Labial surgery for well women: a review of the literature

Abstract

This review investigates the quality and content of published reports relating to labial surgery for well women. Electronic databases were searched for relevant articles between 1950 and April 2009. Forty articles were identified, 18 of which included patient data. The specification of the study design was unavailable in 15 of the 18 papers; the remaining three were retrospective reports. No prospective, randomised or controlled studies were found. All reports claimed high levels of patient satisfaction and contained anecdotes pertaining to success. Medically nonessential surgery to the labia minora is being promoted as an effective treatment for women's complaints, but no data on clinical effectiveness exist.

Labia reduction for non-therapeutic reasons vs. female genital mutilation: contradictions in law and practice in Britain

“…As the authors of the 2007 BMJ article say in a paper published in the BJOG, research is also needed on long-term sexual function, as genital surgery may "damage the nerve supply and is associated with impaired sensitivity and impaired sexual function". 16 Lastly, from a law and policy point of view, either the laws against FGM should be invoked to stop anyone carrying out labia reduction surgery and possibly other forms of genital cosmetic surgery for non-therapeutic reasons, if the evidence warrants that step, or the laws against FGM in Britain should be re-considered in the light of these practices.…”

Female genital cosmetic surgery: a new dilemma for GPs

“…However, it is only since the late 2000s that the number of surgical publications on the topic has surged. 2 There is no reason to suppose that the size of the labia minora has increased in the past decade. There is also no suggestion that the labia minora have recently become more prone to diseases, as there is no suggestion that surgery is carried out to ameliorate identifiable diseases.…”

“…• the provision of medically unrecognisable procedures; 1 • professional laissez-faire relating to audits of adverse events and clinical outcomes; 2 • absence of scientific evidence; 1,2 • extension of medicalisation of sex and sexuality; 3 • commercial exploitation of women and girls; 1,3 • operations being offered to children; 4 and • rebound of the cosmetic surgery industry in the private sector on NHS resources. 4 In the UK, women and girls are most likely to first present concerns about their genitalia to their GP.…”

Vulvoplasty in New South Wales, 2001–2013: a population‐based record linkage study

“…(2) A recent literature review showed that labioplasty appeared to have been offered on demand, justified by verbal reports of physical and psychological difficulties that were not formally evaluated, pre-or post-surgery. (9) Other concerns identified with this service are the marked increase in utilisation and location of service delivery, with a significant proportion of vulvoplasty and labioplasty services procedures performed out-of-hospital. Further concern surrounds the limited evidence base on the long-term safety and effectiveness of the procedure.…”

“…Surgery is generally presented as an unproblematic solution for women's concerns about their genitals. (2,9) Another technique known to be used in Australia involves each labium being gently retracted with forceps, and a Kelly clamp or similar haemostat being used to cross clamp the labium in a gently curved path approximately parallel to the labia majora. After the clamp is in place for a minute or so, the excess labia are excised, either with curved scissors or a blade.…”