To the original poster, please, PLEASE google the Large Labia Project (edit: easier to include the link here http://largelabiaproject.org). Before having healthy tissue amputated please look at that blog. Look through it all. Look at the photos, read the questions and comments. Go to the menu and look at the section entitled male comments (depressing that this should matter, but I know it does to a lit of women). There is NO such thing as a perfect vulva (the vagina is internal), they are all variations of normal.
I have large labia myself. Yep, they rub, yep they're wrinkly and not smooth. They're also full of nerve endings and erectile tissue, they're lots of fun to play with, they engorge with blood when I'm aroused and look awesome, and Ive been told by men they feel amazing during penetration. I'm not going to let some grotesque false ideals make me have healthy parts of me sliced off.
It's your body and your choice, and if you feel they're causing enough physical pain (and emotional pain) to have them surgically removed then go ahead. Just be aware of what your expectations are and that it might not be exactly what you'd hoped for. I'm not trying to scare you but to give you a very realistic view. Many women have this surgery and end up with a host of problems, physical and mental. Many women have it and are very happy with no problems. There are resources about labiaplasty on the Large Labia Project, look in the menu. Read them, then read them again.
I personally find tighter underwear more comfortable for my labia, it keeps them in place and reduces irritation. Some women find underwear with a looser gusset to be better, leaving their labia to hang more freely. It depends on the woman, and it's definitely worth experimenting with different types to see what is the most comfortable for you. I would certainly say knickers with the seam right up the front to be the worst, and cotton gussets to be the least irritating.
Believe me, whatever your vulva looks like couldn't be more normal or perfect. PLEASE do spend some time on the Large Labia Project, it's run by a wonderful woman from Australia and it will be so, so helpful for you (and any man/woman who doesn't know the full range of normal vulva diversity). Look through as many pages as you can and hey, maybe one day you could even submit yourself! How awesome would it be to help other girls and women see that they're totally normal?
I plan to do it!
I know this is a long post but it's something I'm passionate about, and I'd like you to equip yourself with all the information you can before making any drastic decisions.
And show your vulva a bit of love, have fun with it
I have large labia myself. Yep, they rub, yep they're wrinkly and not smooth. They're also full of nerve endings and erectile tissue, they're lots of fun to play with, they engorge with blood when I'm aroused and look awesome, and Ive been told by men they feel amazing during penetration. I'm not going to let some grotesque false ideals make me have healthy parts of me sliced off.
It's your body and your choice, and if you feel they're causing enough physical pain (and emotional pain) to have them surgically removed then go ahead. Just be aware of what your expectations are and that it might not be exactly what you'd hoped for. I'm not trying to scare you but to give you a very realistic view. Many women have this surgery and end up with a host of problems, physical and mental. Many women have it and are very happy with no problems. There are resources about labiaplasty on the Large Labia Project, look in the menu. Read them, then read them again.
I personally find tighter underwear more comfortable for my labia, it keeps them in place and reduces irritation. Some women find underwear with a looser gusset to be better, leaving their labia to hang more freely. It depends on the woman, and it's definitely worth experimenting with different types to see what is the most comfortable for you. I would certainly say knickers with the seam right up the front to be the worst, and cotton gussets to be the least irritating.
Believe me, whatever your vulva looks like couldn't be more normal or perfect. PLEASE do spend some time on the Large Labia Project, it's run by a wonderful woman from Australia and it will be so, so helpful for you (and any man/woman who doesn't know the full range of normal vulva diversity). Look through as many pages as you can and hey, maybe one day you could even submit yourself! How awesome would it be to help other girls and women see that they're totally normal?
I plan to do it!I know this is a long post but it's something I'm passionate about, and I'd like you to equip yourself with all the information you can before making any drastic decisions.
And show your vulva a bit of love, have fun with it
If kids could just see what normal adult genitals and bodies (of both men and women) can look like in all their splendid variations I think a lot if this "am I normal?" anxiety and deep insecurity could be avoided.