Normal Labia Size
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Normal Labia Size
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hello, my name is amber and i have a larger than normal labia but is their any thing i can do to make it smaller other than surgery?
originally written 12.02.2007 • updated 12.13.2021 •
Before you can decide you have larger than normal labia you sort of need to be able to say how large "normal" labia really are. But here's the deal: trying to define "normal" for labia is sort of like trying to define normal hairstyles.
I mention hairstyles specifically because hair is another part of the body pretty much everyone, sooner or later, decides to hate about themselves. And that's a trap too because if your hair's curly then sooner or later straight is going be the hot new look and you'll be out (never mind how much your partner enjoys running his fingers through your curls.) And if your hair's straight or kinky instead then, promise, inside just a couple of years curly's going to be burning up the magazine covers and you'll have pressure to hate your hair for, what? Not being curly.
I mention hairstyles for another reason. If you've got the money you can cut or color hair, straighten it or curl it. And if you've got the money you can probably find someone to cut up your labia too. But! Cutting hair doesn't cut nerves that provide sexual feelings the way cutting labia can and does! And with hair you can always grow it back. With labia you can't. Even if what's considered "normal" (in other words "fashionable this year") labia changes!
And can I just say something as a heterosexual man, that might be a little bit too much information? There really, really isn't a wrong size or shape for labia. They all look sexy so yours do to. They all feel sexy so yours do too. And as long as there's as much lubrication for comfortable intercourse they don't make any difference for your partner during intercourse and so neither will/do yours.
Finally, you know you're so not the only person who's come to Scarleteen worrying that there's somehow something abnormal with your labia. And so in addition to my pep talks there's a lot of other great, practical discussion.
One great place to start would be "Worried About Your Labia?" where MizScarlet says
If you truly think something is abnormal or seriously problematic, talk to your gynecologist , who has seen LOTS of labia and is someone who, unlike you, CAN make a sound determination as to whether or not something is problematic. But be prepared to find out otherwise, which is a good thing, anyway: labiaplasty is pretty icky stuff -- surgery sold to women to take advantage of their ignornace about their own bodies, which can limit sexual enjoyment, poses health risks, costs a bundle and is almost always totally unecessary.
Or check out the "International Labia Blog-a-Thon" that begins when KittenGoddess says
Lately it seems like there have been alot of questions around here concerning a negative body image in relation to labia. So I came up with a little project to encourage a more positive labia image. Myself and as many other bloggers as we can collect are blogging about labia and I'd like to encourage everybody here to participate too.
Labia are beautiful and perfect and normal exactly the way they are. The images we may see in magazines or movies of labia are not necessarily true of every woman, nor do they need to be. So feel free to talk about your feelings on labia. Tell your story, make a list of reasons why you like them just the way they are, speak your mind on the subject or read what other people have had to say about labia.
But mostly I think if you just search for the word "labia" on Scarleteen you'll find all the answers you need: you're not alone in worrying; you're already perfectly "normal"; you don't need plastic surgery.
Information on this site is provided for educational purposes. It is not meant to and cannot substitute for advice or care provided by an in-person medical professional. The information contained herein is not meant to be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease, or for prescribing any medication. You should always consult your own healthcare provider if you have a health problem or medical condition.
© 1998 - 2022 Scarleteen/Heather Corinna. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy & User Guidelines
Quick Question: Is My Labia Normal?
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Zahra Barnes joined SELF in November 2015, working on the Culture and Health teams before eventually becoming Executive Editor. She has spent her career as a reporter and editor covering people's lives with a focus on wellness.
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If you’ve ever wondered if your labia minora (the inner lips) and labia majora (the outer lips) are normal, you’re not alone. We all occasionally wonder whether what's under our clothes looks like what's under other people’s clothes, especially when it comes to things like our nipples and vulvas.
"There's so much misinformation and so many women feeling terrible about themselves and their genitals," Hilda Hutcherson, M.D., professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia University Medical Center, tells SELF.
Here's why that's so unfortunate: It's exceedingly unlikely that your labia minora and labia majora are too long, too uneven, or abnormal in any other way. Here, ob/gyns explain why you can stop stressing about this frankly magical part of your body.
First, a quick lesson on your parts. The vulva is the external genitalia, not to be confused with the vagina, which is the internal genitalia. “Labia majora are the large lips you see first if you look at yourself with a mirror,” says Dr. Hutcherson, who’s also the author of Pleasure . They usually have hair unless you shave or wax, and their main purpose is to protect all the fun stuff in between them: your inner lips, known as your labia minora, your clitoris , your urethra, and your vaginal opening. Those labia minora serve a similar protective purpose. The two sets of lips are basically like bouncers for your most vulnerable parts.
That’s not all they do, though. “They’re often ignored sexually, but for some women, those inner lips are as sensitive as the clitoris,” says Dr. Hutcherson. The outer ones also have a ton of nerve endings and can feel seriously good during sex . Basically, they're fun and functional.
