A vaginal manipulator comprising: a shaft; a handle connected to a first end of the shaft; a head connected to a second end of the shaft, the head comprising: an expansion plate (50,450) and a door coupled to a central plate, the central plate comprising: a distal end connected to the second end of the shaft; an anterior surface; a recess formed in a posterior side of the central plate that provides a posterior surface opposite the anterior surface; wherein the expansion plate (50,450) is movable relative to the anterior surface of the central plate and the door is coupled disposed within the recess of the central plate and movable relative to the posterior surface of the central plate, the expansion plate (50,450) movable independently of the door, such that when the vaginal manipulator is inserted into a vagina, the expansion plate (50,450) is movable in a radial direction away from the anterior surface to displace an anterior wall of the vagina and the door is movable pivotably away from the posterior surface to displace a posterior wall of the vagina, respectively; the head further comprising a light source provided on each of the expansion plate (50,450) and the door of the head; wherein the light source includes a first light source provided on the expansion plate (50,450) and a second light source provided on the door located a selected distance away from an end of the head to provide a visible landmark for a surgeon to identify a desired location that is a pre-determined distance from the end for suture placement. a shaft; a handle connected to a first end of the shaft; a head connected to a second end of the shaft, the head comprising: an expansion plate (50,450) and a door coupled to a central plate, the central plate comprising: a distal end connected to the second end of the shaft; an anterior surface; a recess formed in a posterior side of the central plate that provides a posterior surface opposite the anterior surface; wherein the expansion plate (50,450) is movable relative to the anterior surface of the central plate and the door is coupled disposed within the recess of the central plate and movable relative to the posterior surface of the central plate, the expansion plate (50,450) movable independently of the door, such that when the vaginal manipulator is inserted into a vagina, the expansion plate (50,450) is movable in a radial direction away from the anterior surface to displace an anterior wall of the vagina and the door is movable pivotably away from the posterior surface to displace a posterior wall of the vagina, respectively; the head further comprising a light source provided on each of the expansion plate (50,450) and the door of the head; wherein the light source includes a first light source provided on the expansion plate (50,450) and a second light source provided on the door located a selected distance away from an end of the head to provide a visible landmark for a surgeon to identify a desired location that is a pre-determined distance from the end for suture placement. an expansion plate (50,450) and a door coupled to a central plate, the central plate comprising: a distal end connected to the second end of the shaft; an anterior surface; a recess formed in a posterior side of the central plate that provides a posterior surface opposite the anterior surface; a distal end connected to the second end of the shaft; an anterior surface; a recess formed in a posterior side of the central plate that provides a posterior surface opposite the anterior surface; wherein the expansion plate (50,450) is movable relative to the anterior surface of the central plate and the door is coupled disposed within the recess of the central plate and movable relative to the posterior surface of the central plate, the expansion plate (50,450) movable independently of the door, such that when the vaginal manipulator is inserted into a vagina, the expansion plate (50,450) is movable in a radial direction away from the anterior surface to displace an anterior wall of the vagina and the door is movable pivotably away from the posterior surface to displace a posterior wall of the vagina, respectively; the head further comprising a light source provided on each of the expansion plate (50,450) and the door of the head; wherein the light source includes a first light source provided on the expansion plate (50,450) and a second light source provided on the door located a selected distance away from an end of the head to provide a visible landmark for a surgeon to identify a desired location that is a pre-determined distance from the end for suture placement.