Vaginal narrowing and dryness

Radiation therapy to the pelvic area can cause vaginal tissue to lose its elasticity and shrink, narrowing the vagina (vaginal stenosis). If your ovaries were removed, your vagina may also become dry.

Learn more about:

• Overview
• Using vaginal dilators

Overview

Vaginal narrowing and dryness may make it painful to have sex or pelvic examinations. Even if you don’t plan to have sex again, your doctor will need to do regular pelvic examinations after treatment, so it is important to prevent these side effects. Your treatment team may recommend using a vaginal moisturiser or lubricant or a hormone cream (available on prescription and safe with many cancers of the uterus). They may also advise you to use vaginal dilators.

Using vaginal dilators

Vaginal dilators can help keep your vagina open and flexible after treatment. They are made from plastic or silicone and come in a range of sizes. You usually start with the smallest dilator, and as each one becomes more comfortable, you can move on to using the larger dilators. Make sure any soreness has settled down before you start using dilators (usually 4–6 weeks after your last radiation therapy session).

To use the dilator, find a private space. Apply a water-based lubricant to the dilator, slowly insert it into the vagina, then gently rotate it. Leave the dilator in for 5–10 minutes. You can do this once or twice a day for the first few months, and then 2–3 times a week for several months after that, as advised by your treatment team.

You may also like to see a women’s health physiotherapist. If you have a history of sexual trauma, speak with a psychologist or counsellor.

→ READ MORE: Changes to sexuality and intimacy

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