A Worrying Trend: Kenyan Women Are Now Getting Botox Injections on Their Vajayjay

A controversial cosmetic procedure is quietly gaining traction among Kenyan women, sparking debate about the intersection of medical treatment and aesthetic enhancement.

Vaginal Botox injections of neurotoxins into pelvic floor muscles or vaginal walls is being marketed as both a solution to sexual health issues and a way to enhance intimate experiences.

The procedure, which involves the same botulinum toxin used in facial treatments, aims to relax vaginal muscles that cause pain during penetration.

For some women, this represents a medical breakthrough; for others, it raises serious questions about unnecessary intervention in women’s bodies.

Dr. Fahad Usman, a regenerative and aesthetic dermatologist who recently visited Kenya to train local physicians, champions the procedure as “a necessity for women who are suffering silently.”

He argues that sexual discomfort can trigger mental health issues, relationship stress, and depression, positioning vaginal Botox as a marriage-saving intervention.

“Many women experience pain during penetration—a condition that causes fear, avoidance of intimacy, and ultimately strains marriages,” Dr. Usman explained during his recent visit to educate Kenyan doctors about cosmetic procedures.

Dr. Francis Were, a consultant cosmetic gynecologist in Kenya, describes the treatment process: patients receive injections in theater, followed by the insertion of dilators and a home regimen using silicone devices to gradually stretch and relax muscles.

The procedure costs between Sh150,000 to Sh200,000, with Botox alone costing Sh60,000.

A growing resistance from medical professionals

However, not all medical professionals are convinced. Dr. Maureen Owiti, a gynecologist, warns against the trend, emphasizing the vagina’s role as a “self-regulating organ with a delicate internal environment.”

“The vaginal flora is essential to a woman’s health. Introducing substances like Botox may sound trendy, but it can disrupt the natural balance and lead to complications,” Dr. Owiti cautioned.

“Unless there’s a solid medical reason, I strongly discourage inserting anything into the vagina.”

Her concerns are well-founded. When administered improperly, vaginal Botox can cause severe complications including unintended muscle paralysis, urinary incontinence, constipation, rectal pain, and infection risk.

The procedure’s temporary nature—lasting approximately three months also means repeated treatments for sustained effects.

This trend reflects a troubling pattern of medicalizing women’s sexual experiences and bodies.

While legitimate medical conditions like vaginismus—involuntary tightening of vaginal muscles—may benefit from such treatments, the marketing of vaginal Botox as a routine enhancement raises ethical questions.

The procedure’s high cost also highlights accessibility issues.

At up to Sh200,000, it remains available only to wealthy Kenyans, potentially creating a two-tiered system of sexual healthcare where enhanced intimate experiences become privileges of economic status.

Furthermore, the emphasis on making sex “painless” and “enhanced” through medical intervention may inadvertently shame women experiencing natural variations in comfort levels, potentially pathologizing normal sexual experiences that could be addressed through communication, lubrication, or gradual accommodation.

While some women may genuinely benefit from vaginal Botox for specific medical conditions, its promotion as a routine enhancement procedure deserves scrutiny.

The lack of long-term studies on repeated vaginal Botox use, combined with the potential for serious complications, suggests a need for more conservative approaches.

Medical professionals should prioritize comprehensive sexual health education, counseling, and less invasive treatments before recommending such procedures. Women considering vaginal Botox should seek multiple medical opinions and thoroughly understand both the risks and alternatives.

As this trend gains momentum in Kenya’s cosmetic medicine sector, regulatory oversight and professional guidelines become increasingly important to protect women from unnecessary procedures marketed as solutions to manufactured problems.

The question remains: Are we addressing genuine medical needs, or are we creating new insecurities around women’s bodies that require expensive fixe?

The answer may determine whether this trend represents medical progress or a concerning step backward in women’s healthcare autonomy.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​