Conditions
Enlarged Labia
Many women are born with larger or more noticeably asymmetric labia, just like other parts of the body come in different shapes and sizes. These lips of skin surround the vulval opening, and conditions such as Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, stretching in childbirth or irritation can cause enlargement. For some it makes no difference to their lives, but for others it undermines confidence, especially when it comes to relations in the bedroom. Labiaplasty is the surgical procedure used to reduce the inner labia, but this is seen as cosmetic and will not usually be available on the NHS. If you do have any concerns, it might be worthwhile to go and seek advice from your doctor.
Comments and Questions
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Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.
It is really sad to read some of these comments from girls and women with nothing 'wrong' with themselves, but are clearly worried and thinking they need surgery. Just like every other part of the body, labia vary enormously from person to person, and just the same, others will find different shapes and sizes of body parts more or less attractive, according to their own tastes. Yes, some guys will not even care, and some will, but I can assure you that many guys have a preference for larger labia, and find them particularly beautiful, myself included. If you find yourself with a partner who does not appreciate, or worse, makes fun of you for your labia, move on, and find somebody who is grateful - it is no different, and certainly not unhealthier, than a woman's preference for taller/shorter, or hairier/balder, or darker/fairer-skinned men. Celebrate your body, and others will!
hi im abi, and im 14 nearly 15 next year. i have a boyfriend which is the same age as me but is becoming 15 this year so hes older in months. its been 2 months now and we love eachother so much, but i do stuff to him but i dont let him do stuff to me, its just the fact im abit different down there to others. it gets me down when i think about it and it gets me down even more when he takes the mick out of it like somthing somthing 'i can hear the lips of your vagina flaping in the wind' and say it to his mates. i wonder what i could do besides surgery? please help :(
Like all of you I feel relieved to discover other suffer from the same thing (i.e. enlarged labia). Mine have been large and dangly since I can remember. My problem isn't so much of a sexual nature, I have talked about it with my husband and know he doesn't mind. Although it can make sex uncomfortable my problem is more to do with the pain I experience when exercising. I enjoy cycling and always find my labia to be red and swollen afterwards. I am also concerned they will get in the way during childbirth. Please help me to put my mind at rest or offer a solution. Is surgery really a no-no on the NHS? Thanks for your support.
Hi im 19 yrs old & have very large labias on both sides. Im so embarrased ive avoided relationships because of this and i feel like they get bigger and bigger by the day. This website has helped me as i know now im not the only one im trying to live with it as i dot think i can afford surgery at this stge and im so scared of being cut down there, i always have to tuck them in to make myself feel better. I understand were not all the same but some days i get really down because of it and its ruined by confidence. theres worse things to worry about but i felt that i needed to get this of my chest. does anyone else feel like this and is anyone elses bigger than the pictures above and does any1 feel like theres are getting bigger? please help!
hi, im 19 years old and have suffered from enlarged labias since i was 13, and has become a lot worse since the birth of my daughter.ive been to see a gyneocologist who said that he could remove them if i wished.i havnt had it done yet, but i have had similar surgery before dont worry about been cut (down there)you dont feel a thing,honestly.but if this isnt an option dont worry!we all have some sort of dangly bits.iv compared myself to many pictures on the net and to be honest no ones got a natural designer vagina,and im sure when it gets down to the nitty gritty your partner wont be bothered what it looks like.love what youv got not what you havnt got.
Yeah i feel tha excate thing man :( but iv went to my doctors and waittin to go into hospital goin to av a op , dont be scared if u really want them gone , go through with it
i'm only 13, but i am starting to notice the same problem with myself.i am quiet embarrassed as i haven't had any exierience with boys yet and i a worried about it.are there any treatments at all that could maybe reduce the size of my labias at least?i would be most grateful if anyone had any info :)
I have the same problems has mentioned above...including having to "tuck them in" - I've recently just got involved with a guy and we're taking things slow.I trust him and don't expect him to judge me about it but either way I'm anxious about his reaction...does anyone have any advice how to stop it being so noticable ??
Hi, I'm 18 years old, I like coming onto this website and reading these comments as it gives me A LOT of confidence in myself to start doing things with guys. Every labia minora on a girl is different as mine is enlarged around the top part of my mons pubis, it sticks out and dangles a little bit, I say whatever, you are who you are, be confident in yourself. I explained to my friends about my labia minora and some of my friends say that they have the same and they've had sex and done things with boys, so all I feel now is that I can't get rid of it to be honest so i'm going to go for it all!!! Don't be worried! x
I would just like to say that it concerns me that the solution offered to this 'problem' is to have surgery. Unless you are in pain obviously, i think perhaps a treatment such as therapy would be much more beneficial in helping women to realise that this is normal. It is shocking that so many women are made to feel different or ashamed when enlarged labia are so common. I was so self conscious about this area but have since realised that it matters to men as little as penis size really matters to women. I.e. hardly at all. My boyfriend loves them and says that there is just more of me to play with. Really think about whether you would care if your partner's penis was a bit shorter, or a darker colour for example. It's just a variation. It doesn't make it wrong.
hey i am kate and I have 15 years old. I have written on here before but realised that there is nothing i can do! I HAVE TO HAVE SURGERY for my problems to go away! i have exams soon and i need to concentrate but not a day or night goes by without me thinking about my labias. Its really uncomfy and everytime i look in the mirror i just see them hanging and i think whats a boy when the time comes going to think!? I need to tell my mum so i can get down to to a doctor and have them removed. How do i tell her is the question? PLEASE GIVE ME SOME HELP! WHat do i say to her with coming out with it directly. I have thought about even cutting them off with string then i chicken out... surgery is my only option it seems to me. PLEASE HELP ME!
Hey,im 15 too,and i used to feel the same way:/ i decided to tell my mum.She was really understanding and said she would take me to the doctors.My doctor said that i was completly normal and i had nothing to worry about.But i was determind i wanted surgery.Doctor said i was very young and that nhs does 'no such thing' so my mum said that she would pay however much money it was for me to have it privatly.( which is around £3,000) she called lots of different private surgens.and all said only when i was 16 could i have it done.i was really upset but it's been a few months now and iv'e kindaa gotten over it . But now i know i can have the op i don't feel in any rush to have it asoon as i turn 16 'if you know what i mean . Hope this helped:) if you have anymore questions just ask x
hey i am kate and I have 15 years old. I have written on here before but realised that there is nothing i can do! I HAVE TO HAVE SURGERY for my problems to go away! i have exams soon and i need to concentrate but not a day or night goes by without me thinking about my labias. Its really uncomfy and everytime i look in the mirror i just see them hanging and i think whats a boy when the time comes going to think!? I need to tell my mum so i can get down to to a doctor and have them removed. How do i tell her is the question? PLEASE GIVE ME SOME HELP! WHat do i say to her with coming out with it directly. I have thought about even cutting them off with string then i chicken out... surgery is my only option it seems to me. PLEASE HELP ME!
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