Use of a Uterine Dilator

Uterine and vaginal dilators are medical instruments that are used to treat a variety of conditions in both men and women. Dilators are available in several graduated sizes, and are generally made out of medical-grade plastics or metal.

Uses for Dilators

• Uterine dilators are commonly used to open the cervix. Normally the cervix is closed. During labor and delivery it must open to nine centimeters in diameter, in order to allow the baby to pass out of the uterus and into the vaginal canal. A uterine dilator may be used if the cervix has not dilated sufficiently.

  A uterine dilator may also be used in surgeries and outpatient procedures. Dilators of graduated sizes are used to gently stretch open the cervix in order to allow medical instruments to pass through and into the uterus.

  Urethral strictures, which can interfere with the ability to pass urine or semen, can sometimes be treated with uterine dilators. A thin dilator will be inserted into the urethra in order to widen it. Patients are also often instructed on how to use dilators at home. A patient's urethra may also be widened with the use of a dilator in order to avoid recurrent bladder infections and kidney damage due to urine reflux.

  Dilators are also used to treat vaginal agenesis, which is the absence of a vagina. Woman affected by this condition are born without a vagina. They may instead have a very small opening or just a dimple in the vaginal area. Uterine dilators are used to gently and progressively stretch that opening and form a vagina.

  Vaginismus, a condition that causes the tightening of pelvic floor muscles, can often be treated with the use of dilators. The condition can be treated by using a vaginal dilator, which helps you to gain knowledge of the inner workings of the vagina and the pelvic floor muscles that support it. Progressively larger dilators are used to keep muscles relaxed and soft.