There are a lot of reasons why vagina shrink creams make me so furious: the way they work and the ingredients they frequently include are quite bad for the vaginal tissues, they rely on ignorance and misinformation, they propagate the idea that vaginas get loose as you age or if you engage in "promiscuous" activities and, worst of all, they prey on the insecurities borne of this misinformation.
You heard me right: Vaginas do not get "loose" or "saggy" as the person in possession of said vagina ages or if they engage in "too much" penetrative intercourse. It's a myth. Here's we'll take a look at how vaginas really work - and why they don't need a shrink cream at all.
When a person is anxious, upset, or stressed out, the vagina will generally not elongate; it will remain firm, and in some conditions, clamp shut, not allowing anything to enter without incredible pain. This clamping is accomplished by the pubococcygeus, or PC, muscle (also known as the "Kegels"), which is a strip of tissue that runs from the front of the pelvis to the tip of the tail bone, encircling the urethra and anus as well as the vaginal canal. This is the muscle that you squeeze with during intercourse; it’s what helps you relax the anal sphincters for anal penetration; it also controls the flow of urine, aids in vaginal birth, and is the muscle that convulses during orgasm. A strong, healthy PC muscle helps prevent incontinence and may lead to easier, stronger orgasms as well as easier vaginal birth. (Learn more about what Kegels can do for your love life in For Better Sex, Flex This Muscle.)
Clearly, those Kegels matter - and not just to your sex life. They're important here too because the only time anything akin to a "loose" vagina occurs when the PC muscles are weak, which can occur after giving birth, if they don't get enough exercise or as a result of other conditions. The only way to actually "tighten" a vagina is by exercising the PC muscles. This might increase muscle tone but, of course, this has nothing to do with the actual tightness of the vagina so much as how strongly the vaginal muscles can contract.
The point is that all this tightening and loosening is generally temporary, because the vaginal tissue is elastic. It's kind of like using your hands to stretch you face into a funny shape. Once you let go, it snaps right back.
The bottom line: Vagina shrink creams rely on misinformation. They prey on the insecurities women have about their bodies. That's not cool. Can you have a healthier, happier, vagina that's able to produce more pleasure. Maybe you can. But the only way to get it is to live a healthy life, eat well, exercise, have sex, masturbate and learn more about your body. A few Kegel exercises can't hurt either. And before you buy something the promises to make you "better," do some research. Chances are you (and your vagina) are just fine the way you are. (Don't believe me? Read Your Vagina Isn't Ugly, It Just Looks That Way.)
