Gently move the dilator inside your vagina for 5 to 10 minutes. Push it in and out, or rotate it. Reapply more lubricant, if needed. Take the dilator out, and then clean it before putting it away.

If the dilator can't go in any further, take a few deep breaths and try again. Once you've reached your limit, try moving the dilator in and out in addition to making horizontal circles at ...

Coat the dilator with a water-soluble lubricant like K-Y Jelly, Astroglide, or Replens. Lie on your back with your knees bent and legs apart as much as possible (as you would during a pelvic exam).

Vaginal dilator therapy is a form of therapy that uses vaginal dilators to "teach and retrain the pelvic floor muscles to respond to penetration in a positive, nonthreatening way," Seitz says.

Most dilator kits, like this one from VuVatech, start at around 0.5 inches in diameter, which is a good starting point for most. Length isn’t a factor if your goal is dilation.