WARNING: The Embarrassing Bodies website contains images of an explicit medical nature and nudity in a medical context.

Video

Dr Pixie:
The subject of enlarged labia has really got you talking. A lot of you wondered, is it normal to have one side bigger than the other? Absolutely! It’s totally fine, don’t worry about it. We are all different.

Some of you wondered if large labia can affect health and cleanliness and ‘do they give rise to more infections’. Because the cells on the inside of the labia are actually mucus-producing, so they produce secretions, what happens is they actually make the labia stick together. And that can make people feel like they’re unclean or can sometimes give rise to maybe a slight smell. But in no way do they cause infections or any medical problems.

A lot of you have asked, will your labia get larger as you get older? The chances are, they will, and a lot of times this is related to the number of natural births you have.

A lot of you wondered, what do you actually do to deal with enlarged labia? Well, there is a procedure called labiaplasty—which again is something that’s got you all talking and passing comments about—which can be done through a cosmetic surgeon. It is not a routine procedure on the NHS, and is usually done by a surgeon who feels there is a clinical need based on pain or discomfort or distress to the patient. If you’re concerned about your labia, they’re causing you pain or psychological disturbance, it is always worthwhile talking to a doctor.

Read the video transcript

Doctor Responses: Enlarged Labia

Dr Pixie answers your most frequently asked questions about enlarged labia such as: Will they get bigger as you get older? Can it affect your health and cleanliness? What can you do to deal with enlarged labia?

With thanks to the Baker Street Medical Centre

Did you find this useful? YesYes NoNo

388 of 597 people said they found this useful

Comments and Questions

You can share your experiences and thoughts with other Embarrassing Bodies site-users below. Comments & Questions are reviewed by moderators, but if you see anything on the site that worries you, please report it and one of our moderators will look at it as soon as possible.
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.

i am 14 and i have enlarged labias. i am really scared of what will happen if anybody finds out.they are like a purplish color and they hang down.i dont like it. i thought i had turned lesbian because of it but while i was dating a girl she asked about going further with our relationship. i didnt know what to do so i broke up with her come to find out i dont like girls. im just scared of what guys will say if they see my labias





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

Hi I'm 16 years old and I think I have enlarged labias. I have noticed them for a couple of years and it is making me really self-conscious, I have never told anyone about it but I'm worried that when I am ready to have sex, I will be too uncomfortable with my body to do it. Is there any way of getting surgery on the NHS or finding out if my labia are significantly bigger than another person? It is making me feel really insecure.





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

I'm 16 and have enlarged labia, its painful for me doing exercise and they get itchy an uncomfortable and very sore during my periods, I was wondering would the NHS do a operation (labiaplasty) or would I have to pay for this?





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

Does anyone else pull out tampons which are bent 45 degrees sometimes?





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your answer.


Please don't swear or be rude in your answers, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting answers. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

Questions submitted to the site will be answered by other site users, not by medical professionals, so if you have a medical concern, please book an appointment with your GP.

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

it might be because you sit strangely or you sit often. Either that or your putting it in wrong.Try putting one leg on the toilet and one leg on the ground and insert the tampon. If it's in comfortably, it in right. Only leave them in for a max of 8 hours. Thats what i do.

I am 15 and have an enlarged labia, its been like this for the past 2 years, I am in a seriouse realtionship with myboyfriend its been a year. We have had sex and he knows I do not like my vagina he says there all different. And its nothing to worry about. But my labia rubs on my nickers I get a swell of a lip, they rub when I walk with certain nickers on and as well I don't go swimming as u can see the outline on the material, they hang down quite abit, and when I spread my legs my labia looks massive. I do want to go surgery as its gettine me down to much. And getting in the way of my sex life as everytime I have sex they swell from the friction. And leaves me swelled for 2 days. Dr pixie help?





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

Im 15 and i I have enlarged libias that sag down and are really wrinkly and a sort of purple colour, I discharge alot which causes problems. I wash everyday to make sure that the discharge goes for a while so I can be comfy in my pants! I really hate having large libias, I lost my virginity about three weeks ago and the boy comments and tells his friends that my libias are horrible and rotten, it hurts that they say that but it's true and now I'm scared to do anything with anyone or have a boyfriend incase he says something, please help?





