Nia Sharma Promotes 'Vagina Tightening' Supplements - Experts Weigh In

Actor Nia Sharma has found herself at the centre of a social media storm after promoting women’s health supplements that claim to "tighten the vagina." The actor shared an Instagram post on Monday, October 21 featuring a video commercial in which she endorses the controversial product, leading to widespread backlash from both the public and professionals in the medical field.

Nia Sharma Promotes 'Vagina Tightening' Supplements

In her post, Nia attempted to tie the product to body positivity, captioning the video with, “Sometimes, life is all about finding the perfect fit. Whether it’s your favourite outfit or something more intimate, we’ve got you covered. Experience the perfect ‘tight.’” 

The video shows Nia encountering various "loose" objects—a dress that doesn’t fit, a bottle cap that won’t close, and untied shoelaces—before she eventually dons a perfectly fitting dress. She ends the commercial by saying, “Do it right, keep it tight,” a tagline that has only fuelled the outrage among viewers.

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A post shared by Nia Sharma (@niasharma90)

The Criticism

However, the promotional content has sparked criticism for perpetuating harmful stereotypes about women’s bodies and spreading misinformation. The actor has not yet responded to the backlash, but social media users have not held back their criticism.

Other Instagram users echoed her sentiments, with one writing, "Horrible, horrible, horrible! It’s 2024, and yet this unscientific nonsense is being peddled. First that vaginal whitening cream, and now this!” Another disappointed follower commented, “I cannot believe I’m seeing a public figure promoting this kind of product. Not following you anymore!”

The criticism didn’t stop there. One user voiced concerns over the larger impact of such endorsements, saying, “That’s extremely low, Nia, lower than your low waist clothes. I hope the payment for this endorsement was worth making 100s and 1000s of women even more insecure in this already fucked up society.”

Dr. Cuterus Reacts

Among the most notable voices calling out the promotion was Dr. Tanaya, a reproductive health expert popularly known as Dr. Cuterus on Instagram. She left a blunt comment on the post, saying, "What the absolute fuck," expressing her disbelief over the unscientific and potentially harmful messaging in the video. 

Dr Tanaya has previously addressed similar misinformation on her social media, explaining misconceptions about female anatomy, including the myth that sex causes the vagina to "loosen." In her post, she clarified that this belief is entirely baseless and highlighted the importance of accurate sexual health information.

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A post shared by Dr. Tanaya | Doctor, Author, and Educator (@dr_cuterus)

SheThePeople's Experts Voice Their Opinion

Moreover, SheThePeople has also taken the initiative to educate women about such myths, providing clarity on what happens to the female body during and after sex. In a recent video, Dr Riddhima Shetty, MS, DNB OBGYN, explains the changes that occur in a woman's body after sex, particularly focusing on the final stage known as the resolution phase.

During this phase, the body gradually returns to its pre-sex state, meaning the heart rate, pulse, blood pressure, and breathing slowly decrease, and the whole body, including the breast and vagina, returns to normal. She highlights, "This phase is crucial because it shows that all the changes that occur during intercourse are temporary. Just minutes after orgasm, everything returns to its normal state."

Not limited to just sex, OBGYN  Dr Tanushree Pandey Padgaonkar, in her discussion with SheThePeople, explained that after delivery, the vagina may appear loser compared to its previous structure, but this change is temporary. She clarifies, "We're specifically discussing vaginal births, as a caesarean section doesn't impact the vaginal canal. When a baby is born, the vagina expands significantly to allow the baby and head to pass through. During the first 40 days, known as the postpartum period, the vagina is sensitive and slightly enlarged due to childbirth, which is why it's advised to avoid sexual activity and tampons during this time to allow for healing."

Dr. Padgaonkar emphasises that healing is not limited to the vagina; the entire body, including the uterus, has gone through nine months of pregnancy and subsequent postpartum adjustments. She adds that after a couple of months, as the body heals, the vagina typically returns to its original size. "If your partner claims you are loose after childbirth, that’s not accurate.

About 80 to 90 percent of women regain their pre-birth size. However, if you feel your vagina is still loose, there are cosmetic options available for tightening, though I don't personally recommend them. If you're experiencing significant looseness or urinary incontinence, it’s advisable to consult a gynaecologist."

She further notes that while childbirth does not result in permanent vaginal loosening, aging can lead to changes similar to how skin becomes less firm. "So, does vaginal birth lead to loosening? No, it doesn't. Embrace your identity as a mother and don’t blame yourself for feeling you have a loose vagina after giving birth. You are incredibly strong for having gone through that."