Editor’s Note: The views expressed in the following column are those of the writer only and do not necessarily represent the views of The Collegian or its editorial board.

The vagina endures a lot of judgment and myths along with the unrealistic societal expectation of how it should function. One long-standing myth is that, after sexual activity, a vagina can be loose.

Hooking up and having sex in college is expected. However, it seems that individuals with vaginas somehow get the reputation of being loose after being with too many people. Calling a vagina “loose” is an incredibly anatomically incorrect statement.

There are common misconceptions about vaginal tightness. Some people believe that frequent sex loosens the vagina continually and with long term damage, or that childbirth loosens the vagina forever after. These misleading myths on the vagina can damage a person’s reputation and destroy their self-confidence.

First, it’s important to understand the vagina. The vaginal walls are made of muscles that can contract, tighten, relax and expand. Vaginal muscles are always tight, except during sexual arousal and child birth.

Let’s try and debunk the concept of a loose vagina. No matter how many times the muscle expands, it still has the capacity to revert itself. Vaginal muscles are incredibly elastic. When the vagina is at rest, the vagina’s muscle tissue is clenched tightly. During sexual arousal, the vaginal muscles loosen to allow for biological reproduction.

“A bruised ego and jealousy might be the simple answer to how these rumors came about, as there is no scientific evidence to back up these claims.”

According to Psychology Today, a vagina that feels “too tight” may be a result of a lack of sexual interest or not enough time for your partner’s vaginal muscles to warm up and adequately relax for comfortable insertion.

The vagina muscle will always loosen and contract again after sex, no matter how many times a person has sex.

One cause of the myth surrounding loose vaginas may have stemmed from simple biological aging. According to Health, when estrogen begins to run low with natural aging, the vagina becomes thinner and less elastic, just like any other muscle in your body begins to deteriorate with age. Kegel exercises are great for keeping the elasticity in the vagina.

Yes, some vagina muscles may be naturally tighter than others. According to The Sex Ed, some vaginas are naturally wider or smaller, and these differently sized vaginas may have caused the creation of myths surrounding vaginal tightness. The only possible way a vagina could become permanently loose is through excessive childbirth and natural fatigue of the muscles.

A bruised ego and jealousy might be the simple answer to how these rumors came about, as there is no scientific evidence to back up these claims. 

Just remember, the vagina is a muscle. If you believe a muscle can become loose from overuse, then you are going to look like a fool.

Shay Rego can be reached at letters@collegian.com or on Twitter @shay_rego.