urinary incontinence, or painful and unsatisfying sexual experiences.

You should feel comfortable discussing your symptoms with your doctor, even if they are embarrassing or seem insignificant. If you don’t feel like your doctor will take your symptoms seriously, then you should find a new doctor you can trust. A good OB-GYN will help you understand your symptoms, look for the underlying causes, and guide you as you assess your options.

Do not try any home remedies you read about online without consulting with a medical professional first because often these remedies can do more harm than good. Just running a Google search for “how to make vagina tighter” is not likely to yield practical, healthy medical advice. Real, medically-approved remedies are available, from pelvic floor exercises to MonaLisa Touch laser treatments.

If you would like to achieve the remedies listed above, contact us at the office of Dr. Krinsky today. We have experienced and qualified staff who can help you get you on the right track for vagina tightening remedies.

How often should a woman take a vinegar bath?

The uses for apple cider vinegar are not merely an invention of internet culture. Its many applications date back to traditional cleaning, as well as culinary and healing techniques, making it one of the most versatile pantry items we have.

Thus, it is interesting to see proponents rave about soaking the body in this vinegar. What does the research say about taking a bath with ACV, and what are the potential benefits?

Apple Cider Vinegar Bath

Apple cider vinegar is a type of vinegar resulting from the fermentation of apples. It is highly acidic and derives many of its benefits from its constituents, including acetic acid.

Lately, taking an apple cider vinegar bath for body detox has become a new trend. It seems odd, but does it work? Could we expose our whole body to this substance full of acids?

Benefits of Bathing in Apple Cider Vinegar

Typically, researchers tend to discredit the use of home remedies as effective treatments compared to their medically prescribed counterparts. History claims that Hippocrates, The Father of Medicine, used ACV for various healing purposes, and he may have been right.

ACV’s components are proven potentially valuable through several research trials outlined below.

An Antimicrobial Agent

A study by Middlesex University London proved ACV’s therapeutic clinical implications against E.coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. Apple cider vinegar demonstrated that it possesses antibacterial and antifungal activity which can help prevent numerous diseases in the body. (1)

Studies have also claimed ACV’s microbe resistance and antifungal nature against denture stomatitis, food-borne pathogens, microbial infections, and much more.

It seems that bathing in vinegar could rid the body of these harmful pathogens and promote overall health and wellness.

Learn: Apple Cider Vinegar for UTI

Strengthens the Skin

A 2015 study declared ACV as an effective treatment for athlete’s foot. In this case, it appears that apple cider vinegar can help this condition with a bath or a simple foot soak. (2)

In 2002, the Indian Journal of Dermatology came forward with a groundbreaking development in the field. They used lactic acid, a component of ACV, in the form of a lotion for skin. This exposure helped the subjects treat the condition of acne vulgaris and significantly reduce skin lesions. (3)

These studies show the potential of an apple cider vinegar bath to help foster healthy skin. Many people use ACV as a face wash to treat acne for this reason.

Helps Treat Wounds

A study by the University of Birmingham put forth acetic acid’s healing tendencies by combating the bacteria found in burn wounds. Another trial by the J R Army Med Corps also concluded ACV’s inhibition over the growth of bacteria P. aeruginosa, which is often found in burn and skin wounds. (4, 5)

May Help Eczema

An animal study observed the skin barrier integrity during atopic dermatitis by exposing mice to ACV creams. The results showed that topical acids inhibited the development of skin lesions. (6)

In 2019, human subjects experienced a similar trial to further study the conclusions drawn. While the immediate results matched those of the former, irritations began developing within a short period. (7)

What Does a Vinegar Bath Do for Females?

History stands proof of women bathing in apple cider vinegar to treat vaginal discharge and sexually transmitted diseases. A study collected different management approaches for bacterial vaginosis and found vinegar as a common home remedy among them. In African continents and other underprivileged areas, ACV is used to cleanse the vagina for treating discharges. (8)

A case report involving a 32-year-old woman diagnosed with Candida albicans sought treatment for symptoms including foul odor, severe vaginal discharge, itching, groin pain, and a long history of infertility. When her body failed to acknowledge prior medicinal treatments, she gained recovery through the use of apple cider vinegar. (9)

In 2000, a study testing vinegar-containing douche products showed they were selectively resistant against pathogens linked with bacterial vaginosis. (10)

Read More: Does apple cider vinegar help with bloating?

Reduces Body Odor

Staphylococcus aureus, along with other microbes, helps to metabolize sweat that results in body odor. Fortunately, ACV has proven itself effective in combating this particular bacteria. Therefore, it is popular to use as a remedy against distinct odors due to sweat.

Does an ACV Bath Help Detox?

Soaking in apple cider vinegar combined with other healthy ingredients like ginger, cinnamon, or turmeric has emerged as a popular detox remedy. Detox is known to improve bodily functions, and when combined with ACV, it provides many advantages.

It draws out harmful toxins that damage enzymes, cause inflammation, and promote diseases like arthritis and gout.

It restores skin health and pH balance by strengthening the skin barrier.

It helps in the process of weight loss and promotes enhanced metabolism.

