What are the common deformities of the vulva?

A wide variety of vulvar deformities exist that women are born with or which develop over time. These irregularities occur in both the labia minora and the labia majora. ABAGyn surgeons report the largest number of compliants relate to the enlargement of the labia minora.

Among those deformities are:

Batwing Deformity – an asymmetrical enlargement of the labia minora.
Enlargement Minora – a symmetrical enlargement of the labia minora.
River Deformity – a flap-like duplication of the labia minora.

With the labia majora, women are bothered by both decrease and increase in size.
Enlargement Majora – a symmetrical enlargement of the labia majora
Senescence Majora – characterized by a loss of volume and wrinkling of the labia majora.

All of these conditions are treatable and correctable through aesthetic gynecology procedures, most commonly referred to as labiaplasty. As you can see, a labiaplasty isn’t a cookie cutter procedure. Surgeons must evaluate the individual patient’s concerns and correct deformities and irregularities to restore correct anatomic appearance.

What does the term “pelvic floor” mean?

The “pelvic floor” is a term used to describe the muscles, ligaments and connective tissue that provide support for a woman’s internal organs in the region known as the pelvis (including the bowel, bladder, uterus, vagina, and rectum). More than just keeping the organs in place, the pelvic floor helps ensure that these organs function properly.

For its part, the vagina acts as a support system to the uterus, urethra and bladder. The vagina is a fibromuscular tube or “fascia” covered with vaginal skin called mucosa. The fascia is responsible for the integrity and vaginal wall strength. This fascia is to muscles and ligaments of the pelvis.

To visualize this support structure, envision the fascia as a floor. The floor is covered with carpet, which is skin for this analogy. This skin gives no real assistance in support, it simply acts a covering.

Just like a floor, the fascia is a solid piece of material supporting anything that sits or stands upon it. The floor must be anchored to another structure to add greater strength and stability. In a home, the floor is attached to the walls and foundation. Similarly the vagina is connected to ligaments and muscles for support Vaginal childbirth impacts and weakens supports structures just as an earthquake shakes the integrity of walls in a house.

After childbirth the vagina is stretched and does not return to its original size and shape. This condition, called vaginal relaxation, frequently leads to decreased feelings of friction and loss of sexual satisfaction. Generally, the more vaginal deliveries, the worse the condition. Our blog readers know that this causes many women to experience decreased sensation and sexual satisfaction during intercourse.

“What about my labia?”

Our last post prompted a fair number of you to ask why Aba left out labia (lips at the opening of your vagina) in the discussion of medical conditions treated by vaginal rejuvenation. First, it’s important to know that many physicians incorrectly refer to labial procedures as vaginal rejuvenation. This can be very confusing. The labia are part of the external genital properly called the vulva.

Women experience enlargement, irregular shape, and/or discoloration of the labia following vaginal childbirth. However, aging and loss of youthful hormone levels may also contribute to these conditions. Some women will not have these risk factors but rather have a genetic tendency toward enlarged, malshaped, or discolored labia.

Aba is not in the habit of referring readers to other web sites, but we found an ABAGyn member surgeon with outstanding labia deformity diagrams. If you are interested in seeing some abnormalities in greater detail, click this link.

Is there an actually medical condition that VR treats?

This is a question Aba is hearing a great deal in your emails. Many women are wondering if the medical community associates vaginal rejuvenation with a medical condition.

Many women with a condition called pelvic organ prolapse also have another medical condition known as vaginal relaxation. After childbirth the vagina is stretched and does not return to its original size and shape. This condition frequently leads to decreased feelings of friction and loss of sexual satisfaction by the patient. Generally, the more vaginal deliveries, the worse the condition gets. Many women experience decreased sensation and sexual satisfaction during intercourse.

Vaginal relaxation may be treated with vaginal rejuvenation at the same time as an insurance-based prolapse surgery. New incisionless laser techniques remove adipose (fat) tissue from around the vagina, shrink the stretched out supporting structures of the vagina that have been damaged from childbirth or aging and stimulate the growth of new supporting tissues. The goal of any good vaginal rejuvenation procedure should be to restore or create a normal vaginal anatomy.