The vagina is a surprisingly resilient organ. It can stretch and flex to accommodate a baby during birth, but it usually returns to its original form with time.
The vagina can also temporarily loosen after having penetrative sex, but this is only temporary. It’s no different than stretching your mouth to yawn; it always snaps back into place.
Age
Women experience changes to their vulva and vagina throughout their lives, starting at puberty and continuing through childbirth, menopause and beyond. While these changes can sometimes cause a woman to feel more loose down there, they’re usually completely normal and can be caused by a variety of things, such as hormone fluctuations and major life events.
The most common causes of a loose vagina are age and childbirth, but other things can also contribute to the condition. During childbirth, the muscles of the vagina become stretched out due to the shape of the baby and then gradually reduce in size as the body recovers. Women who have had multiple vaginal births or those who experienced significant trauma during their deliveries may be more likely to experience chronic laxity than those who did not.
Another cause of a loose vagina is the natural decline in estrogen levels that occurs during a woman’s 40s and 50s. This can make the tissues of the vulva less elastic, and the ligaments that connect the vaginal muscles to the pelvic bones can weaken, causing them to lose their tightness.
The final cause of a loose vagina is repeated attempts to insert larger-sized objects, such as tampons and pens. While this can temporarily cause the muscles to relax and increase sensitivity, doing so frequently could permanently damage the integrity of the muscle tissue.
Childbirth
When a woman gives birth, the muscles of the vagina stretch out to accommodate the baby and then shrink back. This is normal. However, if the muscles are not contracting properly, a condition known as postpartum laxity may result. This is a problem because it causes the vulva to be loose and can lead to problems such as urinary incontinence or a loss of sensation during sexual intercourse.
One of the most common concerns that women have about their genitalia after childbirth is that they are no longer able to feel sensation or satisfaction during sex with their partner. The good news is that there are things that can be done to tighten the muscles.
A simple test to see if your vulva is still tight is to slide your index finger inside and then push. The vulva should close around your finger, and if it doesn’t, it is too loose.
Another thing to consider is that some women experience pelvic floor physiotherapy (which helps to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor) after childbirth and find that their vulva is significantly less loose than it was before they had children. This is a great way to help the muscles of the vulva contract again and it can also reduce the risk of incontinence, pain with intercourse and leaking during exercise.
Vaginitis
Most women will have vaginal looseness at some point in their lives. Mostly due to child birth, but also aging, hormonal changes and even the wrong type of intimate lubricant.
Vaginas can get loose because they stretch a lot during childbirth and then re-contract afterwards. This can cause damage that the muscles have to repair, which can make them weaker and lead to vaginal laxity.
If you are worried about whether your vulva is getting loose, try this test: Put your index finger inside your vagina. If it closes up around the finger without much resistance, then you are okay. If it feels like a big hole or you can easily slip your finger in and out, then you need to talk to your doctor.
Some women can experience vaginitis because of bacteria, yeast and other organisms that are spread during sex, or by using feminine deodorant sprays or perfumed tampons. These infections can occur in women who are not sexually active as well, so it’s important to have a regular checkup.
Vaginas can also become loose because of urinary problems that happen when the bladder muscle becomes weak or damaged. This is called stress incontinence and can lead to leakage of urine, as well as the feeling that you need to pee all the time. The most common problem that causes this is pregnancy and childbirth, but it can also be the result of a lot of physical activity or even the use of certain types of tight underwear.
Hormone Changes
The vagina is an incredibly elastic organ. That’s what allows it to stretch to accommodate a penis, a sex toy, and during sexual arousal. But it also goes back to its original shape once that activity is done. This is why it’s so ridiculous to hear people claim that penetrative sex makes your vulva permanently loose. This not only shames women for their sexuality, it’s simply not medically accurate.
Many women experience a change in their vulva size and shape after childbirth. This is normal, and it may take some time to adjust to. The muscles of the pelvic floor, which help support the vulva, are stretched during natural birth, and they will gradually return to their original tightness over time.
Another common cause of a loose vagina is hormonal changes, particularly when women get close to menopause. This is due to a natural decline in estrogen levels, which can weaken the muscles around the vulva and cause them to lose tightness.
If you’re experiencing chronic feelings of a loose vagina, talk to your doctor or gynecologist about it. They can recommend Kegel exercises and other pelvic floor muscle strengthening strategies, as well as a vaginal dilator to help you achieve a more firm fit. If you’re experiencing pain or other serious symptoms, they may refer you to a pelvic health physiotherapist or other specialist.
