Dilation is a stressful topic, especially when your surgery wounds are still fresh. Dilation may become painful, while you are still healing and your doctor suggests you start dilating with bigger size dilators. Should you listen to the doctor and painfully dilate? Always listen to your body.

Whether the surgery was 10 years ago or recent, Dilation can help you at any time. Through dilation, you can maintain your vaginal depth.Here are a few tips that can help you through the dilation process.

1.Relaxation

It is important that you are relaxed during the entire process of dilation. When stressed or in pain, your muscles get cramped and the dilation becomes more painful. So, you must be relaxed through the entire process. When relaxed, the pelvic floor muscles will easily allow the dilator inside and make it less painful. So it’s important to stay relaxed during dilation without feeling any pressure or pain. Try Breathing exercises, soothing music, incense sticks, tons of pillows and comforters.

2.Dilator size ( Depth V/S width)

The most important principle of dilation is to listen to your body. Regardless of what your friends or doctors suggest, Always listen to your body. Use a smaller size dilator if the prescribed size is too painful. But it’s important that you keep dilating. Thickness can be increased gradually but it is important that you maintain depth. You might even have to go through the surgery again if your vaginal depth gets reduced. In the initial days post surgery, use a thinner dilator if you are unable to use a wider dilator.Various types of dilators are available in the market. Usually one starts dilation with a smaller dilator and gradually increases it to a bigger size. There are also dilators with a base, so that you can comfortably place it anywhere flat during dilation.

3.Consistency

It’s important that you maintain vaginal depth through regular dilation so be consistent with the dilation process. Do it regularly as advised by the doctor. Do not skip your sessions.

4.Duration

Many surgeons suggest keeping the dilator inside for hours, and sleep with it or follow your routine while the dilator is inside! Please never follow this advice. If you sleep or work with the dilator inside, the lubricant on it gets absorbed by the  skin and the dilator sticks to your vaginal skin. So  when you try removing this dilator, it won’t come out and you will have to endure great difficulty in getting it out. This can also irritate the vaginal skin. The purpose of dilation is to relax the pelvic floor muscles. So please don’t keep the dilator inside for several hours or sleep with the dilator inside.

5.Lubricant

Lubrication is really important for dilation. Usually there are two types of lubricants. Oil-based and water-based  lubricants. Water-based lubricant is best for dilation. It is important to test the lubricant before using it. You require a lot of lubricant during dilation. You can use any branded or unbranded lubricant.

Test– Apply some lubricant on your skin and massage it for 2 minutes. The lubricant is good, if it stays intact and doesn’t get absorbed by your skin.

You can use either Vaginal or Anal lubricant. Usually Anal lubricant is better than vaginal lubricant. But make sure that it is water-based. Apart from this, you also require a syringe. You can use it to inject the lubricant inside your vaginal cavity, to make the Dilation process less painful & easier. Additionally You will need many pillows and towels.

Always listen to your body regardless of what others say. You may consult a pelvic floor physiotherapist if required. Your surgeon may not be your best guide for dilation.