Some changes inevitably come with age, but at Regain Functional Medicine + Aesthetics, sexual dysfunction isn’t one of them.
Studies show that 83% of women refrain from intimacy for months after childbirth, with many struggling to ever reclaim the physical and emotional satisfaction they had experienced before. Intimacy issues don’t only take a toll on your relationship with your partner, but also on your mental health and overall quality of life.
Additionally, between 50 and 75% of women struggle with urinary incontinence—especially after they’ve turned 60 years old. We understand that managing leakage symptoms on your own can feel isolating and embarrassing, so we’re determined to lift the veil on these common, treatable concerns.
Beyond childbirth, hormonal shifts, and illness, a range of other uncontrollable factors can also negate your sexual well-being. Here’s a look at how our experienced experts have changed feminine aging forever with non-invasive vaginal rejuvenation in Leawood.
The Signs of Vaginal Dysfunction
Before we dive into our approach to vaginal rejuvenation in Leawood, it’s important to go over what dysfunction looks like. While every woman’s experience is unique, the most common symptoms of vaginal dysfunction include:
- Dryness and itching
- Difficulty keeping in a tampon
- Queefing (expulsion of air through the vagina)
- Decreased libido
- Trouble with lubrication
- Decreased sensitivity during sex
- Pain during sex
- Laxity (a general “loose” feeling in the vagina)
- Urinary incontinence
All of these symptoms tend to go hand-in-hand with vaginal laxity—a common, yet misunderstood concern. Especially after intense transitional periods, such as childbirth and menopause, laxity can have lasting effects on women’s physical, mental, and sexual health.
Urinary incontinence is a closely related issue many women face as they age. A lifetime of stress on the vagina, including weight gain and changing hormones, can lead to a weakening of the vaginal muscles and pelvic floor. When this happens, it can be difficult to control bladder functions.
You may be experiencing urinary incontinence if you have noticed any of the following symptoms:
- Urine leakage caused by laughing, coughing, sneezing, or exercise
- Being unable to get to the bathroom in time
- Feeling like you still need to pee after going to the bathroom
- Constant wetness without the feeling of leakage
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, be sure to check in with your doctor to determine the underlying cause. Impaired pelvic muscles commonly cause urinary incontinence, but it could also be the result of a UTI (urinary tract infection), a side effect of medication, or a precursor to a chronic disease.
What causes sexual dysfunction?
From uncontrollable internal factors like aging and diseases to external variables like stress, alcohol, and specific medications, sexual dysfunction can be rooted in a range of elements. However, it all comes down to your hormone levels.
While menopausal women tend to face the brunt of these imbalance symptoms, it’s important to note that women can experience them at any age, especially when starting birth control during puberty. So, what exactly is menopause, and how can vaginal rejuvenation treatments combat its toll (and make putting an end to periods something to celebrate!)?
Watch as Dr. Gaumer explains menopause’s role in aging and sexual dysfunction.
Weighing Your Treatment Options
The good news is that vaginal laxity and urinary incontinence—otherwise known as vaginal dysfunction—are completely treatable. When searching for a solution, some women try calisthenic “Kegel” exercises to strengthen their pelvic floor, while others go so far as to have vaginoplasty surgery.
However, we recognize that daily at-home exercise and invasive (and expensive) surgeries aren’t suitable for everyone, as they each have advantages and disadvantages. Here’s a breakdown of your options for vaginal rejuvenation in Lawrence and Leawood.
Kegel Exercises
Kegel exercises are a form of at-home vaginal rejuvenation, designed to strengthen the muscles in your pelvic floor. These are the muscles that provide support for your bladder, uterus, and bowels. They also help the functions of these organs, making sure you don’t urinate and defecate at the same time, or worse…
The benefit of Kegel exercises is that you can do them yourself, in your own home. The problem with Kegel exercises is that they are difficult to do properly. Without guidance from a physical therapist or doctor, it’s easy to engage the wrong muscle group and not achieve the full benefits of strengthening your pelvic floor to make much of a difference.
Vaginoplasty Surgery
Some women opt for a more invasive form of vaginal rejuvenation in Leawood, undergoing invasive surgery that manually tightens their vaginal muscles. This vaginoplasty surgery is an extensive procedure that increases tone, tightness, and control in the vaginal muscles. Surgery can be highly effective and worth it for women who need to repair extensive damage done to their inner vaginal muscles.
