“They come in all shapes and sizes”, says gynecologist Dr. Heather Rupp who “encounters about 35 vaginas a day.” But she also explains that vagina size can change due to childbirth, weight gain and sexual activity.
But is that a problem? When asked if the vagina size could be too big, she answers: “Unless a woman has had a particularly difficult natural birth or some vaginal plastic surgery, then no. If the pelvic floor muscles were damaged during childbirth and there were structural problems, then a gynecologist should be consulted.”
The vagina is usually 7-10 cm long and 5-7 cm wide. It expands during intercourse and even more so during childbirth. After giving birth, the pelvic floor muscles usually recover in about 6 to 12 weeks.
Changes after childbirth
If a woman continues to experience unpleasant changes after giving birth, such as urinary incontinence and pain during intercourse, tampons and menstrual cups simply falling out of the vagina, there are various measures you can take to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, according to dailystar.co.uk.
The gynecologist advises: “Start with losing weight, especially if your BMI is above 30. Kegel exercises and other pelvic floor exercises are also good. If this does not help, then contact a physiotherapist who specializes in this field, who will know exactly how to strengthen the pelvic muscles. If physical therapy doesn’t help, then it’s time to see a doctor.”
Heather explains that gynecology and urogynecology specialists will know best what to do if you think something is wrong with your vagina. According to her, sometimes the muscles of the vaginal and anal septum tear during childbirth and don’t heal as they should. In some cases, they can be restored surgically.
Don’t buy popular “miracle pills”
The expert warns that it is not worth buying over-the-counter vaginal “constrictors” and “herbal medicines” that supposedly promise to shrink or narrow the vagina. The doctor says that such unreliable means can irritate the vagina, cause swelling or even seriously burn the mucous membrane.
For those concerned about the appearance of the outer labia, Heather says that plastic surgeons can reshape them, although the doctor says that in her “professional gynecologist’s opinion, this is completely unnecessary.”
Heather also reminds us that a woman’s sexual satisfaction is not related to the size of her vagina. She reveals: “Pleasure comes from clitoral stimulation and pressure on the inner front wall of the vagina. There are several studies that show that sexual function or satisfaction is the same in women who have had a caesarean section and those who have given birth vaginally, meaning that natural vaginal dilation during labor has no effect.