Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transitioning => Gender Correction Surgery => Topic started by: SarahJen on February 28, 2018, 04:24:58 PM

Title: Dilating with condoms
Post by: SarahJen on February 28, 2018, 04:24:58 PM

Hello everyone  :) I just had something i just thought i'd share or whatever.  I've been Dilating for 17 days now (With some missed days so the real total would be 31 days.) But i have tried dilating with condoms for half a month now and i've notice with the condoms i haven't had any blood coming out but without the condoms i have been bleeding. So would the bleeding mean I'm reaching the true depth or am I pushing a bit too hard? Mind you I do have Cerebral Palsy so my motor skills aren't the best and i do shake a bit. I called up the office of my Surgeon for an unrelated matter and while talking to the doctors assistant i mentioned that i was dilating with condoms. She advised me not to so i stopped and the bleeding returned and it just made me wonder. Anyway thanks for reading have a wonderful day! :)
Title: Re: Dilating with condoms
Post by: Jessica on February 28, 2018, 04:37:28 PM
Hi SarahJen 🙋‍♀️ Welcome to Susan's Place!  I'm Jessica, a transgender woman.  I am only in the beginning of my transition compared to you and others at Susan's.  They may be able to give you a well informed answer.  Glad your here at Susan's!
I see your new here, so I'll post some links that may help you get better acquainted with the site.

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Title: Re: Dilating with condoms
Post by: Dena on February 28, 2018, 09:13:31 PM
Welcome to Susan's Place. It could also be the dilator sticks were as the condom is slippery. I heard of girls carving dilator out of balsa wood then putting a condom over them while dilating. When it was difficult to purchase different sized dilators, this was one solution to the problem.
Title: Re: Dilating with condoms
Post by: echo7 on February 28, 2018, 11:32:25 PM
Follow the advice of your surgeon's office and do not use condoms while dilating.  It is especially important not to use condoms in the immediate post-op recovery period.  A firm dilator is needed for good vaginal health.  Yes, you may bleed more by not using a condom, but bleeding is normal and even necessary.

For example, from the Soul Source website (https://soul-source-sd.myshopify.com/collections/rigid-plastic-vaginal-dilators/products/soul-source-rigid-plastic-vaginal-dilators-size-2):

QuoteSoul Source Rigid Plastic (RP) Vaginal Dilators were designed to help women undergoing progressive vaginal dilation therapy where a firmer dilator is needed. Medical professionals also use RP dilators to break up adhesions and prevent scar contracture from forming post surgery, helping women to improve their physical health by maintaining the integrity and depth of the vagina.
Title: Re: Dilating with condoms
Post by: Kendra on March 01, 2018, 03:44:56 AM
I'm 6 weeks post-op and have been following my surgeon's directions exactly.  I still occasionally get a small amount of blood and other stuff, not worried and I haven't experienced any complications at all.  When I was in the hospital my surgeon (Dr. Ley) very clearly explained a reasonable amount of blood and stuff is totally normal and a necessary part of healing. 

Make sure you're using a medically recommend lubricant while healing, and use enough to get the job done.  At the hospital I was provided a 4 ounce (118ml) tube of McKesson's Lubricating Jelly, I ordered a case of it from Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZQFQP08/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1) before heading to Arizona for my remodel.  I ordered that brand based on recommendations from several other Susan's members who have had GCS. 
Title: Re: Dilating with condoms
Post by: AnonyMs on March 01, 2018, 03:49:31 AM
Does you dilator have any rough edges, like writing or depth markings? Its possible the condom could be smoothing it out.