Why don’t we talk?

I can’t tell you how many women we talk to on a daily basis that have noticed changes vaginally, whether it’s an enlarged labia or looseness with intercourse, but have never spoken to anyone about it. They may suffer in silence for years before they decide to get things checked out or come in for a consult right after they’ve noticed a change. Sometimes they come in because they’ve had a conversation with their friend who tells them sex just isn’t the same since kids and sometimes they read a Cosmo article or watched Real Housewives where they were discussing rejuvenation procedures.

Regardless of which category you fall into, know that you are not alone. A large number of women develop these changes as they age and it’s nothing to be embarrassed about.

Enlarged labia, or labial hypertrophy is a common finding in women. Every woman’s vaginal anatomy is unique and therefore so are her labia. Because of this, there is a large variance in size and appearance of the labia. Enlarged labia can occur as a result of hormonal changes, pregnancy, and even trauma. Although bothersome, this condition is not dangerous. With that said, there are many women with enlarged labia that have daily discomfort from chaffing, rubbing, tugging and pinching. Or they may just not like the way it looks. In these instances, we recommend a procedure called a Labiaplasty in which the excess tissue is removed. This procedure is done in office under local anesthetic with 1 week downtime.

In instances where women are dealing with vaginal looseness, often after vaginal deliveries, there are options to help restore the vaginal anatomy to pre-baby and to regain the tightness and sensation that they once remembered. Vaginal rejuvenation involves tightening the opening of the vaginal canal and, in some instances, lifting the vagina if prolapse is present. This procedure can be combined with Labiaplasty for an overall vaginal makeover.

We often have a group of friends or close family member that we are extra close to and can share our most intimate secrets with. Sometimes sharing information about vaginal issues can be a little embarrassing, but if you have a safe place, talk about what’s going on. More often than not someone in your most intimate circle is dealing with some if not all of the same issues that you are. Discussing these topics and making them less taboo can only empower other women around you to do the same and also to feel much less alone in talking about and seeking treatment. Those little secrets that we keep to ourselves don’t have to be secret anymore and can, in fact, give other women the confidence to share and speak up as well. We at Austin Labiaplasty and Vaginal Rejuvenation are here to help you find your voice and to be proud of the renewed you.