Have you ever wondered what typical labia and vaginas look like and how yours compare? Maybe you’ve grabbed a mirror at some point and checked things out. (If not, have a look!)
Now that you're expecting, you may also wonder how pregnancy and childbirth may affect your labia and your vagina’s shape and size.
Since plenty of women haven’t seen many, if any, other female genitalia in real life, you’re not alone if you wonder what's "normal" and how having a baby may change things down there.
Is it normal for your vagina and labia to change?
Women come in all shapes and sizes, and so do their labia and vagina. That means normal labia or a normal vagina is completely relative to you.
The labia majora (outer lips) of the vagina can range anywhere from full to flat and can fluctuate a bit with changes in your weight, just like your bra size.
The labia minora (inner lips), measured from the upper-most skin fold to the lowest hanging edge, are typically anywhere from 0.7 to 5 centimeters in length. They may be completely hidden by the labia majora, or the bottom edge may hang below them.
For the most part, the size and shape of your labia (both outer and inner) are determined by your genetics — not your hormone levels or sexual activity. Mother Nature just gave you what you’ve got.
The vagina is on average about 3 inches long from the cervix (the neck of the uterus) to the vulva. No two are the same: Every vagina varies in shape and color. Because it’s highly elastic, the vagina is designed to stretch and accommodate your baby during birth.
That said, the hormonal and physical changes that happen during pregnancy and childbirth can cause your vagina and labia to change, sometimes temporarily and sometimes permanently.
More About Sex During Pregnancy
Vaginal changes during pregnancy
During pregnancy, hormones can cause a host of changes, including nasal congestion and swollen feet.
Many of these symptoms are due to increased levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which also boost blood flow throughout your body to support your uterus and growing baby. This natural progression of your pregnancy also increases blood flow to your labia and vagina, and you may even experience pleasurable sensations as a result of these changes.
Your labia and vagina may also undergo a number of additional changes,[1] including:
- Swelling. The labia majora and minora may increase slightly in size and look puffy or swollen for the duration of your pregnancy.
- Discoloration. The color of your skin on both your inner and outer labia may temporarily darken to a bluish or purplish color due to increased blood flow.
- Labia shape. Sometimes the outer lips may slightly retract, which can make the inner lips look bigger or expose them for the first time.
- Varicose veins. Varicose veins are common during pregnancy, including on your vulva (or external genitalia).[2] Increased blood flow throughout the body can cause blood to pool in the pelvic region, dilating blood vessels and leading to bluish, bumpy veins that are aggravated by long periods of standing, exercise or sex.
- Infections. Hormonal changes can increase the risk of yeast infections during pregnancy — and the corresponding itchiness and discomfort.
- Increased discharge. Extra discharge during pregnancy helps to maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in the vagina. Discharge should be thin, milky and mild-smelling. If it’s lumpy, thick or accompanied by other symptoms (like itchiness or a fishy odor), let your doctor know.
- Spotting. While heavy vaginal bleeding that soaks through a pad is a sign of something potentially more serious (and should be brought to the attention of your practitioner immediately), light spotting during pregnancy is relatively common and usually benign.
Vaginal changes due to childbirth
If you're concerned about how pregnancy and childbirth will affect the size and shape of your vagina and labia, you're not alone. The reality is, the tissue down there is very elastic and generally remains intact.
If you have a vaginal birth or pushed before having a C-section, you may notice the following changes to your labia and vagina:
- Stretches and tears. You may experience tears to the vagina during labor and delivery, and the labia minora (but not majora) can sometimes stretch or tear. Minor tears to your vagina and labia will usually heal within seven to 10 days. However, more severe tears may take weeks to heal. Try a cold compress to help with pain.
- Soreness. The amount of postpartum perineal pain you’ll experience depends on how you delivered and whether you had any tears. Vagial and labial soreness should resolve within a few weeks.
Regularly doing kegels before and after birth can help your labor and delivery go smoother and prevent pelvic floor problems.
Will my labia return to the way it was before pregnancy?
Virtually all the changes that happen to your labia during and after pregnancy are temporary. Once you've given birth, your typical coloring will return as blood flow goes back to normal.
Upon baby's arrival, the size of the labia minora should retract to their previous size with decreased blood flow; for some women, labia may even shrink a bit more. Longer-lasting changes to your labia, if any, are typically minor, and there’s a good chance they’ll go unnoticed by both you and your partner, if you have one.
Meanwhile, your vagina’s size after birth will vary depending on many factors, including how you delivered, what number delivery this is for you, your genetics, the size of your baby and more. While your vagina won’t be exactly the same after delivery, it shouldn’t change drastically. You may not even notice a difference.
In rare cases, a doctor may recommend a surgical procedure called a labiaplasty to address bothersome symptoms that are due to the size or shape of the inner lips. This is a contouring procedure that’s undertaken to address physical complications that arise when the inner lips protrude prominently past the outer lips, a condition that can cause irritation from wearing snug clothing or friction during activities like bicycling.
During sex, the penis may push the loose folds of the labia minora into the vaginal cavity, resulting in abrasions or ulcerations. Extra tissue can also result in repeated yeast infections or UTIs because of trapped moisture. If you experience more than four of either infection per year, talk to your doctor about whether it could be caused by your labia minora.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the country’s leading group of OB/GYNs, cautions against seeking this procedure for purely cosmetic reasons. Talk with your doctor if you have concerns.
As with any surgery, there are risks, including post-surgery complications like bleeding and infections, increased dryness in the genital area, and discomfort, especially later in life when less estrogen may cause the lining of the vagina and tissues of the vulva to naturally thin and become less flexible. All and all, it’s a good idea to ask yourself if you’ll be okay if you don’t receive the results you’re hoping for.
So talk to your OB/GYN the next time you visit to find out more and ease any concerns about any possible changes concerning the appearance of your genital area.
Bottom line: Healthy labia and vaginas vary vastly in size and appearance. Rest easy knowing that yours falls somewhere in the range of normal and normal.
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