Dilation Post-Op Instructions
Dilation should be done twice per day. The recommended times would be early morning and right before bedtime. This will allow you to do your normal daily activity/work/ tasks without having to find time and space during the day for dilation.
- Get your supplies: dilator, lubricant and small towel
- Wash your hands
- Lie down on a flat, comfortable surface. Place the towel underneath your hips. Bend your knees and spread your legs. You may want to place pillows under your knees for comfort.
- Apply lubricant to the dilator.
- Gently insert the dilator into the vagina vault until you feel resistance.
- Once you feel this resistance, apply a little more pressure. You should not feel pain or discomfort, only pressure. If you feel pain or discomfort, back off a little on the pressure you are applying to the dilator.
- Maintain the pressure for 10-15 minutes.
- Wash the dilator with mild soap and water then dry and place in a zip loc bag until the next use.
- Wash your hands
- Note you will have to do vaginal dilation indefinitely unless you have a consistent partner for intercourse. The neovagina will atrophy (reduction in size) if it does not get dilated consistently.
When To Call
- If you have increased swelling or bruising.
- If swelling and redness persist after a few days.
- If you have increased redness along the incision.
- If you have severe or increased pain not relieved by medication.
- If you have any side effects to medications; such as, rash, nausea, headache, vomiting.
- If you have an oral temperature over 100.4 degrees F.
- If you have any yellowish or greenish drainage from the incisions or notice a foul odor.
- If you have bleeding from the incisions that is difficult to control with light pressure.
- If you have loss of feeling or motion.