Talk True is a Zikoko limited series for medical myth-busting. With each episode, we’ll talk to medical professionals about commonly misunderstood health issues to get the actual facts.
Our society’s obsession with vaginas should be the stuff of documentaries at this point. Every market day, you’ll find at least one person sharing their two cents about how a woman with a high body count is more likely to have a loose vagina.
If it’s not that, it’s people touting the wonders of “vagina tightening” creams to battle loose vaginas. It definitely begs the question: Can “too much” sex really loosen a vagina, or is this widespread belief just a myth? Dr Mary Alo provides answers.
Can the vagina even get loose?
To understand where the conversation about sex and loose vaginas may have started, it’s important to know if the vagina can even be said to become loose. Mary explains that it can feel less elastic.
“The vagina is a distensible fibromuscular organ or tube that extends from the cervix to the vulva. In simple terms, it contains muscles which allow it to stretch and lengthen during sexual intercourse and return to its regular length and width after. It’s highly elastic, and some factors like ageing, which comes with lower oestrogen levels, can cause the vagina to become drier and less elastic.”
So, technically, “loose” isn’t the accurate term, as the vagina doesn’t completely lose its stretch. It just becomes less elastic than before.
So, can sex loosen it?
No. Mary confirms it’s physically impossible for penetration to make the vagina less elastic.
“Sex is not enough to destroy the muscles of the vagina to the point where it loses its elasticity. It’s simply incapable.”
Here’s how it works: The vagina’s anatomy allows it to get lubricated and naturally expand when aroused to accommodate a penis or sex toy. Immediately after intercourse, the vagina returns to its regular state.
What factors can contribute to a loose vagina?
Mary explains that only two factors can alter the vagina’s elasticity: Childbirth and age.
“During childbirth, the muscles of the vagina stretch considerably to accommodate the baby’s size, and this typically results in weakened vaginal muscles. But even then, the muscles go back to normal in about 6 – 12 weeks. However, things like multiple childbirth and trauma during delivery may weaken the muscles even more and increase the risk for the muscles to start losing stretch.
For ageing, as I explained earlier, oestrogen levels dip when women become menopausal, which in turn affects vaginal elasticity.”
Ageing is also associated with a weakened pelvic floor, as a result of decreased collagen production; a structural protein that serves as the main component of the body’s connective tissues. The pelvic floor contains muscles that strengthen the vagina, so when they become weak, the vagina is unable to stretch and relax as it normally should, making it less elastic.
Can the vagina become “tight” again?
We’ve determined that the vagina doesn’t exactly become “loose”, so it can’t be said to be “tight” either, unless you’re talking about vaginismus.
However, you can strengthen the muscles around the vagina to help elasticity and enable it to contract/stretch and relax as it should.
“In the event that childbirth contributes to weakened vaginal muscles, exercises like kegels help strengthen the pelvic floor, and tighten the muscles around the vagina. They’re also the safest option.
For ageing, therapy options like providing synthetic hormones to postmenopausal women help. In some cases, more advanced procedures like laser and radiofrequency tightening and vaginoplasty may be advised. However, these have a certain level of risk and should only be done by licensed medical practitioners.
In response to whether the “vagina tightening” creams and gels marketed by so-called wellness experts work as well, Mary responds in the negative.
“What most of these creams and gels do is dry out the mucosal lining of the vagina, thereby decreasing lubrication. Without lubrication, there’d be more friction during intercourse which gives the false sense that the vagina is tighter. The vagina stretches to accommodate the penis with help from lubrication. If that’s absent, users of these creams may experience temporary swelling of the vaginal tissues from friction which is termed to be “tightening” but is short-lived.
Some of these creams also have astringent qualities that tighten the vaginal walls for a short time, but it’s not a permanent option. It’s also unsafe because it can result in pain and micro tears in the vagina, leaving it vulnerable to infection and inflammation”.
This should be your reaction if anyone tries to sell it to you
The takeaway
No amount of penetrative sex can loosen the vagina, whether with multiple sexual partners or one. The only factors that can make the vagina lose its elasticity are childbirth and age. Even then, there are options to improve elasticity, and kegel exercises are the safest bet. So, if anyone makes a claim about a woman’s vagina being “wide” because she’s had many partners, feel free to hit them *figuratively* with facts.
NEXT READ: Talk True: Is Period Syncing a Real Thing?
