There are times when your vagina can feel tighter than usual, and it may seem like cause for alarm. There’s a possibility there’s nothing to be concerned about, since at certain times of the month or during your lifecycle, it’s normal to feel a little tighter. However, sometimes there are underlying dysfunctions that can cause this vaginal tightness, and these may mean you need some kind of assistance.
Assistance may come in the form of professional services, or tools you can use at home (such as vaginal expanders). Whatever the cause of your vaginal tightness, there will be a solution! This article will take a look at the reasons you might feel tighter than usual, and what you can do about it.
When it’s normal to feel tighter than usual
When your vagina feels too tight, it can be due to the normal ageing process or natural fluctuations in your hormones. If you feel discomfort or pain as a result, you’re probably wondering if being tighter than usual is problem. Here are some of the possible causes of a tight vagina:
Lack of arousal
If you feel tightness and discomfort during penetration, it might be because you’re not fully aroused yet. When you’re not in a state of arousal, your birth canal is probably only around 3 or 4 inches long. On top of this, you won’t have produced enough lubrication for sex to be comfortable. If you attempt to have sex when you’re not properly aroused, your vagina won’t have had a chance to expand and it’s going to feel tighter than usual.
Hormonal fluctuations and menopause
During your menstrual cycle, hormones fluctuate and this results in perceptible physical effects. When you are actually menstruating, you might feel tighter than usual. What’s more, after ovulation, your progesterone and estrogen levels will drop, and that’s responsible for the decreased elasticity and lubrication. If your vagina is feeling less flexible or drier than normal, it will probably also feel tighter.
During the menopause, your estrogen levels are likely to drop even more, so your vaginal tissues will also get thinner than before. As you can imagine, all of these changes can lead to a feeling of vaginal tightness.
Stress
Whenever we get stressed out, the muscles in the body respond by tensing up. Different people feel muscular tension in different places; however, many women experience stress-related muscle tension in the pelvic floor. In fact, it’s one of the most susceptible areas to our stress. A tight pelvic floor could be the reason your vagina feels tighter than usual, so it may help to try to relax your pelvic floor muscles.
When feeling tighter than usual is a problem
Some women are tighter than usual because they have another condition that affects the muscles of the vagina. Here are some examples:
Vaginismus
Vaginismus is when the vagina constricts involuntarily, often due to fear of penetration. It can cause the vaginal muscles to get so tight than penetration of any kind is impossible, and even painful. If you find that your vagina tightens whenever penetration is about to happen, you may need to seek treatment for this. You may be able to deal with vaginismus psychologically, and you may also be able to ease your symptoms by using vaginal expanders (dilators) at home. However, quite often, professional assistance is also needed.
Vaginal atrophy
Vaginal atrophy occurs when hormone levels have declined to such an extent that the tissues are no longer receiving sufficient estrogen for the vagina to function normally. Also called atrophic vaginitis, it is characterized mainly by vaginal tightness (or closing), and thinning, drying and inflammation of the vaginal walls. Vaginal atrophy usual happens to post-menopausal women, but it can also happen after invasive treatments or operations. Again, professional help may be necessary, but lots of women have success with vaginal expanders.
Vaginal stenosis
Vaginal stenosis is a condition in which the birth canal narrows and/or shortens to an abnormal degree, so women who have this will almost certainly feel tighter than usual. It can also mean there’s a loss of flexibility and elasticity in the vagina. Vaginal stenosis most often occurs after chemotherapy or radiotherapy, or similar cancer treatments. If you think this could be the reason your vagina is too tight, be sure to consult your healthcare professional. Vaginal dilators will help, but you will still need a proper health check too.
We hope this article has given you some insight into why you’re feeling tighter than usual, and if you need any product advice, you know where to find us! Don’t forget to check out our blog for many more useful tips and insights. We’re always adding more information to help women maintain their sexual health, and feedback is always welcome!
