How often do you think about the way your vulva looks? If the answer is 'not much,' you might be in the minority. Our Love Your Lips survey revealed some eye-opening truths about how women feel about their bodies.
More than 1 in 6 women have considered undergoing surgery to alter the appearance of their labia. That’s not just a passing insecurity - it’s a level of discomfort so deep that they’re willing to face risks like scarring, infections, and loss of sensation.
From mainstream porn to airbrushed images in magazines and online, we are constantly exposed to unrealistic ideals. The message is clear: no part of our bodies is exempt from scrutiny - not even the most intimate ones.
What Is Labiaplasty?
Labiaplasty is a surgical procedure that alters the size or shape of the labia minora (the inner lips). Some seek it for medical reasons, such as discomfort from chafing or irritation. Still, for many, the motivation is aesthetic - often fuelled by societal beauty standards and unrealistic depictions of the female body.
How Many Women Would Consider Labiaplasty?
17% of the female participants in our survey said they had considered or would consider getting surgery to shorten or shape their labia.
In short, more than 1 in 6 women have felt so insecure about their vulvae that they were willing to go under the knife. Risks of labiaplasty can include scarring, bleeding and infections. There is also a risk that the surgery will cause increased or decreased sensitivity or pain during sex. You might feel less self-conscious, but that's not much use if it's harder to enjoy yourself.
The rise in labiaplasty, first recorded as a purely aesthetic procedure in 1984, partly corresponds with the rise of the internet and accessible porn. Mainstream porn can promote specific aesthetics and is something people are increasingly exposed to from a young age. However, unrealistic depictions of the female body are not unique to porn.
Everywhere we look, we are bombarded with photoshopped images, and no area of the body is exempt
Fear of Judgment: How Partners Shape Labia Confidence
23% of participants felt judged or were concerned about being judged by a partner on the appearance of their labia.
This might explain why so many women were willing to consider surgery. We have to consider where this feeling of judgment is coming from.
Interestingly, only 12.5% of lesbian-identifying women felt judged or worried about their labia compared with 20% of straight women and a worrying 30% of bisexual women. Bisexual women were also the most likely to have considered surgery.
We're really interested in why that might be. It seems like judgement, or the fear of it might be more common in women with male sex partners. This might be because women with male partners have seen a less diverse range of vulvae or because women feel men are more likely to be comparing them to the women they have seen in porn.
Loving Your Lips: Embracing the Beauty of All Vulvae
Straight-identifying women were the least likely to love their lips (43%).
Bisexual women were the most likely (54%) to love theirs, so it seems like taking some time to appreciate the beauty of all vulvae is good for your body image.
We think more women need to see more images of real vulvae - it's an education. Labiaplasty is becoming increasingly common among very young women. We'd like to see more efforts to let young people know that vulvae and vaginas come in all shapes and sizes and are all beautiful.
Vulva-Positive Websites:
Fun Fact: Did you know that it's possible to inherit labia lips in the same way we inherit hair or eye colour? In short; you may have your granny's labia lips! We love this!
Side Note: We know that not everyone with labia identifies as a woman. Our survey was conducted with women-identifying participants, but vulva positivity is for everyone.
