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The v-word always warrants a lot of reactions from us, ladies (and men too). Be it excitement, nervousness or fear, our vagina does bring out a myriad of emotions. There’s no doubt that in spite of the taboo around it, the vagina is valued by the womenfolk. Hence, we’re here to discuss an important aspect associated with it which is the loss of sensitivity.
You may think that it sounds scary but we need to keep the panic aside in order to understand the issue. You see, it could happen due to an underlying medical condition which needs to be addressed. The other reason could be that your body is going through some change.
For starters, there really isn’t any clinical measure of vaginal sensitivity that can be used to determine what’s normal. But, everyone has their own normal. So, how do you find out yours? Well, it could be how you experienced sex a few years ago, and how things feel currently. There could be various instances that can serve as your personal baseline.
Well, it is true. Most vaginas aren’t too sensitive. It is actually the vulva that has a network of nerves and is more reactive. The vulva is made up of the inner labia, outer labia, pubic mound, clitoral hood, clitoris, and urethra. As per estimates, the clitoris has 8,000 nerve endings! Honestly, your body always has a way of telling you when something isn’t right and the sensation down there will help you understand if you’re experiencing any change.
This could be one of the biggest reasons why you feel no sensation. Estrogen levels drop significantly, and if you didn’t know, it is this very hormone that keeps your vaginal tissues supple and well-lubricated. When there is less estrogen, the vaginal walls can become thin, and dry. It’s best to consult your gynecologist because the symptoms of menopause can be similar to those felt when you have ovarian cancer, or even when you get your ovaries removed.
Ah, well how can stress not cause havoc in our lives? If you are stressed, then your hormones are bound to be affected. And if one hormone goes haywire, it affects the others too! For instance, if cortisol is at an all-time high, estrogen levels can go down. It is also believed that some people hold stress in their pelvic floor muscles.
If there’s vaginal scarring or heavy lifting, it can put immense pressure on the pelvic floor muscles, thereby leading to contraction. That also means less blood flow, and of course, hardly any sensation. But pelvic floor muscles do get weak after vaginal childbirth, pelvic surgery or even in those who suffer from extreme constipation.
How can we discount this reason? Of course, things that felt pleasurable some 10 years ago might not feel the same today. So, you must be ready to accept the situation because your body changes with time!
Yes we know, you might have not thought about this reason, but trauma can cause a loss of sensation in the vagina. If someone has undergone sexual trauma, they do not consider sex as a form of pleasure. In some people, trauma also causes a rise in cortisol levels, and alters their bowels, or shifts the flow of blood.
Ladies, in case the loss of sensitivity is causing you a lot of stress, and if there’s unresolved trauma to deal with, please consult a doctor. They might suggest a treatment based on your personal cause. For some, visiting a pelvic floor therapist also helps to tackle the issue! You can also use dilators to see if your situation gets any better. Make sure you don’t ignore the issue and find out what’s up with your body.
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