vaginal dilator

{{Short description|Medical instrument used to stretch the vagina}}

File:Plastic and Silicone vaginal dilators.jpg

File:Inflatable vaginal expander.jpg

A vaginal dilator (sometimes called a vaginal trainer){{cite web|url=http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Vaginismus/Pages/Treatment.aspx|title=Vaginismus|date=11 January 2018 |publisher=National Health Service |access-date=2020-02-29}} is an instrument used to gently stretch the vagina. They are used when the vagina has become narrowed (vaginal stenosis), such as after brachytherapy for gynecologic cancers,{{cite journal |last1=Miles |first1=Tracie |last2=Johnson |first2=Neal |title=Vaginal dilator therapy for women receiving pelvic radiotherapy |journal=Cochrane Database Syst Rev |volume=9 |issue= 9|pages=CD007291 |year=2014 |pmid=25198150 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD007291.pub3 |pmc=6513398 }} and as therapy for vaginismus and other forms of dyspareunia.{{cite journal|first1=T. O. |last1=Idama |first2=D. W. |last2=Pring |title=Vaginal dilator therapy-an outpatient gynaecological option in the management of dyspareunia |journal=Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology |volume=20 |year=2000 |issue=3 |pages=303–05 |doi=10.1080/01443610050009683 |pmid = 15512559|s2cid=218856132 }}

There is evidence for dilator use{{cite web|url=https://www.intimaterose.com/pages/frequently-asked-questions-vaginal-dilators/|title=Frequently Asked Questions - Vaginal Dilators FAQ|first=Amanda|last=Olson|website=Intimate Rose}} across many different diagnoses with fair to good results. This includes following cancer treatments and for vaginal agenesis conditions. The evidence presents varying approaches and protocols.

{{anchor|vaginal stent}}

Vaginal dilators, also called vaginal stents or vaginal expanders, can be inflatable and are used during surgeries.{{cite journal |last1=Coskun |first1=Ayhan |last2=Coban |first2=Yusuf Kenan |last3=Vardar |first3=Mehmet Ali |last4=Dalay |first4=Ahmet Cemil |title=The use of a silicone-coated acrylic vaginal stent in McIndoe vaginoplasty and review of the literature concerning silicone-based vaginal stents: a case report |journal=BMC Surgery |date=10 July 2007 |volume=7 |issue=1 |page=13 | pmc=1947946| doi=10.1186/1471-2482-7-13|pmid=17623058 |doi-access=free }}{{cite journal |last1=Barutçu |first1=Ali |last2=Akgüner |first2=Muharrem |title=McIndoe Vaginoplasty with the Inflatable Vaginal Stent |journal=Annals of Plastic Surgery |date=November 1998 |volume=41 |issue=5 |pages=568–569 |doi=10.1097/00000637-199811000-00020|pmid=9827964 }} Vaginal stents are routinely used in postoperative care for transgender patients who have undergone vaginoplasty as part of gender confirmation surgery. They are also used for various conditions, such as vaginal agenesis.{{cite journal |last1=Antoniadis |first1=N |last2=Charles |first2=G |last3=Mejías |first3=I |last4=Pabón |first4=R |title=Vaginoplastia: modificación de la técnica de McIndoe usando esponja de gel hemostático|trans-title=Vaginoplasty: modification to McIndoe {{sic|nolink=y|reason=error in source|techique}} using hemostatic gel sponge |journal=Cirugía Plástica Ibero-Latinoamericana |date=March 2011 |volume=37 |issue=1 |pages=73–77 |doi=10.4321/S0376-78922011000100010 |url=http://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0376-78922011000100010|doi-access=free }} The vaginal expander is used immediately after surgery to keep the passage from collapsing, and regularly thereafter to maintain the viability of the neovagina. Frequency of use requirements decrease over time, but remains obligatory lifelong.{{cite book |last=Rinzler |first=Carol Ann |title=The Encyclopedia of Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N5nWmFCbYqcC&pg=PA195 |series=Facts on File library of health and living. |date=12 May 2010 |publisher=Infobase Publishing |location=New York |isbn=978-1-4381-2702-6 |page=195 |oclc=223107099 |access-date=31 May 2018}}{{cite book |last1=Georgiade |first1=Gregory S. |last2=Georgiade |first2=Nicholas G. |title=Textbook of plastic, maxillofacial, and reconstructive surgery |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=snJsAAAAMAAJ |year=1992 |publisher=Williams & Wilkins |location=Baltimore, Maryland |isbn=978-0-683-03454-7 |oclc=455225627 |access-date=31 May 2018}}