However, vaginoplasty surgery can be expensive—between $5,000 and $10,000 in the Midwest region—and insurance doesn’t tend to cover it. A vaginoplasty also requires considerable downtime and has inherent risks. It typically requires a six-week recovery period, during which you will have to take time off of work and put exercise and sexual activity on hold.
→ Caught between too much and too little? We have several other solutions that can fit you just right!
Empower RF
News flash: there’s been a breakthrough in RF microneedling technology; it’s not just effective for complexion enhancement! Empower RF is a non-surgical form of vaginal rejuvenation in Leawood, powered by renowned Morpheus8 technology.
Similar to how traditional RF microneedling combines the powers of tiny needles with controlled radiofrequency energy waves to induce the natural healing process, this device kickstarts healing specifically along the vaginal canal. Empower RF takes this proven technology even further with electrical muscle stimulation (EMS), performing Kegels for you—the right way.
Learn more about the technologies behind our complexion and vaginal health-focused microneedling in Lawrence and Leawood here.
These FDA-approved applicators, which resemble a wand, treat a wide range of vaginal dysfunction symptoms by retraining your interior muscles. Not only will you see immediate results with zero downtime, but your results will continue to build with every session.
Viveve
Viveve is another non-invasive option for vaginal rejuvenation in Leawood that focuses on addressing vaginal laxity. Viveve combines strengthening and healing treatments in an all-in-one device at a much more affordable price than other common treatment programs.
In just 30 minutes, this cryogen-cooled radiofrequency device simultaneously heats and cools the vaginal tissue to increase collagen production. Your provider will simply insert the small wand a few inches inside your vaginal canal, allowing it to painlessly emit these precise wavelengths. As your collagen levels rise, this tissue grows thicker and more flexible, restoring that youthful “tight” sensation.
Watch as Regain’s Dr. Kathy Gaumer breaks down this one-of-a-kind vaginal rejuvenation solution on Kansas City Spotlight.
O-Shot
An O-Shot uses platelet-rich plasma, harnessed from your blood, to rejuvenate the muscles and tissues in and around your vagina. Platelets are the key contributors to this treatment, as these microscopic particles are essential to cellular rejuvenation and restoring damaged tissue. When separated from the rest of the materials in your blood and injected back into the labia, platelets stimulate your body’s natural healing response.
The O-Shot encourages the tissues in your vagina to ramp up collagen and elastin production, further promoting strong muscles, elasticity, and lubrication. This injectable vaginal rejuvenation in Leawood is raved about by women of all ages thanks to its unparalleled ability to restore your ability to “O.”
Oxytocin
Studies show that oxytocin can significantly enhance libido, especially among postmenopausal women. This unique approach to vaginal rejuvenation in Leawood is powered by “the natural love hormone,” oxytocin, through a nasal spray.
The human body naturally produces oxytocin in response to touch, but also other engaging sensations such as exercise and music. This element naturally decreases mental and physical anxiety, allowing you to relax and for your uterine muscles to perform their normal contractions, therefore enhancing intimacy by fostering trust on a cellular level.
PT-141 injections
It’s completely normal for your libido to fluctuate. While a lack of desire may have nothing to do with the state of your relationship, it can negatively impact it. Women’s libido declines at a faster rate than men’s, which can build up emotional and physical barriers.
If you’re searching for libido-focused vaginal rejuvenation in Leawood, PT-141 shots may be the answer to your prayers! These low-commitment injections integrate with the neurotransmitters responsible for triggering desire—both mentally and physically—not only making the idea of sex more appealing but the act more satisfying. Plus, it’s proven to work for men, too!
Regain Your Love for Life
Despite vaginal dysfunction affecting millions of women, only a small fraction of them seek medical attention—we’re committed to changing that.
At Regain Functional Medicine + Aesthetics, we don’t try to squeeze your concerns into a box. Our experienced providers recognize that every patient’s daily struggles and long-term goals look different, so we prioritize taking the time to understand them to tailor our approach.
Ready to start looking, feeling, and functioning your best? Use our virtual treatment planning tool to get personalized treatment recommendations from anywhere! Next, schedule an in-person consultation to start your journey on the right foot—granting our experts time to curate your custom solutions. Don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter to get clinic updates, our latest specials, and reliable industry insights delivered right to your inbox.
