We’ve normalised discussing gut health, mental health, sleep quality, and stress management. We share recommendations for dermatologists, physiotherapists, and nutritionists without hesitation. Yet when it comes to intimate health—sexual function, vaginal wellness, urinary concerns—many women suffer in silence, convinced their struggles are either unsolvable or too awkward to mention.
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: issues like decreased sensation, stress incontinence, vaginal dryness, or reduced sexual satisfaction are incredibly common, especially after childbirth or during hormonal changes. They significantly impact quality of life, relationships, and self-confidence. And increasingly, they’re treatable.
One option gaining recognition is the O-Shot—a non-surgical treatment using your body’s own growth factors to rejuvenate intimate tissue and improve function. If you’ve never heard of it, you’re not alone. If you’ve dismissed it as unnecessary or indulgent, it’s time to reconsider. Let’s talk honestly about why intimate health deserves the same attention you give everything else.
The Silence Around Intimate Health Issues
Women will discuss their difficult periods, their fertility journeys, even their menopausal symptoms with relative openness. But sexual dysfunction, urinary incontinence, or vaginal discomfort? Those remain taboo, whispered about reluctantly if mentioned at all.
This silence serves nobody. It leaves women believing their experiences are unusual, embarrassing, or simply something to accept. Meanwhile, they’re avoiding intimacy, wearing panty liners constantly just in case, or simply feeling disconnected from their own bodies.
The statistics tell a different story. Roughly 40% of women experience some form of sexual dysfunction during their lives. Stress incontinence affects up to 50% of women, particularly after childbirth. Vaginal dryness and discomfort are nearly universal during menopause. You’re not alone, unusual, or broken—you’re experiencing common issues that deserve solutions.
Breaking the silence starts with acknowledging that intimate health is health. It affects your well-being, relationships, and confidence just as much as any other aspect of wellness. Seeking treatment isn’t indulgent—it’s self-care.
What Actually Is the O-Shot?
The O-Shot (short for Orgasm Shot) is a non-surgical treatment using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) derived from your own blood. The process involves drawing a small blood sample, processing it to concentrate the growth factors and healing proteins, then injecting this PRP into specific areas of the vaginal tissue.
These growth factors stimulate tissue regeneration, improve blood flow, enhance nerve sensitivity, and promote collagen production. The result is rejuvenated tissue that functions better—increased sensitivity and sensation, improved natural lubrication, stronger orgasms, and, for many women, improvement in mild stress incontinence.
The treatment takes roughly 30-45 minutes. A topical numbing cream is applied beforehand, making the injections tolerable rather than painful. Most women describe slight pressure or discomfort rather than significant pain. There’s no downtime—you can return to normal activities immediately, though sexual activity is typically avoided for a few days.
Results develop gradually over several weeks as tissue regeneration occurs. Most women notice improvements within 4-6 weeks, with continued enhancement over several months. Results typically last 12-18 months, after which repeat treatments can maintain benefits.
Who Benefits from the O-Shot?
The O-Shot addresses various concerns, making it relevant for different women at different life stages.
Postpartum women often experience decreased sensation, vaginal laxity, or stress incontinence following childbirth. The O-Shot can help restore sensitivity and improve incontinence symptoms without requiring surgery.
Perimenopausal and menopausal women facing declining oestrogen levels often struggle with vaginal dryness, decreased sensation, and discomfort during sex. The O-Shot stimulates natural rejuvenation, improving these symptoms alongside or as an alternative to hormone treatments.
Women experiencing sexual dysfunction—difficulty achieving orgasm, reduced sensation, lack of arousal—may find the O-Shot improves their sexual response significantly. This isn’t about chasing unrealistic expectations; it’s about restoring function that’s declined.
Women with mild stress incontinence who leak urine when coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercising often see improvements with the O-Shot. It’s not a replacement for pelvic floor physiotherapy or more severe incontinence treatments, but for mild cases, it can make a genuine difference.
