Labiaplasty

[shootingstar]

Unbelievable that some women would have it done for ...cosmetic reasons.

On the other side, sometimes I feel abit tougher....because I don't even cycle with padded shorts ...have cycled over 100 kms. per day during cycling season. I've been cycling for past 17 years. So I'm probably the extreme here... I'm the sort of person that doesn't take pills for headaches...which headaches are rare for me. But I digress..

Please do try different saddles with cut-outs.

And for guys ...no sometimes they can't move their thingy aside while cycling..I asked. My partner cycles heavily....up 10,000 kms. annually.

[Andrea]

I'm glad someone else started this thread. I've probably got what some would consider more skin than "normal."
I have had an inkling of this type of surgery in the back of my mind for a while- especially the day that the cutout in my selle an-atomica somehow pinched shut on me I also have a problem with the usual foam saddle because as the foam breaks in, it will breakdown into the saddle's cutout area and make it much smaller than usual- not as acutely painful as the an-atomica issue, but really bad numbness/soreness/between-the-skinfolds chafing on any rides over 40 miles.

I've never been bothered by my looks- I've just had a hell of a time finding a saddle (I've been riding for a year & a half and still looking). Let us know how everything turns out!

[shootingstar]

Well, I don't feel as wierd for not wearing padded shorts.....

[Tokie]

Hi Mt and Road. I work at a hospital based outpatient surgery. One of our patients was a teenager whose labia were disproportionately long. She had sustained rather serious trauma to it due to it's size when she was riding her bike- bounced on the seat or top tube or something, and had quite a painful recovery. So having it reduced to "normal" proportions was an easy choice for her. Another patient, also a younger woman, had one labia that was quite a bit larger than the other, and subject to chafing and trauma - it seemed like something I would do if it were me too. I would certainly look for a gynecologist who had done the surgery more than a few times and could discuss reasonable outcomes, your expectations,risks, etc. Good luck! Tokie

[SoCalQT2]

Wow, this sounds really scary. I'm sorry you have to go through this and I wish you the best of luck however you decide to proceed

[corey]

I want to thank all of you for offering your comments, but how did this go from a labia procedure for reasons purely related to discomfort, to 'genital mutilation' having to do with the clitoris etc, and a discussion of why not to do it for cosmetic reasons? This problem is truly uncomfortable, for anyone riding over 20 miles at a time, much less over 150 miles a week...that being said and even in spite of this, no sensible person in her right mind would subject themselves to this kind of surgery (and risk) to meet "the ideal".

I, too, know the true discomfort of having larger lady parts... and have considered this procedure myself. My motive is purely to eliminate discomfort. I have chronic issues with my labia- sorry to be graphic- but I don't think some people have an understanding of what it is like to not be able to wear certain panties or pants, or to even be able to sit in certain positions because of labia pain. I also have constant rubbing when I walk, run, cycle, etc. It's an ongoing & constant issue that doesn't go away.

I think my body is beautiful and I would hate to have to purposefully remove
'1/2 inch of flesh' from any part of my body for any reason... but if my quality of life can be improved, I am certainly going to consider it.

I don't consider a voluntary labia reduction procedure to be genital mutilation if the purpose is to reduce discomfort and improve quality of life. I don't think it's any different than a man who has a varicocelectomy. (That's basically procedure to remove a painful varicose vein on a testicle.)

[missjulied]

The thing is, it gets in the way of everything, not just cycling, although cycling is the worst. I've got the best Pearl Izumi microsensor shorts with a pad thick enough to land a plane on, chamois butter blah blah blah..and you are right about 8 weeks off the bike...which is almost worse than the problem LOL

I find that the thicker the pad, the more pressure is put on that area. What's the point of a seat with a cutout if your shorts are just pressing into your crotch anyway? You might consider trying shorts with a little more breathing room, to take advantage of a cutout saddle.

Good Luck!

