This will educate you about vaginal dilators and the way to use them for various vaginal dilator remedies.

After menopause, your vagina will become drier, much less elastic (stretchy), narrower, and shorter. This process can take place sooner if you had cancer treatments or a surgery to lower your risk of cancer. Using a vaginal dilator and beginning vaginal dilator remedy can assist with those changes.

What are Vaginal Dilators?

A vaginal dilator is a tube-formed device that’s used to stretch your vagina. Vaginal dilators are available in kits with distinctive length dilators starting from small (approximately the scale of a finger) to large. Some kits include a handle to make it easier to hold the dilator while using it. Some even have a suction at the bottom, do you can affix it to a flat surface to stay in place while you use it. 

You will begin vaginal dilator therapy using the smallest dilator in your kit and slowly increase the dilator size/length over time as you experience greater comfort. Go at your own pace.

There are plastic, metal, and silicone dilators, and to each is own. Use and utilize the ones that are most comfortable and that work best for you.  

About Vaginal Dilator Therapy

Vaginal dilator therapy will keep your vagina from becoming too narrow and will help keep your vagina elastic. Things that it will also help:

• Have your healthcare provider do a full pelvic exam, especially around your vulva and internal reproductive organs.
• Make pelvic exams and vaginal penetration more comfortable.

The time it takes to use do vaginal dilator therapy depends on many factors, but use it for as long as you need to and talk to a healthcare provider and professional about the length of time that is best for you. 

How to do Vaginal Dilator Therapy in 5 Easy Steps

Pick a comfortable, quiet place where you will feel relaxed, such as your bedroom. Relax your pelvic floor muscles and take some deep breathes before you begin so you get into the right mindset. 

1. Get into a comfortable position.
2. Lie on your back with your feet flat on the bed or couch with your knees slightly bent.
3. Spread your legs so they are shoulder-width apart. You can place pillows under your knees for support.
4. Make sure you can easily touch the opening of your vagina with your hand. Utilize a hand mirror to view your vaginal opening if you need to.
5. When comfortable, take some slow, deep breaths into your stomach. Also practice Kegal exercises by squeezing and relaxing your pelvic floor muscles. These exercises will help relax your pelvic floor muscles and make it much easier to use the dilator(s).

Using Your Vaginal Dilator in 5 Detailed Steps

It is actually a lot easier to use a vaginal dilator than you think, and it shouldn't cause any pain if you do it slowly and gently, and only takes about 10 to 15 minutes.

Start with the smallest size dilator in your kit. It should feel snug but not painful. If you do not feel any pressure when you insert the dilator, you may need a larger size.

1. Apply a water-based lubricant (such as IntiMD Water Based Lubricant) to the dilator and the opening of your vagina to help the dilator slide into your vagina more easily.

• DO NOT use petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline) because it may cause irritation
• Avoid using oil and silicone based lubricants because they do not wash off the dilator easily.

2. Using light pressure, slowly insert the round end of the dilator into your vagina.

• Always insert straight toward your spine (backbone) or at a slight downward angle, similar to the way you would insert a tampon.
• Keep inserting the dilator slowly until you feel slight discomfort or muscle tension, then STOP. Don't ever use force and immediately stop if and when you feel pain.

3. Do a set of Kegel exercises since this will help you relax your pelvic floor muscles and insert the dilator a little further. 

• Your vagina will narrow when you contract your pelvic floor muscles and open slightly when you relax.
• If you are still having difficulty inserting the dilator after doing Kegal exercises, try taking very deep breathes to help you relax. This will help you refocus on relaxing the muscles so you can try to insert the dilator a little further.
• Do not worry if you cannot insert the dilator completely You will be able to build the tolerance to insert and get it further and further over time. If you cannot, make sure you talk to a healthcare provider or professional.

4. Gently move the dilator inside of your vagina for 5 to 10 minutes. Add more lubricant, as needed.

• Gently push the dilator in and out, as this will help strength the length of your vagina.
• Gently rotate the dilator in wide circles at the back, middle, and opening of your vagina to help stretch the wide of your vagina.
• This is a helpful tip to work with more than one size dilator. You can use a larger dilator at the opening of your vagina and a smaller sized one deeper inside your vagina until you are able to use the next size dilator fully. 

5. Remove the dilator from your vagina.

Tips After Using Your Vaginal Dilator

Wash your dilator with soap and water or a trusted Hygienic Cleaner. Dry it with a clean towel or paper towel, or let it air dry. Make sure to store it as instructed in your kit once it is dry. DO NOT store it if it is still damp or has any water residue on it.

There may be after effects after using the dilator, such as a small amount of vaginal bleeding, and this is normal. You may want to wear a panty liner after the dilator therapy. If there is a lot of bleeding, or if it continues longer than one day, call your healthcare provider and let them know. 

If you get urinary tract infections (UTIs) often, you may want to urinate after using your dilator. If you have any questions or problems, be sure to talk with your healthcare provider.

Increasing Your Dilator Sizes 

Your main goal with vaginal dilator therapy is to increase your dilator sizes slowly. You can move to the next size up when you can successfully insert one size of a dilator completely into your vagina without any discomfort. Increase the size over time so you can help yourself feel more comfortable during pelvic exams, vaginal sex, or both.

How Often Should You Do Vaginal Dilator Therapy?

You should perform dilator therapy three to four times per week, but don't do it two or more days in a row. You may cause pain or irritation if you do it many days in a row. Try to do more Kegal exercises on the days you do not use your vaginal dilator. Doing your Kegel exercises should not be painful and you can practice this to help you out on off days.

If you forget to do dilator therapy one day or don't have the time for it, don't worry, simply get back into a rhythm as soon as you can and make a plan or routine for yourself to improve. 

If you need more support, there are plenty of support groups and forums you can join online to ask questions to others who have tried vaginal dilator therapy. 

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