The flexibility of the vagina is impressive – it can stretch to accommodate a tampon, to a penis, to a baby.
But can sex have an affect? It’s a question that’s been debated repeatedly over the years. And if so, is the effect permanent?
Now gynecologists have set the record straight: and the answer is yes and no.
‘The vagina is basically a muscular rubber band that stretches during sex and returns to its original shape and size,’ Dr Michelle Metz told Women’s Health.
An exception is however, the very first time you have sex as this will cause a change in the size of the vagina.
The hymen – a membrane that surrounds or partially covers the external vaginal opening – will break or tear which can sometimes lead to mild bleeding. And ‘the vaginal opening increases in size,’ explained Dr Metz.
The vaginal wall can also stretch if you have sex with men with different-sized penises, according to the New York-based board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist.
The vaginal wall can also stretch if you have sex with men with different-sized penises partners – but this is not permanent say experts (stock image)
However, this isn’t permanent – the vagina generally bounces back into shape after intimacy is over.
‘It’s pretty impossible for sex alone to permanently stretch out the vagina,’ said Dr Metz.
Yet while your vagina may not expand forever, you may experience some soreness or small tears like paper cuts down there from intercourse.
‘That’s a sign that the vaginal skin stretched a bit too much,’ she explained.
Do ‘wide-set’ vaginas exist?
Referring to the line ‘wide-set vagina’ from the 2004 comedy Mean Girls, women’s health expert Dr Lauren Streicher explains that it’s not an actual medical term.
‘No gynaecologist has ever used this word,’ said the Chicago-based associate professor of clinical obstetrics and gynaecology.
However, she said that the width of vaginas can vary from woman to woman and that is completely normal.
‘Body parts are different sizes in different people,’ she told Women’s Health. ‘Someone who has had vaginal births before is going to be different from an 18-year-old virgin.’
According to women’s health expert Dr Jennifer Wider, the average diameter of the vagina is between 2 and 3.5cm.
She urged women not to get anxious about the issue.
‘While most women worry more about the appearance of their labia, some worry that they are too loose,’ she said.
You can do pelvic floor muscle exercises to strengthen the muscles in your vaginal wall. These are carried out to improve bladder control issues and improve sexual function.