Can your labia minora grow

However, because the labia may still be growing, doctors usually advise people to wait until after puberty before having surgery. Doctors will talk through labial hypertrophy with teens to help them understand that it is a normal change in the body. They will also talk about the emotional and mental health factors involved in cosmetic surgery.

Labial hypertrophy is usual in individuals and, in many cases, causes no adverse side effects. Surgery is an option in severe cases or cases that cause emotional discomfort. The outlook for surgery is generally good and has a very high satisfaction rate.

Doctors may have additional tips about soothing irritation or managing effects of hypertrophy, and many people find they can relieve any discomfort by making a few lifestyle changes. When a person has chronic pain, itching, or discomfort in the vulva or area that protects the internal genitals, it may be one of two conditions known…. A look at douches, devices used to wash the inside of the body — primarily the vagina.

Included is detail on whether it is necessary and alternatives. The vagina and the female orgasm are a mystery to many. Find out how the female sex organs work together to cause sexual arousal and satisfaction. Bacterial vaginosis is the most common vaginal infection, having affected as many as 1 in 4 women in the U. While antibiotics are usually effective…. What is labial hypertrophy and is it normal?

Is it normal? Side effects Causes Diagnosis Treatment Outlook Labial hypertrophy is the medical term for when one or both of the vaginal lips or labia is larger than usual. Is labial hypertrophy normal? Share on Pinterest The labia varies in shape and size from person to person.

Dark Shadows The hormone shifts that come with pregnancy or aging can cause your labia minora, the "inner" lips that encircle the clitoris and vaginal opening, to darken in color. So you can relax if, on your next self-check, it's like 50 shades of mauve-ish gray down there.

The Big Stretch The uterus balloons to watermelon proportions during pregnancy—then shrinks back down within six weeks after birth. Some 32 percent of women now deliver by C-section, sparing their vag opening similar stretching though their surgery scars can ache or tingle for years. Short Stuff Though a woman's egg supply dwindles rapidly in her early forties, she still ovulates and sigh gets her period.

Cycles are a bit shorter, though, and tend to peter out by age 51—i. Your body puts the kibosh on fertility five to 10 years before that. Deep Squeeze Your repro organs are supported by a hammock of tendons, tissue, and muscle. Measure ad performance.

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Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Just like every other part of the body, no two labia are the same. They come in different sizes and may not even be symmetrical.

However, if you notice your labia have grown or are growing, it may be due to something called labial hypertrophy, or enlargement of the labia. This condition doesn't always need treatment—it depends on what symptoms if any you have. The labia are the lips of the vulva external female genitalia. The outer lips are called labia majora and the inner lips are called the labia minora. The function of the labia is to protect the clitoris and vagina from trauma. Labial hypertrophy is simply a term meaning your vaginal lips are larger than average.

It most often affects only the labia minora but can affect only the labia majora or both, and it can affect one or both sides. Labial hypertrophy is something you can be born with or develop over time.

Most people with labial hypertrophy don't experience any symptoms or discomfort related to it. Others may deal with some of the symptoms below or all of them.

Symptoms can include:. If you don't have any symptoms of labial hypertrophy, you don't need to worry about getting treatment for it. However, you should bring it up with your healthcare provider if:. It's typical for the labia minora to swell during sexual arousal, similar to a male erection, but if your labia swell and don't return to their normal size, you should speak to your healthcare provider. There's no clear cause of labial hypertrophy. Contrary to what some people believe, it's not caused by masturbation or a sexually transmitted infection.

Possible causes of labial hypertrophy include:. If you're concerned about your labia or changes in your labia, speak to a healthcare provider. Healthcare providers don't have specific tests or imaging they use to diagnose labial hypertrophy. If your labia minora extend beyond your labia majora, your doctor may diagnose it as labial hypertrophy upon physical examination. If labial hypertrophy interferes with your life and your ability to enjoy physical activities or sexual relations, see your OB-GYN.

Your doctor may recommend a surgery called a labioplasty for severe labial hypertrophy. During a labioplasty, a surgeon removes excess tissue. They can reduce the size of the labia and reshape it. This surgery usually requires general anesthesia, although it can sometimes be done with sedation and a local anesthetic.

After the surgery, you may have swelling, bruising, and tenderness for a few weeks. You should also wear loose clothing and avoid activities that cause friction in the genital area. The number of labioplasties performed in the United States is growing. In , over 5, were performed, a 44 percent increase over the year before.

The surgery can provide relief for women who experience pain and discomfort from labial hypertrophy. Some women choose the surgery for purely cosmetic reasons. When considering labioplasty as a cosmetic procedure, discuss your expectations with your doctor. Some teenagers may worry about their bodies changing and wonder if those changes are normal. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that doctors educate and reassure teens about normal variation in anatomy.

Labioplasty can be performed on teenagers, but doctors generally advise waiting until after puberty. This is to ensure the labia are no longer growing.

Those wishing to have the surgery should also be assessed for maturity and emotional readiness.