“It just isn’t as intuitive as stretching your neck or hips is, which can be frustrating.” And no matter how confident you feel, start with the smallest size or the one your doctor recommends. “There’s a steep learning curve with dilators,” says Jeffcoat (and I agree). Occasionally, dilators are used alongside sex therapy or psychotherapy as part of a healing plan for survivors of sexual trauma. Wider notes that dilators can also be used by patients undergoing radiation for cervical, vaginal, endometrial, or uterine cancer to help prevent the treatment from altering the length/shape of the vaginal canal. The same goes for patients who have experienced vaginal shape changes after childbirth or menopause.ĭr. need for rehabilitation after vaginal surgery.interstitial cystitis (sometimes called painful bladder syndrome).vulvar vestibulitis (burning pain around the vagina).vulvodynia or vestibulodynia (pain around the vaginal opening).A gynecologist will help diagnose the cause before you see a PFT for instructions and a therapy program.Īccording to Jeffcoat, the diagnosis can be any of the following: Your healthcare provider may prescribe or recommend vaginal dilators for several different reasons, even if you’re not overly tense down there. Hypertonic pelvic floor havers aren’t the only people who can use them Once it’s in, your expert will tell you to either lie there or manipulate the toy so you can internally massage hard-to-get spots within your pelvic floor, says Jeffcoat. “If there is a sensation of pain, pause, try to relax, and start again.” If you’re still feeling pain, the dilator you’re using is likely too large. “Most folks describe it as feeling pressure,” says Dr. But it should never be excessively painful. The experience can differ from vulva owner to vulva owner, depending on the W-H-Y behind use. “The idea is that you start by inserting the smallest, gradually increasing the size as insertion and penetration begins to feel comfortable,” explains women’s health expert Jennifer Wider, MD. The smallest is usually no bigger than a thin tampon or a pinky, and the largest is closer in size to a medium banana. Most dilators come in a set of five or six of increasing size. Usually made of medical-grade silicone or hard ABS plastic, vaginal dilators may look like dildos - but unlike dildos, which are generally designed to go in and out with speed, dilators go in and stay in. “Vaginal dilators are a medical tool used to either relax and stretch the pelvic floor muscles and connective tissues to reduce pain or help desensitize hypersensitive vaginal tissue,” says Heather Jeffcoat, a doctor of physical therapy who specializes in sexual dysfunction and incontinence.īasically, they help the vagina expand in size (and get used to size). Vaginal dilators go into the vagina, but they’re not sex toys
So, for folks who have questions, I asked vulva health experts to explain what dilators are, who they’re for, and how to use them. I still need to rely on CBD lube and tons of foreplay, and sometimes I have to press pause and move on to non-penetrative activities… but for the first time in a long time, penetration is actually happening! And sometimes it even feels good. But I’m 2 months into my program, and my muscles are finally learning how to relax. Easy enough! Start using vaginal dilators…īefore I started using vaginal dilators, I’d never heard of ’em either.
Fun! Do a yoga-esque sequence of Cobra, Down Dog, and Frog Pose every a.m. Her recommended plan of action: Masturbate more. (In most cases, you’d see a gynecologist for a diagnosis and then get a referral to see a PFT.)įor me, a hypertonic pelvic floor means that my pelvic floor muscles are where I hold my stress - as opposed to, say, my traps, lats, or jaw. So, I booked an appointment with a pelvic floor therapist who, after touching around my its and bits with a lubed-up latex glove, diagnosed me with a hypertonic pelvic floor. No matter how gently they pressed their finger or dildo against my opening, she wouldn’t open. I discovered this one night on my back while giving someone (who was The Most My Type) my best “come here” eyes, and they were kneeling over my body when suddenly it happened. In the last few years, whenever someone’s come close to my coochie, she’s clamped shut and stayed shut. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. We include products we think are useful for our readers. Share on Pinterest Design by Dana Davenport