The O-Shot isn’t magic—it won’t solve relationship problems, address psychological factors affecting intimacy, or work for everyone equally. But for women whose intimate health concerns have physical components, it offers a legitimate treatment option.
How the O-Shot Actually Works
The science behind the O-Shot centres on platelet-rich plasma’s regenerative properties. Your blood platelets contain growth factors that signal tissue repair and regeneration. When concentrated PRP is injected into tissue, these growth factors trigger several beneficial processes.
Blood flow increases as new blood vessels form, improving tissue health and function. Nerve sensitivity enhances as tissue regenerates and becomes healthier. Collagen production increases, improving tissue structure and elasticity. Natural lubrication improves as the glands function better.
This isn’t about adding something foreign to your body—it’s about using your body’s own healing mechanisms in a concentrated, targeted way. The PRP comes from your own blood, eliminating allergy or rejection concerns.
Results vary between individuals. Some women experience dramatic improvements, others more modest changes. Factors like age, overall health, severity of concerns, and individual healing responses all influence outcomes. Setting realistic expectations during consultations is crucial.
Combining Treatments for Better Results
The O-Shot often works best as part of a comprehensive approach to intimate wellness rather than as a standalone treatment.
Pelvic floor physiotherapy addresses muscle weakness or dysfunction that contributes to incontinence and sexual dysfunction. Combining physiotherapy with the O-Shot often delivers better results than either alone.
Hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women can work synergistically with the O-Shot. HRT addresses systemic hormonal deficiencies, whilst the O-Shot provides targeted local rejuvenation.
Vaginal laser treatments like CO2 laser or radiofrequency can complement the O-Shot, each addressing different aspects of vaginal wellness. Some practitioners offer combination protocols for comprehensive rejuvenation.
Lifestyle factors like maintaining a healthy weight, staying hydrated, avoiding smoking, and managing stress all influence intimate health. The O-Shot provides a boost, but supporting your body holistically maximises results.
Addressing the Awkwardness
Let’s acknowledge the elephant in the room: discussing intimate health concerns with healthcare providers feels awkward. You’re talking about things society has trained you to keep private, with strangers, in clinical settings.
Good practitioners understand this completely. They’ve heard everything, and their goal is to make you comfortable whilst addressing your concerns professionally. If you feel rushed, judged, or dismissed, find a different practitioner. Your intimate health deserves the same respectful, thorough care as any other health concern.
During consultations, expect a thorough medical history discussion, examination if appropriate, explanation of how the O-Shot works, realistic expectation-setting, and opportunity to ask questions without judgment. Professional practitioners never pressure you into immediate treatment or make exaggerated promises.
Cost and Accessibility
The O-Shot typically costs £800-1,500 per treatment in the UK. It’s not usually covered by the NHS or private medical insurance as it’s considered elective treatment.
This cost creates accessibility barriers, which is frustrating when intimate health significantly impacts quality of life. However, considering the treatment’s duration (12-18 months of benefit), the cost per month becomes more reasonable. Many women find the improvement in quality of life, confidence, and relationship satisfaction worth the investment.
Some clinics offer payment plans, making treatment more accessible. Others provide package deals if multiple treatments are planned.
Choosing Your Practitioner
The O-Shot should only be performed by qualified medical professionals—doctors or specialist nurses with specific training in the procedure. The injection technique and anatomical knowledge required mean this isn’t something for beauty therapists or inadequately trained practitioners.
Look for practitioners who are medically qualified with specific training in intimate health treatments, work in properly regulated clinical settings, discuss expectations realistically rather than promising miracles, and show before-and-after evidence (where possible) and patient testimonials.
Ask about their experience: How many O-Shot procedures have you performed? What results do your patients typically experience? How do you handle situations where results are disappointing? What’s your complication rate?
Trust your instincts. If something feels off during consultations—pushy sales tactics, dismissiveness of concerns, reluctance to answer questions—find another practitioner.
You deserve healthcare that addresses all aspects of your wellbeing, including the ones we’ve been conditioned not to discuss. Intimate health matters. Seeking treatment for concerns affecting it isn’t indulgent—it’s self-care.