Women have two pair of lips inside their vulva: the outer labia majora and inner labia minora. They come in all shapes and sizes.
Vaginal tightening doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. Natural remedies, including kegel exercises, pelvic floor physiotherapy, and toning devices can help.
Labiaplasty is a surgical procedure that can significantly improve the appearance of loose labia. However, it is not recommended for everyone and requires a lot of commitment to maintain results.
1. Kegel Exercises
Vaginal laxity is a common problem that many women experience after pregnancy and childbirth. This is because labor and childbirth stretch the pelvic floor muscles of the vulva to their limits. Fortunately, simple measures such as Kegel exercises and more serious procedures like vaginoplasty can help to tighten these muscles to restore their original strength and tone.
In order to perform a Kegel, you will need to find the correct muscles. Start by squeezing your pelvic floor muscles as tightly as possible for about 3 seconds and then relaxing them for the same amount of time. Then repeat this cycle several times throughout the day. You can do these exercises while sitting, standing or lying down. However, it is important to be able to contract the muscles without moving your legs or bladder. Once you have mastered the exercise, you can add weighted squats to your workout to work the buttocks and thighs at the same time.
Also, be sure to avoid doing Kegels while urinating because this can strain the bladder and cause urinary tract infections. Similarly, it is important to avoid doing these exercises while wearing a catheter as this can cause the catheter to lose its effectiveness. Lastly, you should be aware that Kegel exercises can weaken the pelvic floor muscles if done incorrectly or too often and they are not effective if you have a hernia.
2. Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy
Pelvic floor physiotherapy is a physical therapy that deals with the muscles that control bladder, bowel, and sexual function in your body. A pelvic floor therapist will tailor an exercise routine for you based on your specific condition and symptoms. They may also use external techniques to treat your laxity, including nerve release, trigger point therapy, deep tissue massage (myofascial), and skin rolling.
The most common problem associated with a weak pelvic floor is urinary incontinence, often caused by weakened muscles. This can include leaking urine when coughing or laughing, as well as a feeling that you need to empty your bladder more frequently. Weak muscles can also cause sexual dysfunction, such as pain or inability to orgasm and heaviness in the vaginal canal.
You can start by practicing Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. Several apps are available that will teach you the proper technique and help you track your progress. You can also try weighted vaginal cones of progressively increasing size, which you insert into your vagina and use pelvic muscle contractions to hold in place.
If you have a more severe problem, a physical exam will be necessary to determine what the underlying issue is. This will usually involve an internal exam (for women) or a rectal exam (for men). Many patients are hesitant and nervous about this, but your therapist will walk you through the process step-by-step so that you feel comfortable with your treatment.
3. Massage
Sometimes a simple vaginal massage is all it takes to tighten loose lips. It’s a specialised sex technique known as ‘yoni massage’. It involves gently sliding the first one or two fingers into the vulva using lube to feel for a soft, spongy section that sits behind the clitoris.
Then the fingers are slowly rolled around, contracting and releasing. This stimulates the uterine muscles, improves blood flow and reduces inflammation of the labia majora. It can also help to improve sex drive and the sensations felt during sexual penetration.
Loose vaginal lips can be caused by childbirth, ageing, obesity or straining during coughing, sneezing and laughing. They can also be the result of a medical condition such as a urinary tract infection or uterine fibroids.
Women who suffer from loose lips often find that they lose confidence and self-esteem, but the good news is there are effective ways to tighten them. Kegel exercises, pelvic floor physiotherapy and massage are all highly recommended by doctors but it’s best to avoid herbal supplements, spices and foods that are touted as ‘natural remedies’ to tighten your vulva. Turmeric, for example, is a popular health supplement but it has not been shown to be effective when inserted into the vulva. It could cause irritation and can lead to a yeast infection.
4. ThermiVa
ThermiVa is a new, non-surgical procedure that uses radio frequency energy to gently remodel the skin and tissue inside and outside the vagina, tightening it on a cellular level. This tightening improves urinary stress incontinence, mild pelvic prolapse, and vaginal atrophy (dryness). It also increases sensitivity for both you and your partner during sexual intercourse, boosts orgasms and reduces the need for external lubricants. ThermiVa can be performed in an office setting with no downtime. We recommend a series of three treatments spaced one month apart for the best results.
Loose vaginal lips are common and can happen after childbirth, as a result of natural aging, or due to weight loss. They can lead to diminished sensations during sex, involuntary urine leakage and decrease confidence. In some cases, they can also contribute to urinary bladder dysfunction, such as incontinence and frequent urges to urinate.
ThermiVa can tighten loose skin and reduce sag by stimulating the body’s production of collagen. It will also increase sensitivity for both you and your partner during sex, and can make daily activities more comfortable. It can even help you feel less self-conscious in form fitting clothing such as yoga pants and bikinis. To learn more about ThermiVa and how it can tighten your vaginal lips, speak to a urogynecologist at our clinic in Algonquin, IL today.
