Vaginal Laxity - What It Is and How to Reclaim Tightness and Confidence
Guest Post by Sinead O’Donovan, MD of SRC Health
Vaginal laxity - commonly referred to as a “loose vagina” is a topic often tiptoed around, yet it's something many women experience at some point in their lives. While it’s easy to dismiss as merely a cosmetic or sexual concern, the reality is far more complex and deeply personal.
Despite how widespread the issue is, many women suffer in silence, feeling ashamed, misunderstood, or brushed off when they try to raise concerns. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
The pelvic floor is incredibly responsive to targeted rehabilitation. With the right tools and information, it’s entirely possible to restore vaginal tone, improve intimate sensation, and reclaim a sense of control and vitality. Whether you’re in your 30s or your 60s, vaginal laxity is not something you have to “just live with” - it’s something you can absolutely address.
What Is Vaginal Laxity and Why It Matters
Vaginal laxity is far more than a matter of sensation, it can be a sign of weakened pelvic floor muscles and diminished tissue tone, which can impact quality of life in multiple ways.
At its core, vaginal laxity refers to a loss of tightness or tone in the vaginal walls, typically due to stretching or weakening of the pelvic floor muscles. These muscles form a supportive sling at the base of the pelvis, and they play a key role not just in sexual function, but in bladder, uterine bowel control, posture, and core strength. When they lose integrity, the result can be reduced sensation during intimacy, vaginal heaviness, and even pelvic floor disorders like stress incontinence or prolapse.
Beyond the physical, vaginal laxity can have a deep emotional impact. Many women report feeling disconnected from their bodies, ashamed of the changes they’ve experienced, or frustrated by a lack of support and information. One woman featured in a Kegel8 success story shared that she felt like "It felt like everything was slipping away—from intimacy to confidence" not just in the physical sense, but in terms of confidence, intimacy, and her relationship. Her story resonates with thousands of women who silently struggle with similar symptoms but feel too embarrassed or discouraged to seek help.
The good news is that there is so much you can do to turn things around.
What Causes Vaginal Laxity?
Vaginal laxity doesn’t have one single cause—it’s the result of various life stages, physical experiences, and even lifestyle habits. Some of the most common contributing factors include:
- Childbirth, particularly vaginal births, which stretch the vaginal tissues and may damage or weaken the pelvic floor muscles. Instrumental deliveries or prolonged pushing can cause more trauma to the area.
- Perimenopause and menopause, when estrogen levels decline, leading to thinning of the vaginal walls, loss of elasticity, and dryness. These changes reduce the natural “plumpness” and tone of vaginal tissues.
- Natural ageing, which affects all muscles in the body—including those of the pelvic floor. Over time, these muscles can become less responsive if not actively trained.
- Chronic straining, such as from constipation or heavy lifting, which puts sustained pressure on the pelvic floor and can lead to gradual weakening.
- High-impact exercise, especially without proper core and pelvic floor engagement, can also contribute to the issue by overstressing already vulnerable muscles.
Despite its prevalence, vaginal laxity is still a taboo subject. Many women aren’t offered proactive pelvic health advice postpartum or during menopause, leaving them to assume that feeling “loose,” dry, or disconnected is just something they must accept. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.
The Good News: You Can Tighten and Restore Vaginal Tone
Thankfully, vaginal laxity is not only common, but also very treatable. The pelvic floor muscles are incredibly responsive to targeted strengthening, and with the right support, many women experience dramatic improvements in sensation, function, and confidence. Here are the most effective solutions recommended by Kegel8 and pelvic health experts:
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Pelvic Floor Exercises (Kegels)
Doing Kegels correctly and consistently is one of the most important ways to restore vaginal tightness. These exercises involve contracting and relaxing the pelvic floor muscles in a structured way to rebuild strength and endurance. However, research shows that many women struggle to engage these muscles properly, especially if there has been nerve disruption from childbirth or disuse.
Guidance from a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist can be especially powerful, helping you identify imbalances, ensure good technique, and track your progress over time.
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Supportive Compression Garments: SRC Restore
Another essential tool in your recovery toolkit is external support, specifically, medical-grade compression garments like SRC Restore Shorts or Leggings.
Designed in consultation with pelvic health specialists, SRC Restore gently applies targeted compression to the perineal region and lower abdomen. This not only helps reduce pressure on the pelvic organs but also enhances pelvic awareness through a form of biofeedback.
