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.
Hi , im just writing because my labia isnt as big as the pictures but it does seem larger than it sould be , i spoke to my mum and sisters and one of my frends about it ,they all told me dont worry and they offered to take me to the doctors.My main concern is just will I be able to have surgery at 14 ? beciuse i would like to be intimate with boys at this age. Im also worried that if i have the operation what how long would it take to recover because what am i supposed to tell people if im out of sport and activities for long ? xx
Ladies, I've got huge lips and apart from sometimes being uncomfortable cycling, or in tight jeans, they aren't a problem. Yes, buy knickers that are comfortable, but please don't get hung up on wanting surgery. I'm very lucky: when I was a teenager no-one discussed or looked at "your bits" so I never knew I wasn't "normal". You are normal: people come in all shapes and sizes, and very few of us are just grateful to have the right numbers of arms and legs! I can absolutely guarantee large labial lips have totally NOT affected my sex life, which has been (and is) excellent. Honestly, the vast majority of men are too jolly delighted about getting sex at all to fret about minor details. And Mr Right (hooray for mine) is far more concerned over whether you both orgasm than anything else. Life is way too short to worry about whether you look this way or that way in your bikini: I'm willing to bet you don't judge other girls by their boobs, and you'll find that they're more worried about how they look than about how you look. Please, please, sex is far too important to spoil with unnecessary worries like this!
I'm 15 and have had this problem since I was just starting puberty (around 11). Does masterbation have anything to do with it??? I'm sooo embaressed - my friends don't know I have it and I would die if I had to tell them but whenever we get on the topic, they're always grossed out which makes me feel even worse about myself. I'm so scared about becoming sexually active because of it and although it would be painful, I've started thinking about surgery - would I be able to get it on the NHS and how old do I have to be? It's reaaally knocking my confidence and it's put me off ever having sex - I don't want it to take over my life which is why I really need to know if I get it on the NHS? Thanks for your help! :)
hi i have the same problem but myne is much bigger than the picture it also hangs down in my knickers so i can neva get changed in front of people i dnt wnt to go doctors because im too embarrased what can i do thank you :)
In the last couple of years this has become quite a problem for me because I've had four operations now, all to remove bartholin's abscesses (which are around the vagina and involve an incision made on the labia as well as several stitches every time) and now have one labia much much bigger than the other due to all the surgery. I assumed it was just swelling and would go back down after the operations but it hasn't and it's really quite distressing for me. Would I be able to get this labiaplasty on the NHS? I honestly wouldn't be looking for this kind of corrective surgery if it weren't for the effects of all the operations I've had to have recently.
I'm exactly the same. I'm 15 and sexually active and past boyfriends have seem to either not have a problem with it, or do not realise i have it. I prefer the lights of when we have sex as well, so they may not have realised. I am with someone now and they haven't said anything about it. I'm also really embarrassed about it but way to scared to tell anyone and even go to the doctors. I would just find it too humiliating to actually speak to someone about it. I find it embarrassing now admitting it. I could never afford the amount of money that has been said in prior comments can you get it on the NHS??
Hello i am 13 and i do have a case of this problem i have one lip that is bigger then the other and its really embarressing i have told my mum but im scared when i get older i wont be able to have sex because of this problem and hate myself for this.
I am 15, and have this problem. I am worried I have an abnormal vagina and am really worried; I would like surgery, but I am terrified of needles and pain :( What should I do, I hate it!
I'm 14 and i have the same problem, mine are bigger thanthe pictures, you get like a lump in your pants and its soo embarrasing. I was watching the show with my friend and a girl came on with them - my mate was like 'urgh thats disgusting its looks sick' and i felt soo bad. i'm so scared guys'll think they look nasty and won't lik me for it :S how much is surgery??
hi im 14 too and same all my mates are like eww! :/ have you told your mum ? i havent i cant tell anyone. i think we can calm of nhs because we are soo young but u need adult there.
yeh im 14 too and have had the same problem, i had surgery on the NHS and am waaaay happyer. but the surgery is very painful afterwards, with LOTS of bruseing and swelling. mine was probly worse than normal because i hemorrhaged. but i had it last year and it seems to of grown again? its not like huge as it used to be but its getting larger is it my hormones? and im getting worried il have to go through surgery again and if i will have to pay this time? ps.i hope you manage to get sorted out and yor cofidence back i hope this helped a bit, and please don't let it get you down like i did xxx :-)
I am now 21 and since i had my daughter in 2006 i have had the same problem. My skin of the labia area is larger than it used to be. It makes me feel really embarresd not just during sexual intercourse but also just being in things like bikinis. I would like to know if it would be possible for me to get help from the NHS. I would definately opt for surgery, it would make me feel much more confidence in myself.
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