Vaginal Stenosis: What it Is, Common Causes and More

What is Vaginal Stenosis?

Vaginal stenosis is a narrowing, closing, or loss of flexibility of the vagina and vaginal opening. It is the side effect of radiation treatment, surgery to vagina, and sometimes hormone changes over the lifespan.

Many times, it is accompanied by dryness, scar tissue, and loss of mobility of the vaginal tissue.

Radiation to the pelvis and vagina is often performed to treat various forms of cancer. Radiation may be directed at the pelvic organs, including the bladder, bowel, uterus, ovaries, cervix, or to the vaginal tissue itself.

Radiation induced vaginal stenosis often leaves the skin and tissue around the vagina thinner, dry, less pliable, and oftentimes, painful.

Surgery to the area can leave scar tissue that has a similar affect. Surgery can affect the blood vessels, lymph nodes, and overall flexibility of the vaginal tissue.

Vaginal stenosis makes it difficult to receive vaginal penetration for medical examination and sex.

What to Do About Vaginal Stenosis

The good news is that there are steps that can be taken to help improve the elasticity of the vagina. Check with your healthcare provider to determine whether you are experiencing it. Some healthcare providers may recommend the following steps to address Vaginal Stenosis:

1. Use Vaginal Dilators

Intimate Rose's Vaginal Dilators are cleared to address vaginismus and associated symptoms such as painful penetration or pelvic pain. Prolonged avoidance of vaginismus symptoms, whether due to pain or fear, may contribute to a decrease in vaginal elasticity and health, potentially leading to vaginal stenosis.

Use Vaginal Dilators (also referred to as Vaginal trainers) to gently stretch and improve the elasticity of the vagina. When a person is educated that it is safe to do so by a healthcare provider, vaginal dilator training can begin.

Choose a set that comes with progressive sizes to allow you to gently and progressively improve the depth and width of the vaginal opening after vaginal stenosis has occurred.

Training sessions include gently compressing the dilator into the opening of the vagina, holding for 30 seconds to a minute, moving around the vaginal opening like a clock.

Then, the dilator can be gently inserted into the vagina, and used to stretch and train the surrounding pelvic floor muscles to relax for improved ability to tolerate penetration.

Use Plenty of Lubrication

Use plenty of lubrication- this applies to daily hygiene, dilator use, and sexual use. Using a personal lubricant such as Intimate Rose’s velvet lubricant significantly improves comfort during dilator training and sex. 

At lease 1-2 tablespoons can be helpful, and additionally, lubricant can be injected into the vaginal vault by using a suspension dropper. Additionally, an organic balm such as Intimate Rose’s Enchanted Rose Balm can be used multiple times daily to help moisturize the vulva and entrance to the vagina.

This organic blend helps to sooth dry, irritated skin, just as a lip balm would to dry, chapped lips.

Do Daily Pelvic Floor Release Stretches

Gentle stretching for pelvic floor muscle release compliments dilator training in helping to relax the muscles that share a connection with the vaginal opening, which can help make penetration more comfortable. 

For a gentle stretching routine, see this Guide to Pelvic Floor Release by doctor of physical therapy and certified pelvic floor specialist, Amanda Olson.

Use Vibration Therapy To Promote Circulation

Vibration therapy can help stimulate circulation and support tissue relaxation after treatment. Gentle vibration may improve blood flow and soften scar tissue and other affected areas

Vibrating wands, like Intimate Rose’s exclusively patented vibrating Pelvic Wand, were designed by physical therapist Amanda Olson to provide a unique contour for easy access to both the superficial and deeper areas of the vagina and rectum. 

The wand can be used for targeted massage and may help relieve aches and pains in the pelvic floor muscles. It offers 10 different vibration frequencies that promote circulation and help relax the pelvic floor muscles and vaginal tissue.

This therapy may support the restoration of tissue elasticity and improve comfort.

Above all, remember that reversing vaginal stenosis is possible, however, it takes time. Daily progress can be made to eventually restore some of the natural elasticity of the vagina for pain-free penetration.