It supports the digestive system, thus reducing chances for gastrointestinal dysfunctions like acid reflux or heartburn.

It helps fight muscle tension.

It supports the immune system.

Potential Side Effects

Skin is the most sensitive organ of the human body. You must be careful when exposing it to acidic substances or chemicals of any kind. ACV usage is generally considered safe and well-tolerated, with few side effects.

However, there have been accident reports that emphasize the need for safe usage. Improper exposure can lead to burn wounds, and damaged skin, especially when topically applied to diseases that typically require a dermatologist. If you’re unsure, consult with a certified medical professional, first.

How Often Should I Bath in Apple Cider Vinegar?

When using vinegar in your bath, keep its acidity in mind. Excessive exposure to ACV on your skin could gravely irritate it, regardless of whether you have sensitive skin or not.

One should not take an ACV bath more than 2 to 3 times per week. However, if you have sensitive skin, reduce the frequency further.

How Much ACV Should You Use?

People often go overboard with the ACV in their bath because they like the smell, the tickling feeling, or they generally don’t know how much to use. Since this is a bath we’re talking about, not a food recipe, you must keep any love for vinegar out of this.

Keep the amount to 1-2 cups of apple cider vinegar against a full bath. You don’t want to go around smelling like a salad dressing, nor would you like irritated skin after excessive use.

My Feminine Hygiene Routine

More Reading: Does Apple Cider Vinegar Expire?

Safety Tips for an ACV Bath

For a smooth and safe bathing experience, keep the following points under consideration before starting your soak.

Dilution is key. Directly applying ACV to the skin is likely to irritate it.

Use lukewarm water for the bath.

Take a regular shower before bathing in vinegar to clean off dirt and oils.

Rinse your skin with clean water after the bath if you experience any side effects.

Always perform a test trial before making ACV part of your bathing routine. Prepare an ACV bath and expose only a small part of your body to the mixture. After a while, if you feel any burning, immediately quit the operation.

Soak in the bath for 15-30 minutes, depending upon skin vulnerability.

Do not rub dry your skin after use. Only gently dab the towel over until dry.

Always use a raw ACV for your detox bath.

Apple Cider Vinegar Detox Drink

If the concept of laying down in a pool of vinegar is intimidating, you can switch to a simpler option by drinking apple cider vinegar shots. This way, you can experience most of its health benefits without committing to a bath.

Grab a jar and pour in 8 ounces of cold water.

Mix in 1-2 tablespoons of ACV.

Add in a sweetener of your choice. (honey, sugar, etc.)

Finish it off with a personalized touch by including any healthy ingredient you may like. Turmeric, cayenne pepper, and ginger are common choices.

Other Ways to Take ACV

ACV is very versatile, thanks to its many different components. Therefore, you can also choose to get more apple cider vinegar in your diet by one of the following means.

As over the counter ACV pills

In the form of salad dressings

Cooked within other meals

As tasty ACV gummies, the most popular form of consumption

Choose whatever works for your skin and body. Just remember the recommended ACV dosage for oral ingestion should remain between 15-30 ml per day, regardless of method.

More Reading: Best Time to Drink Apple Cider Vinegar

Final Thoughts on Soaking in Apple Cider Vinegar

Safe to say, the hype surrounding ACV is real. However, the safety concerns are of equal significance. As long as you abide by the precautions, you may find that an apple cider vinegar bath works wonders for your health.

Can a woman bathe in apple cider vinegar?

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a vinegar made by allowing apples or apple juice to ferment. It may have some mild health benefits due to the type of acid in the vinegar and other compounds.

Natural, or unfiltered, ACV contains byproducts from fermentation, such as strands of bacteria, proteins, and yeast. This collection of byproducts is known as the “mother” of the vinegar.

Because of these additional byproducts, advocates of ACV claim that unfiltered ACV has more health benefits than filtered ACV.

Adding ACV to a bath may promote general skin health. It may also help soothe the symptoms of any skin infections or other sources of irritation.

Keep reading to learn more about the possible benefits of taking ACV baths.

Are there benefits of taking an ACV bath?

Adding ACV to a bath may improve skin health.

There may be some benefits associated with adding ACV to a bath.

People all around the world use vinegar for medicinal purposes in varying forms. Scientific research supports this to a certain degree, as the acetic acid in vinegar does appear to have some health benefits. Also, the acidic nature of ACV may be responsible for its apparent benefits.

The reason that these factors could help is that the barrier on the outer layer of skin, or the acid mantle, is naturally acidic. It protects the skin from viruses, infections, and other potential hazards.

Any breaks in this barrier, or factors that cause the skin’s pH levels to change, may lead to skin problems.

Adding ACV to a bath makes the water more acidic, which may promote skin health by restoring the skin’s pH balance and protecting this outermost layer.

However, a recent studyTrusted Source of 22 people found that soaking in ACV may have detrimental effects. In this study, most of the participants who took ACV baths reported no improvements to the skin barrier and found that the ACV actually caused irritation.

That said, this was a very small study, and researchers must continue to explore ACV baths before claiming that there is significant evidence either for or against this form of treatment.

Keep reading for more information about some of the possible health benefits of ACV baths.