When you wear SRC Restore, your body receives subtle cues that can help you better locate and engage your pelvic floor. For many women, particularly postpartum or post-surgery, this connection is crucial. SRC Restore garments also provide support while you’re moving, walking, or even exercising, which can help you regain confidence and function more quickly. The garments are soft, breathable, and can be worn under clothing all day or on their own, making them a practical and effective addition to your recovery plan.
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Biofeedback and Electrical Stimulation Devices
That’s where the Kegel8 Ultra 20 Electronic Pelvic Toner comes in. This device not only guides you through correct muscle contractions but also uses gentle electrical stimulation to activate the muscles even if you’re not able to feel them clearly at first. This is a huge help in the early stages of recovery, when the brain-muscle connection may feel “switched off.” With regular use, women often report improved muscle tone, increased intimate sensation, and better control over the bladder and bowel.
If your pelvic floor muscles are especially weak or unresponsive, electrical stimulation and biofeedback can bridge the gap. Devices like the Kegel8 Ultra 20 offer multiple programs that tailor stimulation to your needs—whether you’re dealing with incontinence, loss of sensation, or pelvic pain.
Biofeedback shows you how well you’re contracting your muscles and gives real-time guidance to help improve technique. Electrical stimulation does the work for you when you’re unable to initiate a contraction, effectively “waking up” dormant muscles. Over time, this can rebuild strength and endurance, helping to restore tightness and sensation in the vaginal walls.
Pairing the Kegel8 Ultra 20 Electronic Pelvic Toner with support from a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist can be incredibly effective. The physiotherapist can help you identify muscle imbalances, guide you in using the device correctly, and monitor your technique and progress to ensure you're getting the best possible results.
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Hormonal and Non-Hormonal Vaginal Support
If you’re in perimenopause or menopause, addressing hormonal changes is key. The drop in estrogen can cause the vaginal tissues to become thin, dry, and less elastic—making pelvic floor exercises uncomfortable or even painful.
Topical estrogen creams or pessaries, prescribed by a doctor, can help restore moisture and tissue integrity. If you prefer a non-hormonal route, there are also excellent vaginal moisturizers and lubricants available that soothe dryness and support tissue health. When the tissues are supple and hydrated, it becomes much easier—and more comfortable—to engage in strengthening exercises.
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Consistency, Support, and Patience
Perhaps the most important ingredient in any vaginal rehabilitation plan is consistency. Just like with any fitness or strength training program, results take time. But they do come. Many women report improvements within a few weeks of starting a program, while others see gradual, sustained progress over months.
Take inspiration from the many success stories on the Kegel8 blog, real women who’ve rebuilt their pelvic floor health, restored intimate sensation, and reclaimed their confidence. Whether your symptoms are mild or more advanced, know that you are not alone, and you are not without options.
You Deserve to Feel Strong and Sensational Again!
Vaginal laxity is nothing to be ashamed of. It’s unfortunately a natural, common result of life events that affect the pelvic floor, and it’s completely valid to want to feel tighter, stronger, and more connected to your body. With a proactive approach that combines internal and external tools, like the Kegel8 Ultra 20, SRC Restore, and possibly hormonal support, you can restore tone, rebuild confidence, and rediscover pleasure.
You deserve to feel empowered in your body, and you deserve to know that vaginal laxity is not the end of the story, it’s the beginning of a new chapter in your pelvic health.
Sinead O'Donovan
CEO / Women's Health Advocate
While recovering in hospital after the birth of my first child, I found myself wondering why there wasn’t a product that could truly support postpartum recovery—something that would help me move more comfortably, lift, feed, and care for my baby with greater ease. I needed support for common postnatal concerns like abdominal separation, perineal trauma, and caesarean section wounds—but there was nothing available at the time.
That moment sparked the idea for SRC Health. Working alongside a leading Melbourne obstetrician, we developed the SRC Recovery Garment. Ten years on, our range has grown to become the world’s largest collection of medical-grade maternity compression garments—supporting women through pregnancy, postnatal recovery, and post-surgery.
Pregnancy and the postnatal period are among the most physically and emotionally demanding times in a woman’s life. I’m incredibly proud of our team’s dedication to helping women feel stronger, supported, and more comfortable through every stage. We're also passionate about mental health, partnering with organisations like PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia) and collaborating with everyday mums and healthcare professionals to raise awareness and improve care.
