Will my vagina become loose during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, some women may experience looseness in their lower body, which is quite common. However, if it happens, women will feel very uncomfortable and even have inferiority complex. After giving birth, they should take appropriate relief measures for the symptoms. Otherwise, women will be more susceptible to bacterial infections.

1. Elastic fiber damage

The normal vagina is 2.5 cm in diameter and about 8 cm long. There are many "elastic fibers" on the vaginal wall that support the vagina's elasticity. Countless "elastic fibers" are woven into a dense vaginal elastic fiber network, entangling the vaginal mucosa and many folds, which can increase friction during sexual intercourse and give pleasure to both parties. As you age, the vagina becomes loose due to marriage and childbirth. When the elastic fibers in the vagina break, the vaginal opening expands and the vaginal walls become brittle and thinner, making it easier for bacteria to invade and the vagina is prone to organic damage during intercourse.

Due to the rupture and atrophy of the elastic fiber network in the vulva, the sensitivity of the peripheral nerves in the vulva decreases and becomes dull, resulting in sexual indifference, pain during sexual intercourse, etc. The rupture of "elastic fibers" and damage to the elastic fiber network in the vagina are the main causes of vaginal relaxation in patients with vaginal relaxation. When the female vaginal wall is torn or there is frequent strenuous exercise, during sexual intercourse, childbirth, frequent sexual life, abortion, or medical abortion, the elastic fibers in the vagina are "stretched" again and again, the "vaginal elastic network" is broken, and the vagina is stretched and unable to retract, resulting in "vaginal relaxation."

2. Disease population

(1) Women with chronic diseases, weak constitutions, and emaciation have looser muscles, fascia, ligaments, and other structures, which aggravates vaginal relaxation.

(2) Age increase: As women age, their estrogen levels decrease, causing degeneration of muscles, fascia, ligaments and related supporting structures. Muscle tension decreases, fascia becomes thinner, and the vaginal mucosa atrophies, exacerbating vaginal relaxation.

The main tissues that maintain the elasticity and tightness of the female vagina are the muscles and fascia of the pelvic floor. Vaginal delivery will damage the pelvic floor tissues to varying degrees. At the same time, with the increase of age, the ovarian function gradually declines, the amount of estrogen decreases, and the supporting structures such as the fascia undergo degeneration, the muscle tension decreases, and the mucosa atrophies, making the vagina more loose and lacking in elasticity. Over time, some women develop urethral or bladder prolapse, leading to stress urinary incontinence (inability to hold urine when sneezing or jumping), difficulty urinating or repeated urinary tract infections, or constipation due to rectal prolapse.

Some patients with vaginal relaxation are slow to respond or do not respond to stimulation during sexual intercourse, making it difficult for them to reach orgasm. Over time, this can lead to sexual apathy, affecting the quality of life of the couple and even causing a breakdown in their relationship. Vaginal relaxation can cause the vagina to be unable to "hold" the penis, loss of sexual pleasure and orgasm, sexual indifference, vaginal flatulence, vaginal dryness, and a relaxed vagina allows bacteria and toxins to remain, causing vaginitis, cervicitis, and even ascending infection to difficult-to-cure gynecological diseases such as endometritis and adnexitis.