Labia can come in a variety of shapes and colors. Sometimes they match and sometimes they don’t—whether we're talking shape or color. Your labia can be tiny and tight, long and loose, plump, thin, smooth, wrinkly, dark, light, or a couple different colors. The combinations are endless and pretty much all are "normal".
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen something I would say is an abnormal labia,” Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Yale Medical School, tells SELF. She’s been practicing for over 35 years, so she’s an excellent authority on the subject.
Most people are usually more concerned with the appearance of their labia minora, because they can be incredibly diverse and sometimes extend past the labia majora. Sometimes the inner labia stay tucked in, sometimes they stick out past the outer ones. Sometimes one side hangs a bit lower than the other.
Dr. Minkin says labia minora are generally between 1 and 2 inches long, but that’s not a hard and fast rule. Having labia that are longer or shorter than that doesn’t mean you’re abnormal. All that really matters is that they’re not causing you physical discomfort (like getting stuck in your clothes or getting in the way during sex).
Dr. Hutcherson says there’s this sense that labia minora are supposed to be pink, symmetrical, smooth instead of textured, and tucked away neatly between the labia majora. And, sure, labia that look that way are wonderful, but so are all the ones that don’t! “Long, luscious, fluffy labia are perfectly normal and beautiful,” says Dr. Hutcherson.
FYI: If you’d like to see how much labia can really vary, check out the NSFW Labia Library .
Is the patriarchy too short and simple of an answer? Kidding...kind of. But really, it’s ridiculous that even labia are supposed to live up to certain conventional standards of beauty. There are a few potential reasons why that pressure exists. As opposed to people with penises, it's often harder for people with vaginas to see how their vulvas compare to another person's vulva, says Dr. Hutcherson. That makes it tougher to realize that there's a huge variety out there, which can make you feel self conscious when you do catch a glimpse of one that doesn't look exactly like your own.
But the rise in hair removal may also be involved. "Labia come in all shapes and sizes—they always have, always will, and are basically all normal—but today [some] young women wax their vulvas, so now they can see their labia," says Dr. Minkin. If all your life you've absorbed the message that long labia are unacceptable, you might rightfully feel freaked out if the first time you get a good look, you realize you've got them.
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!
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.
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.
SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.
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While there's tons of info out there to help you figure out if your breasts are normal (not to mention visual evidence), vaginas are pretty mysterious. It’s difficult to get solid facts about your lady-garden. So we turned to Brook McFadden, M.D., assistant professor in the division of female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery at The Ohio State University, to get the scoop.
Here's how to take care of your lady parts:
The thing that makes it hard to figure out how you compare: Barely anyone has studied va-jay-jay sizes. McFadden, whose focus is on how vulva measurements can influence body image, is on a mission to change that. In her most recent research, she replicated scientist Jillian Lloyd’s study " Female genital appearance: normality unfolds " from the May 2005 issue of the British Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology . It measured the private parts of 50 women who were going to the gynecologist for reasons other than pelvic dysfunction. To build on that research, McFadden studied 168 women, median age 57 years, using the same technique as Lloyd—so the scientific world can start to bank important information about women’s bodies. Here’s what the abstract of her study, which appeared earlier this year in Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology , has to say about what's up down there (the full study text isn't available yet since it hasn't been published).
These are the smaller, inner lips that surround your vaginal opening. When it comes to width, McFadden (who prefers her research be noted in centimeters) found that the left labia minora was an average of 2.1 centimeters wide, with a range of 0.4 to 6.4 centimeters. The right was an average of 1.9 centimeters wide, with a range of 0.3 to 7.0 centimeters. And how long were they? The left labia minora was an average of 4.0 centimeters long (about the size of a baby carrot) with a range of 1.2 to 7.5 centimeters, while the right labia minora was an average of 3.8 centimeters long and ranged from 0.8 to 8.0. Notice anything interesting there?
For starters, labia minora come in wildly different lengths from woman to woman. Second, the two sides aren’t the same! “There is a statistically significant difference between the left and right labia minora, which shows that it’s normal if yours are different sizes,” says McFadden. The only time you should really worry about yours is if you experience a lot of chafing or rubbing to the point where you become uncomfortable. “That’s the time to go in and get evaluated,” says McFadden. If you’re considering a surgical labia modification for cosmetic reasons, researchers don’t even know if it improves self-image. “There’s no valid data on that, so it’s a very controversial topic,” says McFadden.
These are like the parentheses around your labia minora. As the outer lips, they bookend the awesomeness that is the rest of your external reproductive anatomy. The participants’ labia majora were both an average of 8.1 centimeters long (about the size of a bottle of nail polish), with a range of 4.0 to 11.5 centimeters. As you get older , your labia minora and majora both become smaller, according to the abstract. Interesting, right?
Much like the rest of your anatomy, there’s a pretty broad variation when it comes to your pleasure button . In McFadden’s study, clitoral width ranged from 0.2 to 2.5 centimeters with an average of 0.8. Participants had a clitoral length of anywhere from 0.4 to 4.0 centimeters, with an average of 1.6 centimeters (a bit smaller than the button on your jeans). One especially interesting finding is that “increased clitoral widt
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