Pornography could also have something to do with it, especially when it comes to hurtful comments from male partners. Dr. Hutcherson recalls one patient whose boyfriend told her she had "things hanging down there." (Dude, you have balls, so???) "Pornography is how many young men get introduced to the way a woman looks, but women in pornography are chosen specifically for a certain type of [labial] look," says Dr. Hutcherson. "When you think about it, if you've got very small labia, it's much easier to see what's going on."
There's also the fact that a lot of porn often isn't racially diverse, so women of color may feel extra self-conscious about the color of their labia not necessarily matching what they see on screen. But, let's be clear, labia come in all different colors and all are normal!
OK, but what if you just don’t like your labia?
Hey, not everyone loves every part of their body all the time, and that’s totally fine. So if you’re not thrilled with the look of your labia, that’s OK. But first, we’d urge you to consider why you don’t like it—is it because of external pressure to look a certain way? Is it because a partner said something that made you feel insecure? Before you look into ways to medically change your (probably already perfect) body, consider if this is something that you really want, or if it’s something you’re being told you should want.
In reality, there are very few medical reasons to have a labiaplasty, which is a surgery that shortens the length of the labia minora, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. This could be medically helpful for people who have labia minora that are long enough that they cause discomfort—like twisting and tugging when working out or having sex. But some people do choose to do it for aesthetic reasons.
What exactly does a labiaplasty procedure entail? Often it would mean a surgeon reduces the labia minora so it stays inside the labia majora and doesn’t protrude out of it. Most women get the trim procedure which is when the extra tissue is trimmed and the raw edges are sewn up with dissolvable sutures, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. The next most common type of labiaplasty is the wedge procedure, which maintains the edges of the labia and instead takes pie-shaped pieces of tissue from other parts of the labia. Recovery usually means a week off of work so you can reduce the pain and swelling with ice packs. After four to six weeks, most women can go back to using tampons and having sex.
Here's what you should know if you're considering labiaplasty.
It can be dismaying to feel like part of your body isn't normal, but many experts advise against labiaplasty for looks alone. To be clear, some women's lives are vastly improved by labiaplasty. Take the ice hockey player Dr. Minkin performed the surgery on because her labia kept getting caught in her underwear, making it uncomfortable to play her sport. But if you're intrigued by labiaplasty solely for looks' sake, the problem isn't with your body, it's with the false societal message telling you to get surgery in an area that most people won't even see in the first place. Those who do should feel enormously excited, and basically fall in love with how individually beautiful your vulva is.
Also, undergoing surgery can be risky, with Dr. Hutcherson noting that complications like scarring, pain, uncomfortable intercourse, and decreased sexual pleasure can occur post-labiaplasty. And Dr. Minkin notes that there's also the chance of infection. "You're an inch away from the rectum, so there's a bundle of bacteria down there. Why risk a significant infection for something that’s not medically indicated?"
With that said, if anything about your labia bothers you, you shouldn't just ignore it. Whether your labia make you physically or emotionally uncomfortable, it's worth checking in with your gynecologist. If there's a physical reason to consider labiaplasty, they can walk you through your options. And in the more likely result that there isn't, they can reassure you that your parts are perfect just the way they are.
Related:
- Here’s the Only Time You Actually Need Labia Surgery
- What I Learned About Myself (and My Vagina) Through Vaginismus Treatment
- 7 Vaginal Products and Treatments You Just Don't Need