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

I'm sorry that you're first experience was so disappointing. Let me reassure you that he is NOT like the vast majority of men! normal men neither gossip about that sort of thing, nor do they get freaked out by normal female genitals! I guarantee you that when you find a nice lad who really does care for you, he really wont be bothered one bit about what your downstairs looks like. you fall in love with the person not with their genitals! (and not to nag, but i strongly advise waiting until youre a little older and more comfortable in your body before you have another sexual relationship - the minimum age is to make sure you're mentally as well as physically ready)

Your are honestly totally normal. Chances are the boy you slept with hasn't seen many 'girl parts' before! (And if he has, it's probably from pornographic images where the girls shown usually have smaller labia, or may even have had surgery, which doesn't represent women from across the board) Next time anyone says anything about you in this way, just respond by saying "I'm totally normal, thank-you!" and they should respond to your confidence by accepting you for who you are.

Would it he possible for the show to organise some surgery for my labia to be shrunk down as it hangs a fair way down. I am 15 years old and I hate getting changed it p.e and I also will not go swimming due to the look of it in the material,please dr.pixie I need your help.





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your answer.


Please don't swear or be rude in your answers, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting answers. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

Questions submitted to the site will be answered by other site users, not by medical professionals, so if you have a medical concern, please book an appointment with your GP.

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

had prolaspe on bowel last year. It hasnt work. My bowel is coming down and feel like all area is collaspe I have no where to go as hospital now send me for bio feed therophy. Can you give any advise please





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your answer.


Please don't swear or be rude in your answers, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting answers. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

Questions submitted to the site will be answered by other site users, not by medical professionals, so if you have a medical concern, please book an appointment with your GP.

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

hi, im 16 and both o the "lips" o the labia sag down about two inches. They sag down in underwear and also collect a white mucus during the day or between showers. Should I be concerned and see a doctor, if so, i dont wish to see a family doctor, is there anyone else i could talk too? Or does anybody know how much labiaplasty would actually cost?





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

im 16 i also have this and im so embarresed about it i just want it to go away,ijust dont want it there any more, i have cryed many times about what my boyfriend would say if he saw it! is there any way i can pay for it to be removed? it would be great if i could get some kind of hel





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.



Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your answer.



Please don't swear or be rude in your questions, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting questions. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

Questions submitted to the site will be answered by other site users, not by medical professionals, so if you have a medical concern, please book an appointment with your GP.

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines


More Information

  1. In Detail: Sore Labia

    In Videos - An in detail look at the operation to treat a sore labia.

  2. Consultation: Enlarged Labia

    In Videos - A woman comes to see Dr McKenna about her enlarged labia.

  3. Enlarged Labia

    In Conditions - Many women are born with larger or more noticeably asymmetric labia…

  4. How To Check Your Vulva

    In Videos - Dr Harper's guide to how to self-check your vulva against vulval ca…

  5. Vaginal Tearing

    In Conditions - A vaginal tear most commonly occurs during the birth of a baby, whe…

  6. Allergic Reaction

    In Conditions - A food allergy results in the bodies immune system attacking an ite…

  7. Enlarged Tongue

    In Conditions - An enlarged tongue could be caused by a large number of medical pro…

  8. Vaginas

    In Episodes - The EI team roll into Norwich to setup a clinic in one of the count…

  9. Dr Christian Jessen

    Doctor Info - Find out more about Dr Christian

  10. Dr Pixie McKenna

    Doctor Info - Find out more about Dr Pixie.

  11. Dr Dawn Harper

    Doctor Info - Find out more about Dr Dawn.

  12. Episode 1 - Pelvic Floor

    In Episodes - This week’s episode includes a woman who thinks she has a gia…

  13. Erectile Dysfunction

    In Conditions - Any glance at your email spam filter will tell you that erectile dy…

  14. Vaginal Dryness

    In Conditions - Vaginas should normally be moist, but due to a number of factors, s…

  15. Marine Creature Stings

    In Conditions - A number of sea creatures can sting or bite you when swimming in th…


Be On Embarrassing Bodies

The clinic is opening again for a new series.
Apply for Embarrassing Bodies >

Important Notice

The information provided on this website (including any NHS Choices medical information) is for use as information or for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical care by a qualified doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. We do not warrant that any information included within this site will meet your health or medical requirements. This Embarrassing Bodies site does not provide any medical or diagnostic services so you should always check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.


If you want to embed our videos in your site, read our embedding T&Cs here