Vaginal Laxity can be caused by a variety of factors, but the most common are the impact of the menopause and lasting effects from vaginal childbirth.
The majority of women experience the start of the menopause between the ages of 45 and 55, where there are considerable changes in women’s natural hormone levels. The sharp drop in estrogen production causes many changes in women’s bodies, including a drop in the levels of collagen that the body produces. This is particularly important when it comes to women’s health during the menopause. Collagen production begins to slow from the mid 20’s, contributing to the visible signs of ageing in the body and skin and the drop in estrogen further lowers collagen production in the body.
This drop in collagen levels can cause a loss in skin elasticity, causing fine lines and wrinkles, as well as a loss of muscle tone. This is where vaginal laxity comes in – this combination of changes in the body leads to a variety of genitourinary symptoms of menopause, or GSM, including vaginal laxity and conditions associated with it.
Vaginal laxity occurs when the tissues in the vaginal canal and the pelvic floor muscles become weakened, either due to collagen loss or a loss of muscle tone, leading to a variety of issues. These can include a higher likelihood of stress incontinence, looseness and lack of sensation in the vagina during sex. This can make having sex more difficult due to vaginal dryness and pain.
Vaginal laxity can also be caused by childbirth, with the vagina and vaginal canal undergoing immense strain during vaginal birth. For women who have had long or complicated births, larger babies or multiple vaginal deliveries, the likelihood of vaginal laxity becomes higher. While the vagina is a muscle designed to relax and contract, if damage occurs to the muscles during birth, it may not be able to contract as well as before having children, leading to vaginal laxity.
These issues affect many women throughout their lives, yet they are not spoken about as often as they should be. However, here at Bodika Clinic, we are passionate about using BTL Emsella to help give women back control of their lives and sexuality, and to free them from the symptoms of vaginal laxity.