How your vagina changes as you age

Your vagina in your 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s.

“The effect of aging on our entire body, including our vagina, is inevitable,” says Sherry Ross, M.D., OB-GYN in Santa Monica, California, and author of She-ology.

“Just like any other part of your body with skin, glands and hair follicles, the appearance of the vagina is affected by the aging process and how well you care of it.” There are known offenders, such as childbirth and menopause, which leave battle scars that can be permanent, but this does not mean surgical procedures, such as vaginal rejuvenation, are necessary at any age. “There are doctors who may promote these surgeries, but be aware that they are not supported by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and may present permanent complications such as pain with sex, scarring, and infection,” Dr. Ross adds. “The vagina has the capability to expand and stretch appropriately and surgical corrections are not needed to lead a productive sexual life.”

The 20s vagina: A prime pelvic floor

The changes that happen to the vagina in your 20s have to do with a maturing and empowering vagina. “Your ability to enjoy sexual interactions and control promotes more lubrication,” says Dr. Ross. It is unlikely there will be significant physical changes associated with the vagina in this decade — unless you have a baby.

At a glance:

The ideal time for childbirth and a prime pelvic floor. Sex, contraception use, pregnancy, and birth are all factors that can impact your vagina during your 20s. Sometimes, pelvic floor muscles may be too tight and strong during this time, causing painful intercourse or difficulty with tampon insertion.
Sexual libido and stamina are typically at their peak. Your birth control may affect natural lubrication.
Don’t put fragrance or yoni eggs in your vagina. Have in mind that your vagina is not meant to smell like a flower bouquet! Cleaning your vagina with warm water and unscented soap on a daily basis, is more than enough. In case your vagina has an unpleasant or strong odor, then you should immediately see a doctor. A douche just covers up the smell without really curing the issue underlying it

Vagina in your 30s: Focus on pelvic floor strengthening

If you give birth, with each vaginal delivery, there is a little more stretch, similar to what happens to the elastic band on a pair of pants. The vaginal muscles stretch, distend and tear to allow the baby’s head to come through this tight space — and often, they never completely recover. If you don’t have babies in your 30s, you can expect subtle changes as a result of normal aging.

At a glance:

The ideal time to start Kegels training.The most notable vaginal changes is a decrease in pelvic floor strength. Since the pelvic muscles support the bladder, uterus, and bowel, a myriad of issues like urinary incontinence (especially when you sneeze, cough, or laugh), bowel changes, a feeling of vaginal heaviness, and even prolapse (when the uterus, bladder, or bowel slips out of place) can occur when pelvic floor strength is lost with age. Vaginal birth can intensify these
Use lube, if you notice a decrease in lubrication. There’s not much of a difference between sexual libido and stamina levels in your 20s and 30s
Practice mindfulness and communication, if you feel like your sex life hasn’t been as exciting (or existent) since a significant life change like childbirth, communicating with your partner is an important part of being proactive about both your emotional and physical health

Vagina in your 40s: The ideal time for more sex and perimenopause

You may experience early signs and symptoms of menopause specific to the vagina, including dryness and an increased risk of vaginal infections. Some women will go on a low-dose birth control pill or hormone replacement therapy to treat these disruptive symptoms of perimenopause.

At a glance:

Ramp up on exercises for core muscles.The North American Menopause Society says that most women experience menopause between the ages of 45 and 55, with 51 being the average. Based on this data, many will go through perimenopause in their 40s. Pre-menopause, lasts for four years in most cases, before the complete transition into menopause. Perimenopause occurs when your estrogen levels slowly and sporadically decrease. As a result, life-changing symptoms such as irregular menstrual cycles, vaginal dryness, and hot flashes can occur and change your vagina.
Try new positions in the bedroom.Continuing sexual activity can help prevent changes in the size and shape of the vagina.
Take a probiotic for your vagina’s health. Declining hormone levels change the pH of the vagina, so the amount of healthy vaginal flora decreases. This sets women up to be more prone to vaginal infections and vulvar skin infections.

The 50s vagina and beyond: Hot Flashes, Night Sweats, Exhaustion and Wisdom

Enter menopause. This is the time in your biological life when your ovaries stop producing estrogen — that is, your reproductive hormones are depleted. Unless you are taking hormone replacement therapy and replace the estrogen that you are no longer producing, your vagina will become progressively more dry and dehydrated. Also the labia can become fused and the vagina and clitoris may shrink.

At a glance:

Keep on Kegeling, and see your doctor for any pain. Menopausal changes include pubic hair becoming sparse and gray. The vulva, vagina, and cervix can also become smaller in size, more pale in color, and the skin can become thinner due to estrogen levels continuing to decrease.
Ramp up the foreplay and take it slow. The internal vaginal tissues can tear with penetration because they’ve become so thin, fragile, and poorly lubricated, which often causes vaginal pain and bleeding with sexual contact. These symptoms tend to plateau and then cease during menopause.
Communicate changes to your partner and your doctor. Estrogen levels drop to the point where they often cause an increase in urinary tract infections (UTIs) for some women. UTIs need to be treated with an antibiotic prescription. In any case, The standard advice applies: pee before and after sex, drink lots of water, wipe front to back and talk to your doctor if they keep coming back.

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