Hypertrophy of the small lips gives women a lot of trouble with worries. This condition is expressed in their lengthening or increase and their protrusion beyond the external genitalia. Hypertrophy of the labia minora is not considered a pathology or disease that poses a threat to life. Thirty percent of women encounter this phenomenon, to whom it most often brings aesthetic dissatisfaction with their appearance in the bikini area.
About pathology
Hypertrophy of the small lips is an increase or lengthening of this part of the body. In anatomy and medicine, it is generally accepted that the reproductive internal tissues should be completely covered by large ones and in no case should they protrude. True, according to statistics, thirty percent of women have small sexual genital tissues compared with external ones. Moreover, they are different in shape and, at the same time, asymmetric.
The photo of hypertrophy of the small lips does not reflect the whole picture.
True, not every size mismatch to the established standard indicates the presence of a woman's pathology. This diagnosis is made when the size of the small lip against the background of lateral extension is more than five centimeters.
It should be noted that genetic hypertrophy of the small lips is not at all a disease in medicine. Gynecologists believe that this is a kind of individual version of the norm, requiring surgical correction (but such should be carried out exclusively at the request of the patient).
Symptoms of hypertrophy
The first thing that draws attention is the allocation of the labia minora against the background of the large. Often meet asymmetry when the genitals have different sizes. A change in color is possible along with the darkening of hypertrophic areas, the formation of folds and the flabby appearance of mucous membranes.
Hypertrophy of the labia minora can cause no inconvenience on the part of sensations and is only a small deviation from the norm. But sometimes, upon reaching a large size, friction of the enlarged area is possible, as a result of which inflammation occurs along with excessive dryness and discomfort. Basically, an increase in negative feelings and an increase in sensitivity are observed:
- When women run or walk fast.
- Perform various gymnastic movements.
- They ride a bicycle or, for example, wear tight-fitting underwear.
Read more about hypertrophy of the small lips in a teenager below.
Causes
There are a lot of reasons for this condition to arise. Conventionally, they can be divided into three main groups.
- Congenital or genetic nature of occurrence. Hypertrophy is observed in premature babies or among newborns with low weight, it can be transmitted along the genetic line. At the initial stage, this deviation may not affect the condition of the girl, and at the same time it does not cause discomfort. But, when puberty begins or the first sexual intercourse occurs, the tissue can even increase in size, stretching and mutating. What other causes of hypertrophy of the small lips can be?
- The influence of diseases, inflammatory processes and individual characteristics. Postponed chronic and acute vulvitis along with lymphodermatitis can serve as a provocation to increase this area. Sometimes a change is the predominance of male hormones in the female body with increased sensitivity to estrogen. Elongation can also be observed among women who have dramatically lost weight.
- Mechanical or traumatic effect. Enlarged labia can occur when they are stretched against the background of age when they reach fifty to sixty years. Sometimes signs of hypertrophy are observed after childbirth, especially if there are two or more children. Established piercings along with sex can also lead to stretching, resizing and asymmetry.
Diagnostics
Diagnosing hypertrophy of the small lips in a girl or woman is not at all difficult. This can be done independently or as part of a planned appointment with a gynecologist. Several stages are distinguished by which the degree and level of deviation are determined:
- At the first stage, the increase is almost imperceptible to others and, as a rule, does not go beyond the labia majora, it can vary within one or two centimeters.
- The second degree is determined by two to four centimeter lengths of one or two lips at once, a slight protrusion beyond the external genitalia is possible, which does not cause any discomfort with unpleasant sensations.
- The third group includes sizes from four to six centimeters, with a clear protrusion above the outer section, it is possible to deliver certain inconveniences in sensations, and, in addition, in psychological terms.
- In the fourth stage, a size of six or more centimeters is achieved. Against the background of all this, women have a certain discomfort, which in turn is aggravated by restrictions on movements and dissatisfaction with their intimate area, which is regarded as a cosmetic defect with indications for removal.
A doctor who has established a diagnosis of hypertrophy of the small lips cannot advise himself, much less force such a patient to have surgery. Since everything directly depends on the woman’s feelings and the influence of this state on the quality of her life, as well as on her emotional state.
Patient complaints
Many women are simply embarrassed by such a special kind of their genitals, experiencing all sorts of psychological inconveniences in connection with this circumstance. As a result of this, they most often partially or even completely refuse sex, feel constrained during intimate caresses, are embarrassed to undress in front of a man and believe that this kind of way will compromise them in some way. This condition can be aggravated by a nervous breakdown, a prolonged search for a partner, along with loneliness and extremely low self-esteem. In addition to a negative psychological state, the presence of a third and fourth degree can lead to a decrease in an active lifestyle, along with the abandonment of certain varieties of sports and restriction of movements:
- It is difficult for such women to sit in one position for a long time, pain and discomfort arise.
- Ladies begin to refuse to go to swimming pools, saunas, and even to public beaches.
