How Childbirth Affects Your Vagina's Appearance – And What You Can Do About It

So many things change when you have a baby. Your stomach. Your breasts. Your sleep schedule. Your free time. Not surprisingly, your vagina changes as well – in appearance and functionality. It’s the place, after all, through which your baby passes to enter this world if you have a vaginal birth. 

Fortunately, many of the changes that your vagina goes through resolve within a few weeks after your baby is born. However, for some, the changes are long-lasting. If you’re unhappy with your vagina’s appearance or are experiencing discomfort, board-certified urogynecologist Dr. Jeffrey Hantes at Female Health Associates of North Texas, located in Fort Worth, Texas, can help.

Here, Dr. Hantes shares the many vaginal restoration procedures he offers to help your vagina’s cosmetic appearance or function.

What happens to your vagina after childbirth?

The first thing that happens to your birth canal, or vagina, is that it gets stretched out to accommodate your baby’s birth. The size of your baby, your method of delivery, and how many times you’ve given birth will affect how much your vagina stretches and how soon or much it will return to its previous size. 

You may also notice swelling and discoloration of your vagina and vulva, the outer part of your pelvic area, due to hormones. Vaginal tears, or perineal lacerations, are common during vaginal births, affecting almost 90% of women. In some cases, the tear is insignificant. In most cases, the tear is minor and requires some stitches.

As a result of these changes, some women experience incontinence, sexual issues, or self-consciousness about the appearance of their vagina. 

Procedures to improve vaginal appearance and function

The first step to addressing any changes to your vagina is building back its muscle strength through Kegels, which are simple exercises. You simply clench your vaginal muscles for several seconds and then release. 

However, Kegels can only go so far, especially if you’ve had more than one child. The more times you give birth, the more stretched out your birth canal becomes and the less it bounces back. 

If you’re concerned about vaginal laxity, a vaginoplasty may be the right procedure for you. Vaginoplasty is a surgical procedure that helps tighten the vagina and improve its appearance so you can enjoy sex again and boost your self-confidence.

Another procedure that can help improve your vagina’s appearance is a labiaplasty, which is surgery Dr. Hantes performs to remove excess tissue from the labia minora, the small lips of the interior vagina, or the labia majora, the larger, outer vaginal lips. 

If you’re concerned about your vagina’s appearance following childbirth, Dr. Hantes can help you determine the best procedure to boost your self-esteem and confidence regarding your sexual health. 

Call Female Health Associates to schedule a consultation or request one through our online scheduler.