Women Warned Of Risks In Vaginal Reconstruction

The quest for the ‘perfect vagina’ could mean serious health risks.

Operations to improve the appearance of the vagina for both psychological and physical reasons are on the increase in the West, but the women seem to be ignorant of the risks involved, experts warn.

Rather than curing sexual problems, the surgery might exacerbate them by damaging the nerve supply to the area, impairing sexual sensitivity and satisfaction, according to research published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

The paper charged that medically nonessential surgery to the labia minora was being promoted as an effective treatment for women's complaints, when no data on clinical effectiveness exist.

Besides women who undergo this procedure might experience similar problems in childbirth as those who have experienced female genital mutilation, in which parts of the vagina are ritually removed.

It is now well documented that women who have undergone such circumcision are more likely to experience significant tearing and bleeding after labour and even the death of their babies, problems which are overcome by Caesarean delivery.

The number of women undergoing labioplasty in the UK is unknown as the majority of the operations are performed privately, but last year procedures on the NHS increased by 70% on the previous year to 1,118.

Labioplasty, as it is known, costs about £3,000 privately and is offered for a variety of reasons. Dissatisfaction with the way the vagina looked seems to be the primary reason for surgery, with patients also speaking of low self-esteem and sexual difficulties.