Does a physiotherapy perform vaginal dilator therapy?

The exact service varies by practitioner and setting. A trained clinician may explain the purpose of dilators, discuss consent and comfort, and show you how to use them safely. Some appointments focus on education and a home plan rather than the physiotherapist inserting the device.

Your physiotherapist may ask about pain, tightness, previous procedures, sexual symptoms, bleeding, and your goals. With your permission, they may assess the pelvic floor muscles and surrounding tissues. This can help identify whether muscle guarding, reduced flexibility, or sensitivity is affecting comfortable insertion.

Dilators are usually introduced gradually, starting with a size and pace that feel manageable. You may learn breathing, relaxation, positioning, lubrication, and ways to stop if discomfort becomes sharp or persists. Treatment should be collaborative; you can pause, decline an examination, or ask for an explanation at any point.

When booking, ask whether the clinician has pelvic health training and specifically provides vaginal dilator therapy. Tell them about pregnancy, recent surgery, radiation treatment, infection symptoms, unexplained bleeding, or conditions that make insertion painful. Bring any instructions or device supplied by your treating team.

At home, follow the plan rather than forcing progress. Wash the device as directed, use a suitable lubricant if advised, and allow enough privacy and time to relax. Keep a simple record of discomfort, bleeding, and what size or technique you used so the plan can be adjusted.

Stop using the dilator and contact a clinician if you have new or significant bleeding, severe or increasing pain, fever, unusual discharge, or symptoms suggesting an infection. Seek urgent care for heavy bleeding, fainting, severe abdominal or pelvic pain, or trouble breathing.

A physiotherapist can support muscle and movement-related aspects of treatment, but a doctor or gynaecologist may need to assess bleeding, infection, a healing problem, or another cause of pain before therapy continues.

Ask who will provide the therapy, what training they have, whether an internal examination is proposed, which symptoms should make you stop, and how progress will be reviewed. You can also ask whether your doctor wants physiotherapy coordinated with another treatment.