{"id":1603,"date":"2023-01-30T12:58:04","date_gmt":"2023-01-30T12:58:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/?p=1603"},"modified":"2023-02-10T13:10:38","modified_gmt":"2023-02-10T13:10:38","slug":"vaginal-laxity-causes-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/vaginal-laxity-causes-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"Vaginal Laxity: Causes & Treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Vaginas can be vastly different, coming in different sizes and shapes, and all of them are considered normal. The muscles of the vagina are often described as muscles acting like a rubber band, stretching out when required and returning to their original shape quickly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, vaginal laxity or vaginal looseness may occur, in which the muscles lose their sensitivity and elasticity due to different factors such as illness, age, and childbirth. Often, vaginal laxity will also mean that patients experience less sensation during sex. Needless to say, this can have a profoundly negative impact on the patient\u2019s everyday life, mental well-being, and self-esteem.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Medical experts agree that vaginal looseness isn\u2019t just a condition that women have to learn to deal with. Fortunately, there are several treatment options, from pelvic floor training exercises to the highly-effective <\/span>MonaLisa Touch<\/span><\/a> procedure, which can help women regain their vaginal elasticity and enjoy intimacy and help eliminate any other uncomfortable symptoms that accompany vaginal laxity.<\/span><\/p>\n

That said, this blog post will aim to explore the causes of vaginal laxity and offer several treatment options in the process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Causes Behind Vaginal Looseness<\/b><\/h2>\n

Several things may cause vaginal laxity. Below, you can find the most common causes that \u201cloosen up\u201d the vagina:<\/span><\/p>\n

Childbirth and Pregnancy\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

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Experts often agree that the leading cause of vaginal laxity is vaginal birth. During the process of vaginal delivery, the baby moves through the cervix and, ultimately, out of the vagina. Needless to say, the latter must stretch out considerably to allow the baby to pass through.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And even though several pelvic floor training exercises, such as Kegel exercises, can help women tone their vaginal muscles to improve laxity, most often, this body part won\u2019t be able to return to its state before giving birth with pelvic floor exercises alone. To make matters even more complicated, vaginal laxity induced by childbirth may also cause urinary incontinence, which may also be a temporary problem.<\/span><\/p>\n

Age<\/b><\/h3>\n

The progression of time or aging is another significant factor when it comes to vaginal looseness. As people age, their skin elasticity and muscle tone weaken throughout the body, and this includes the vagina as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

For the most part, the age-related shifts in vaginal elasticity usually begin in women in their 40s \u2013 around the same time when estrogen levels begin to decline and perimenopause begins. On that note, vaginal laxity is a common symptom of vaginal atrophy, where the vaginal lining tends to get thin, less stretchy, and dry. This also causes itching and painful intercourse and may also lead to frequent urination and urinary tract infections. The lower levels of estrogen will also lead to lower amounts of vaginal fluids which will change the vagina\u2019s acid balance. Still, vaginal atrophy usually develops later in life in women who have gone through menopause.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Low Levels of Estrogen<\/b><\/h3>\n

As mentioned above, estrogen levels tend to decrease in women with age, which will naturally affect the vagina. As already discussed, low levels of estrogen can cause the tissue of the vagina to become drier and thinner. The process also makes the organ lose its elasticity, which usually triggers that \u201cloose\u201d sensation. This is a common phenomenon, with as high as half of the women reporting decreased elasticity and noticeable vaginal laxity after menopause because of their decreasing estrogen levels.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When talking about estrogen, it\u2019s important to point out that menopause and aging aren\u2019t the only causes of imbalances in estrogen levels. Often, specific medications and other health problems may also decrease the levels of these hormones. For example, the medication named tamoxifen (used to prevent breast cancer) is a known compound with anti-estrogen characteristics.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s another medication called medroxyprogesterone (used as a treatment for abnormal uterine bleeding) and nafarelin (for endometriosis) that also have these hormone-decreasing effects.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Women may also experience drops in their estrogen levels after they\u2019ve given birth. During pregnancy, the placenta produces estrogen, which gets lost after the baby is born. Additionally, prolactin, the milk-producing hormone, will make matters worse as it temporarily blocks estrogen production while breastfeeding.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lastly, nicotine usage has also been shown to decrease estrogen levels, and research suggests that smoking may trigger the early onset of menopause.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Illness<\/b><\/h3>\n

Certain malignancies, injuries, pelvic surgery, and other medical conditions may also contribute to vaginal looseness. Radiation and chemotherapy for cancer can prevent the ovaries from functioning properly, which may also increase vaginal laxity. Ovary removal (oophorectomy) may also loosen the vagina.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Other genetic problems that interfere with normal collagen metabolism can also contribute to vaginal laxity, such as osteogenesis imperfecta, Marfan syndrome, and Ehlers-Danos syndrome.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ligament laxity may also contribute to vaginal looseness following a sudden lower back injury trauma to the pelvic floor after childbirth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Symptoms of Vaginal Looseness<\/b><\/h2>\n

Most often, the signs of vaginal laxity include the following:<\/span><\/p>\n