FAQs

I think my vagina is all messed up it doesn't seem to be like it’s described. The labia doesn't properly cover the inside bits like it should. Am I different to everyone else?

Answer

This is a really good question to have asked, because it is a good idea to know your body, and what is normal for you. Some cultures do view women's vulvas (the whole outside of your genital area) as something to be ashamed of and hidden. Rather an odd belief when you think of it!

Everybody's vagina is different, just as our faces are all different. There is a huge range of what is normal and there isn't a wrong size or shape for labia.

Some labia are short, thick and ruffled. Others are long, thin and smooth. Some are closed together and others lie further apart. If you labia have always looked a particular way, then this is 'normal' for you.

The labia are made up of lots of different folds of skin unique to each woman. They are designed to be able to be open or closely folded together, depending on how old you are, whether you have ever had penetrative sex or not, and what is happening in your vagina and urethra (where your wee comes out) at any particular time.

For example if you are just sitting on a chair at school or work, standing in the bank queue, or walking somewhere, your labia will likely be fairly close or folded together.

If you are sitting on the floor with your legs relaxed apart, or on your bed having a look at your labia, vagina and genitals with a mirror, your labia are likely to be naturally more open.

If you're on the toilet having a wee, putting in a tampon when you have your period, are sexually aroused, having penetrative (penis\vagina or fingers\toy) sex, or delivering a baby, then your labia are going to be further apart, perhaps stretched wide apart.

This is all just part of the normal variations for the many things your labia and genitals are naturally designed to do.

In Australia women's genitals in magazines are frequently air brushed (to make them look as though the woman has very young genitals) because of the censorship laws. (We are allowed to see male erections up to 45 degrees, but not women's genitals, aroused or otherwise, for some reason.)

So that means if a person hasn't seen a range of women's genitals in real life there's no way s/he is going to know what real women's genitals look like. Everyone then starts to think all genitals should look like the airbrushed ones - which are really just frauds, and not half so interesting or useful as the real ones.

Your labia are probably quite normal. If you're still worried, go to your nearest Family Planning Clinic, Women's Health Centre, or a GP you feel comfortable with, and ask them to check for you. If you need addresses for any of these places or if you have any further questions you could ring the Healthline 1300 658 886.