Why buy a vibrator instead of a medical dilator?
Read about the author Samantha Evans
Many healthcare professionals are recommending the use of slim vibrators and sexual lubricants to help their patients overcome some of the sexual issues that may occur following gynaecological interventions both medical and surgical and to help them enjoy sexual intimacy and pleasure.
We created the Jo Divine health brochure with Consultant urogynaecologist Mr Alex Slack, Women’s Health physiotherapist Pip Salmon and gynaecology ward manager Lynda Wickenden at Tunbridge Wells Hospital who recognise that sexual pleasure and intimacy is important to many people.
They wanted to offer products that can be used with medical dilators and sexual lubricants to encourage their patients to use them as many people find medical dilators uncomfortable to use or as an alternative to help post-operative scarring, vaginal tightness, vaginismus, post childbirth and when sex feels painful.
They also wanted to help their patients with decreased sexual sensation following surgery and cancer treatment or as a result of a medical condition.
Some women and people who have a cervix can struggle to have a smear test or gynaecological examination when they experience vaginal tightness, vaginal atrophy, post op scarring, trauma and abuse.
Vaginal tightness may occur as a result of post-operative scarring following surgery or as a side effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy after cancer treatment which may cause discomfort or pain There may also be a decrease in sexual sensation, making it more difficult to reach orgasm.
Symptoms of vaginismus, vulvodynia, Lichens Sclerosus and physical effects of ageing through menopause can also be reduced by using a slim vibrator and organic irritant free lubricants too.
Traditionally, medical dilators are used to treat the above conditions, but can be made from hard plastic which may feel uncomfortable against the delicate skin of the vaginal area.
Some people prefer to use medical dilators to treat their condition rather than a vibrator, which they consider to be sexual. However, others prefer to use a vibrator which feels less clinical. Many people want to feel sexual again after undergoing months, if not years, of medical treatment and surgical intervention, and for them, using a vibrator is a way to enjoy sexual pleasure and intimacy once more.
Both medical dilators and vibrators can be used with each other, as they offer different experiences for many people. Medical dilators can help to stretch the tight tissues of the vagina, whilst a vibrator can promote blood flow to the healing tissues and feel pleasurable too, especially on the clitoris.
Our vibrators are made from skin safe silicone, which has a velvety touch and is gentle on the delicate tissues of the vagina and clitoris. The slim shape of the VUSH Peachy Massage LELO Liv, PicoBong Zizo, Touch Wand Je Joue Uma and Jo Divine Immy make them ideal vibrators to alleviate some of the symptoms mentioned above.
If you prefer to use dilators to help you overcome vaginal tightness, the Inspire Silicone Dilator Kit offers 5 graduated dilators made from velvety soft silicone which are extremely flexible, unlike hard medical dilators and very gentle on the delicate skin of the vulva and vagina. The easy-to-use loop handle makes them comfortable to hold, and the gentle tapered shape and varied sizes allows you to increase the insertion size at a rate that is comfortable to you.
The Jo Divine IMMY also fits through the loop handle of the 3 smaller dilators, turining them into a vibrator as you dilate. Many people buy the dilator kit with the IMMY to help them to make dilation more comfortable and to take that first step back to enjoying penetration.
A review of the Cal Exotics Dilator kit
How can a vibrator help you?
It can promote healing of scar tissue
Using a slim vibrator can help promote healing of scar tissue by increasing the blood supply to the area. Gentle manipulation of the vibrator over the scarred area can help to stretch the tissue, make it feel less tight. It can also promote the production of vaginal secretions, lubricating the vagina and making it feel more comfortable. Using a irritant free lubricant nourishes the scar tissue and can speed the healing process.
It can alleviate symptoms of Vaginismus
Vaginismus is a condition that affects a person’s ability to engage in sexual intercourse, and can be very distressing. In vaginismus, the pubococcygeus muscle involuntarily tenses, in a similar reflexive manner to someone flinching. The tensed muscle makes penetration difficult or even impossible. When penetration does occur, it is very painful. The causes of vaginismus are generally psychological but, by regaining control of their pelvic muscles through relaxation techniques, taught by a pelvic health physiotherapist, many people can free themselves from feeling their body has to protect her by tightening the vaginal muscles, preventing penetration.
Vaginismus is generally treated using medical dilators of increasing sizes to allow the patient to begin with the thinnest dilator and slowly progress to the next size.
Using a slim vibrator enables the woman to be in control of the speed and depth at which they introduce the vibrator into their vagina. The use of gentle vibrations can help the muscles to relax, in addition to increasing sensation and natural lubrication, making the experience feel pleasurable.
Reduce symptoms of Vulvodynia
Vulvodynia is the term used to describe the condition experienced by some who have the sensation of vulval burning and soreness in the absence of any obvious skin condition or infection. By becoming aware of how their body feels through intimate massage and exploration using a vibrator and lubricant and relaxation techniques, a person can become more relaxed and comfortable with her body and their symptoms may lessen.
Alleviate symptoms of the Menopause
Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause includes a wide range of symptoms that impact upon the health of the vulva, vagina, bladder and urethra due to the decline in oestrogen, which is so important in keeping our body happy and healthy. It is so much more than just vaginal dryness, people often experience irritation, thinning tissues, itching, bleeding tissue, decreased sexual sensation, recurrent infections such as thrush, bacterial vaginosis, urinary tract infection and cystitis. This can cause burning pain and discomfort, but the use of an organic lubricant or vaginal moisturiser can nourish and lubricate the vaginal walls, easing any discomfort or pain and making sexual intercourse more pleasurable. A slim vibrator can help to stretch the vaginal walls gently, making them more flexible, in addition to promoting natural lubrication and boosting sensation.
Increases sensation
Using a vibrator can increase sensation in the affected area, which may have diminished following surgical or medical intervention or drug therapy. The gentle vibrations can stimulate the numerous nerve endings in the clitoris and vagina, creating waves of pleasure, thus enabling you to recognise pleasurable sensations rather than experiencing pain or discomfort.
Jo Divine Health Brochure
At Jo Divine we believe that sexual health and sexual pleasure go hand in hand and have created a health brochure with suitable products to help people with sexual issues. Working with medical professionals, we hope to encourage patients and HCPs alike to talk more freely about sexual problems. A health issue which makes sex feel painful doesn’t mean your sex life will have to stop or that you have to live with it! There are many ways you can overcome this problem with the right treatment and advice.
So please email or call for a copy.
Useful Websites
Vulval Pain Society : https://vulvalpainsociety.org
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists: https://www.rcog.org.uk/
Pelvic, Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy (POGP) : https://thepogp.co.uk
Chartered Society of Physiotherapy: https://www.csp.org.uk
College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists : https://www.cosrt.org.uk
Womb Cancer Support: https://wombcancersupportuk.weebly.com
Endometriosis SHETrust (on Facebook): Link to their Facebook Page
Endometriosis UK: https://www.endometriosis-uk.org
Women4Real: http://women4real.com
AskEve (online and phone support by specialist oncology gynaecology nurses): https://eveappeal.org.uk
Dr Louise Newson, menopause specialist: https://www.balance-menopause.com
The Daisy Network, charity for premature ovarian insufficiency: https://www.daisynetwork.org
British Menopause Society: https://thebms.org.uk
Menopause Support: https://menopausesupport.co.uk