- Some sports are banned and are considered unacceptable for this condition.
- Any hygiene procedures are more difficult.
- Perhaps the appearance of pain with intimacy with a partner.
- During cycling, pain can occur with a deterioration in well-being with hypertrophy of the labia minora. Photos of women with such a problem are presented.
- The presence of underwear and tight-fitting elements in clothing is a significant inconvenience.
- Constant friction can cause various chronic inflammatory processes in the region of the labia minora.
Hypertrophy treatment
By treating the labia majora hypertrophy (ICD N90), changes in the genitals and their deviations from the norm mean surgical intervention. In this situation, folk methods in combination with all kinds of cosmetic ointments and preparations will definitely not give any results. The best option is labioplasty, which must be performed by an experienced surgeon. Before carrying out such a procedure, patients are prepared in order to avoid undesirable complications and consequences. To do this, ladies need to pass certain tests and undergo examination by a number of specialists:
- During treatment, a woman is examined by a gynecologist, a specialist determines the degree of deviation, consults on the operation and takes a smear on the flora.
- Next, you need to donate blood to exclude certain pathologies like HIV, syphilis, hepatitis.
- It will also require the delivery of a general urinalysis and a detailed blood test.
- The next step in the examination is consultation with narrow specialists like a dermatologist and endocrinologist.
- At the final stage of preparation, a meeting is held with the attending doctor, who will advise on the operation and the correction option, based on the patient’s testimony and personal wishes.
Perhaps a contraindication for performing labioplasty. This category should include patients whose study revealed pathologies that are transmitted through sexual contact, or inflammation in the pelvic area. The reason for refusing surgery is the presence of cancer, mental illness and other contraindications.
Correction as part of the treatment
Correction of the labia minora is directed to reducing their size, and, in addition, to give an aesthetic appearance. For this, several options can be applied at once, which depends on the degree of enlarged tissues, the wishes and characteristics of the patient. The procedure is often performed under local anesthesia, but sometimes in individual situations general anesthesia is also possible. In modern practice, several methods of conducting labioplasty are used. Many experts welcome the V-shaped wedge-shaped removal performed by excising the protruding tissue. In this way, a change is possible with a decrease to the desired size.
Photos of small lip hypertrophy before and after surgery are of great interest to patients.
The procedure for W-shaped removal involves resection of the labia minora and giving a beautiful and rounded shape from an aesthetic point of view. This method may be complicated by the loss of pigmentation in the corrected areas. Bilateral de-epithelialization is also very popular among most specialists. The effectiveness of the technique lies in the completely guaranteed preservation of vascular nutrition in the tissue and sensitivity.
Following the operation, there is no need for the patient to be in the hospital. In the next day, unpleasant sensations are observed in the bikini area along with swelling and burning. After one week, the symptoms are eliminated, tissue sensitivity returns. For one month it is necessary to refrain from visiting the sauna, and, in addition, from sexual contacts and taking a hot bath. Complete restoration of the labia usually occurs after three months.
Doctors Recommendations
It is difficult to give special recommendations in order to avoid hypertrophy of the labia minora. If there are no hereditary prerequisites for the occurrence of such a defect, then doctors advise women to undergo a gynecological examination twice a year, carefully observe personal hygiene. It is equally important to abandon the presence of vulvar piercing.
Small lip hypertrophy in girls and adolescents
Unfortunately, such a phenomenon as hypertrophy can occur even among newborn babies. Usually, this is observed if there were some problems with intrauterine development or prematurity of the fetus was noted.
Hypertrophy is often a hereditary factor in adolescents. In order to be sure of this exactly, you need to talk with mom, grandmother or other close relatives, and thus find out if they have such problems.
Teenage girls often search online for hypertrophy of the small lips.
It is worth noting that the hereditary pathology of this part of the body sometimes manifests itself not during birth, but directly during puberty or from the beginning of active sex life.
Postoperative complications
In some situations, women who decide to have surgery may develop certain complications. Among the most common problems, the following phenomena are noted:
- The appearance of persistent postoperative scars.
- The occurrence of bleeding, hematomas.
- Loss of sensitivity of the labia minora.
- The development of hypercorrection.
- The appearance of infectious and inflammatory processes.
According to statistics, eighty-nine percent of women who treated hypertrophy of the labia minora through a surgical technique remain satisfied with the results of the operation. In addition, seven percent decide to perform a second intervention due to low satisfaction with functional or aesthetic results.
Thus, hypertrophy of the small lips is a noticeable lengthening or enlargement of a given part of the body, or a set of defective deviations, sometimes in combination with their asymmetric shape. The classic version is when the tissues in this part of the female body do not protrude, but, on the contrary, are completely hidden by means of the labia majora. Such a condition is not considered a disease and can be eliminated only surgically on the basis of the consent of the patient herself and only by her personal desire.