Labia minora hypertrophy: causes, impact on women’s health, and treatment options

Gulìa, Caterina; Zangari, Andrea; Briganti, Vito; Bateni, Zhoobin H.; Porrello, Alessandro; Piergentili, Roberto

doi:10.1007/s00192-016-3253-8

Cited by 23 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 47 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The size of the labia changes over time, with the most signi cant increase during puberty, and can reportedly be increased with external stimuli such as stretching with weights (24-26). It has been reported that in some African countries, the labia minora can reach 20 cm in size with direct manipulation (24). Other causes of hypertrophy include androgenic hormone exposure in infancy, sensitivity to topical estrogen, dermatitis secondary to urinary incontinence, vulvar lymphedema, and myelodysplastic diseases.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Women’s aesthetic perceptions of the genitalia and their association with anatomical measurements

Derebaşınlıoğlu

Karaca

Yıldız

2023

Arch Gynecol Obstet

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: The purpose of this study to determined women's perceptions of the vulva with the criteria de ned in the literature for the ideal vulva and determine their relationship with anatomical measurements in order to determine the extent to which women's perceptions of normal align with our aesthetic standards of normality.Methods: First of all, a questionnaire was applied to all participants. The items of the data collection form were included personal information, obstetric and gynecological information, their perceptions of their external genitalia and any physical, sexual, psychological, and hygiene problems they experience. Then examination and measurements of the external genitalia were performed.Results: The majority of participants considered their genitalia normal (n=101, 89.4%), while 12 participants (10.6%) considered them abnormal. Statistical analyses showed that women's perception of their genitalia as normal in appearance and size was associated with labia minora asymmetry (p=0.023 and p=0.006, respectively) and hyperpigmentation (p=0.010 and p=0.047, respectively) but not with labia minora measurements or protrusion (p>0.05) Conclusions : Although there is a tendency in the eld of aesthetic surgery to de ne ideals and aesthetic standards for all parts of the body, our de nitions of normality do not always coincide with those of the individual. The appearance of the genitalia is as personal as the face, and an individual's self-perception is more important than our ideal.Level IV: Evidence obtained from multiple time series with or without the intervention, such as case studies. Dramatic results in uncontrolled trials might also be regarded as this type of evidence.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Women’s aesthetic perceptions of the genitalia and their association with anatomical measurements

Derebaşınlıoğlu

Karaca

Yıldız

2023

Arch Gynecol Obstet

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…As hypertrophy of the labia minora is not a disease [ 12 ], the surgical indications are mainly set by the patient’s requirements and expectations. Prior to the procedure, the surgeon should counsel the patient regarding the shape of the patient’s labia minora, clitoris prepuce, and vulva [ 13 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trilobal Methods for Composite Reduction Labiaplasty

Zhou

et al. 2022

Aesth Plast Surg

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background It is difficult to plan a simple and effective surgical strategy for patients with horizontal and vertical redundant tissue of the labia minora and clitoral hood redundancy. A single edge resection or wedge resection labiaplasty with clitoral hood reduction that simultaneously resolves these three issues has yet to be reported. This study investigated the clinical effects and safety of trilobal labiaplasty via a composite incision. Methods The single-center, retrospective, observational study included data from patients with hypertrophy of the labia minora and clitoral hood who underwent trilobal labiaplasty. Results Altogether, 136 patients (average age: 31.6 ± 8.82 years; range: 21–53 years; 224 sides) sought surgery for aesthetic (39/136, 28.7%), functional (17/136, 12.5%), or both reasons (80/136, 58.8%). Overall, 134 patients (134/136, 98.5%) were followed up for 3 months. No serious complications or malformations occurred. Three patients (2.2%) underwent secondary repair surgery due to incomplete bilateral symmetry, 122 (91.0%) scored ≥ 21 points on the Female Genital Self-Image Scale, 107 (91.5%) were satisfied with the cosmetic outcomes, and 93 (95.9%) were satisfied with the functional improvement. Conclusions Trilobal labiaplasty performed via a composite incision using edge and wedge labiaplasty to adjust horizontal and vertical hypertrophy of the labia minora and remove lateral folds of the clitoris is a safe and effective method to improve the appearance and rearrange the position of the clitoral hood and clitoral frenulum while preserving the fine structure of the surrounding tissue. This method results in few complications and high functional and aesthetic satisfaction rates. Level of Evidence IV This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

show abstract

“…The popularity of female genital plastic surgery is gradually rising, and so is labiaplasty (1). Enlarged labia minora could cause functional, cosmetic, and psychosocial issues (2).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantitative analysis of the labia minora morphology in 400 Chinese women: A new method for assessing the shape of the labia minora

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

PurposeTo investigate the shape of labia minora in Chinese adult women.MethodsWomen who visited the Genital Plastic Surgery Center from January 2021 to February 2022 were included and the vulvar regions were photographed. The shape of the labia minora was converted into quantifiable values [left side line segment 1–9 (L1–L9 values) and right side line segment 1–9 (R1–R9 values)]. The 400 enrolled patients were grouped by age, parity, and the types of vulvar surgeries they planned to undergo.ResultsAfter a graphic-to-digital and digital-to-graphic conversion, the simulated average image of the labia minora in Chinese adult women was constructed based on the mean values of L1–L9 and R1–R9. Comparing the values of Ln and Rn in the four age groups revealed that the mean values of Ln and Rn gradually decreased with age, but only two subgroups showed statistically significant differences (P-value <0.05). When the patients were stratified according to the number of births and whether labiaplasty was planned to perform, there were no significant differences among all groups (P-value >0.05).ConclusionTo measure and evaluate the labia minora, a new assessing method was used. It is an innovative attempt to transform the simple rough description of the shape of the labia minora into more precise data reflecting the shape features. It allows the comparison of labia minora shape between individuals by comparing quantifiable values. Besides, the average shape of labia minora in Chinese adult women was provided visually. Factors including age, parity, and whether the patient planned to undergo labiaplasty were not significantly associated with the shape of the labia minora.

show abstract

Labia minora hypertrophy: causes, impact on women’s health, and treatment options

Abstract: We generally advise against surgical treatment of labia minora, especially in young, pre-pubertal girls, unless specific medical conditions are also present and/or the psychological impact on the patient is deemed particularly negative.

Cited by 23 publications

References 47 publications

Women’s aesthetic perceptions of the genitalia and their association with anatomical measurements

Women’s aesthetic perceptions of the genitalia and their association with anatomical measurements

Trilobal Methods for Composite Reduction Labiaplasty

Quantitative analysis of the labia minora morphology in 400 Chinese women: A new method for assessing the shape of the labia minora

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About