Please help, I am so embarassed that I can't bring myself to go to my GP. I don't know why I have suddenly noticed this (about 6 months ago) perhaps it is because I now keep my pubic hair quite short. The thing is I have rather large labia, especially on the right hand side it hangs outside of my outer lips (I am so sorry to be so graphic but I don't know any other way to describe it). It is affecting me in that I hide myself from my husband and I think I look really ugly. He is so supportive and says it doesn't bother him in the least but of course I don't believe him.
Is this something to do with age, I know everything does start to go South but I didn't realise it would be to this extreme! I am considering seeing a surgeon to have them reduced but at the moment feel far to scared and embarassed to go. Does anyone else suffer a similar condition? I would be so grateful for some feedback. Thank you.

idon't have this problem,but I feel bad that you are so upset by this.If your husband is ok,why not just stop letting it bother you? Have a great day!

Am sure you are not the only one with this issue. I think many women has this or has had this since they can remember. Not everyone is the same down there.

This is a fact! And it has nothing to do with ageing. Just as men's penis vary greatly in shape and size, so do women's clitorises and labia.

Hi Mary8 - This is completely normal when estrogen production drops. The labia majora (outer lips) can shrink by losing subcutaneous fat, which leaves it looking as those your labia minora (inner lips) are too large because the outer lips no longer 'cover' them. The labia minora can also shrink over time. If you are getting other signs of vaginal atrophy...like pain with sex or slight bleeding following sex, you can ask your doctor about prescribing a bioidentical vaginal estrogen cream like Estrace to treat the atrophy.

Hi Mary,

You have already received such good advice that I will not repeat what others have said. What I do want to do is to tell you that I admire you for bringing something upsetting into the open. If there is on thing I have learned since beginning this loopy transition, it is that there is a commonality among all of us. You have surely helped someone else who is too embarrassed to write about this issue. Kudos to you.

Warm regards,
Marcy

What you're describing is very normal, and I have it too. As NiteOwl says, it can become more apparent when the outer lips shrink a little, and of course grooming the hair makes them more apparent too.

There are a number of websites with more information; here's one (not work-safe, even though it's purely an informational site - there are some graphics):

http://www.the-clitoris.com/f_html/c_size.htm

jasminetea,

The web site was very helpful to me also. I'm 54 and still don't know everything about my vagina, clitoris, and everything else "down there."

Hi Mary, I was just watching "The Dr's" show today and someone asked this exact same question to the T. Was that you? According to the doctors, this is so common and they perform the surgery to make it smaller quite often, it seems. Take care.

Surgery to reduce the size of the labia is called to labiaplasty. I don't know if it is covered by insurance but I have noticed a fair number of plastic surgeons advertising the procedure.

This is not so unusual. Many women have their labia(s) surgically altered to "normal" size if it bothers them enough. If you have a gyn, he/she has seen it before, believe me.

Thank you all so much for taking the time to read my thread and for replying, you have all given me very good advice and I think I will seek surgery as it is becoming such a mental problem and affecting my confidence.
Thank you also Jasminetea for introducing that web site to me, it was very useful.
By the way it wasn't me who phoned into the TV programme but I wish I had seen it.
Take care everyone and thank you all again for your support it is such a comfort to have people like you to share problems with.

What a fascinating website. Thank you jasmintea. I did a search on 'menopause' and they even have some discussion in the Q & A section about the effects on the genitalia and libido of hormone changes at menopause and a discussion of hormone supplementation as an attempt to remedy this. I haven't seen this discussed anywhere else except here, on this board. There's so much focus on changes as a result of hormones at puberty and in pregnancy but there seems to be silence about what happens at menopause.

Dear 'mary8'

Absolutely nothing to be embarassed about my love.All very normal just the way some of us have one breast larger than the other.Some atrophy to the Vagina is also very common at Menopause and as you say is more noticeable as you keep your Pubic hair trimmed

I bet your husband loves you just as you are so think very carefully before considering Surgery.Very few people have perfect symetry of body parts

We are all going South in all different places so join the Crowd and above all stop worrying
Keep us posted.We are all here to listen and support

God Bless
Elizabeth

Dear Mary, I am 49yrs. old and also suffer from this problem. It seemed to have come on within the last year along with a very small amount of urine leakage. Things just didin't feel the same down there so I looked at it with the mirror and it was totally different than what it used to look like. It looks much worst when I shave everything off. I don't understand how it could have gotten that way in such a short time. My doctor told me things happen like that when estrogen gets low. So he put me on estrace to see if we coud plump them up again. A couple of Appts. later he offered me a free procedure that he wanted to test out before he used it on his patients. It was done with lasers. The Doctor lasers that area to try and stimulate collogen. I went three times and all three times they took pictures and you can really see the before and after. My husband wants me to go for the whole vaginal rejuvination(10,000.) I'd rather have a face lift. Take Care and have your doctor prescribe you the Estrace Cream that you rub to that area it ay help.

Thank you again everyone, you are so kind, it is such a comfort to know there are people out there who take the trouble to help others with their problems.
I have made an appointment to see a Consultant next Friday, I still don't know whether I will have the courage to go, but I will let you know either way how it goes.
Take care. x

I can't improve on the advice given, so I'll just say a couple of things:

Your body is a marvelous creation. You are wonderfully made. Accept yourself with all your so-called flaws--it is what makes you unique. Love your body. And please, give hubby a big smooch!