NHS reports increase in labial reduction procedures

The number of labial reductions carried out on the NHS has increased dramatically over the past ten years, new data reveals.

Figures show that there has been a five-fold rise in these procedures being publicly-funded in the last decade, with more than 2,000 cosmetic operations performed on female genitalia in 2010 alone.

A similar increase has been recorded in Australia, leading researchers from the University of Melbourne to carry out a study to find out how women perceived their genitals.

The doctors were led to conclude that greater exposure to images and information portraying 'normal' vulval anatomy could be beneficial to prevent such a high number of females feeling as though they need potentially risky surgery to undergo a labial reduction.

Co-author of the study Calida Howarth commented: "It is essential that doctors do not assume that women have an inherent knowledge of their genitalia and the anotmical terms used to describe it."

If doctors take this into account, more women may be dissuaded from having the intimate operation.