[Brandi]

I understand! i have often thought there was something odd about my labia. It has excess (or what i thought was) skin. It actually make sex difficult sometimes. But I work it out. Again I have thought from pictures I have seen that i was not normal. And I have at time had to adjust myself on my bike because of irritation. But you know my husband has loved my body now for 20 years and has never said anything but kind words about it. I would be wary of messing with things down there that is for sure. I like sex and would hate to mess that up. But considering I have had slight irritation at times if you are really suffering them maybe it is the right thing for you.
Like already said just be careful even the best Dr can mess up.
I just read a story about Julie Andrews.She was having a simple operation on her throat and the Dr messed up and ruined her voice forever. Sad!

[OakLeaf]

I don't know about you, but my labia aren't the only part of my body that don't look like porn stars' parts.

Whatever you are is NORMAL for you!

Absolutely, if someone's tried everything short of surgery to relieve pain, then find a Board-certified, experienced surgeon. But be wary of people who want you to alter your body to fit into something that just doesn't - whether it's an ill-fitting saddle, particular clothes, or a porn star's body image - when simply getting something that fits properly would relieve any pain.

[RoseRydr]

I second the vote on M&R trying a Koobie saddle. I went through many saddles, many with cut outs, that did not work for me. Chafing between the labia major and minor... Ouch! Koobie's the only thing I'll ride any more. And the women to whom I've recommended it have tried it & loved it! A split all the way down the nose and channeled all the way down... You never know, it could work!

And I agree, less padding helps. It seem counter intuitive but it's just more fabric and stuff pressing on the "bits".

But bottom line, M&R. You gotta do what's right for you. I like doc's advice, a reconstructive doc connected with a university. Get references. Get three opinions. Best to you.

[stacie13]

For those recommending the Koobi saddles - any particular style you like?

MountainandRoad - I have some minor irritations while riding (numbness), and can't imagine what it would be like if it was worse. That is bad enough, not to mention annoying!! Good luck! Sounds like you're thoroughly doing your research though, and that's great.

[Di bear]

Its all over the mags as a cosmetic procedure, but that really isn't the issue with me.

COSMETIC procedure. I'm against cosmetic surgery, especially since I have the pleasure of working with women and their gynecological issues professionally. Cosmetic surgery is not a solution. Sure, different surgeries actually do work for some people, but having your gallbladder out seems to be easier than having even a nose job.

Leave your labia alone. Unfortunately, there are pain issues that are common and the health community has a long future of trying to figure out pain. There is still so much to learn. People put so much faith in the medical community and surgery, and there is a lot we can do, but there is a lot we are venturing into that we will most likely be correcting, or trying to correct in the decades to come. Microsoft Windows is kids' stuff compared to the complexities of the human body.

This kind of stuff just pisses me off. I'm so sick our free, "civilized" society objectifying women and treating their bodies like blowup dolls.

I don't know about you guys, but the genes that are responsible for my labia have worked successfully for generations of women for millennia, and I fully intend to keep mine as is. Yes, I also have hair down there. Go figure. I'm a mammal. Golly gee.

MountainandRoad, I'm not picking on you. The topic just got me to rant. I do have a bit of discomfort after riding for about 90 minutes or more, so I am going to look into different women's saddles. I hear finding the right one can make a world of difference.

[OakLeaf]

I don't know how many of you are reading the male hair removal thread, but among the places that thread has drifted was into the mention of a male porn star who's an accomplished cyclist. If HE doesn't have "too much" down there to ride a bike comfortably....

[stacie13]

I don't know about you guys, but the genes that are responsible for my labia have worked successfully for generations of women for millennia, and I fully intend to keep mine as is. Yes, I also have hair down there. Go figure. I'm a mammal. Golly gee.

LOL!!!!!

[sapphira]

COSMETIC procedure. I'm against cosmetic surgery, especially since I have the pleasure of working with women and their gynecological issues professionally. Cosmetic surgery is not a solution. Sure, different surgeries actually do work for some people, but having your gallbladder out seems to be easier than having even a nose job.

Leave your labia alone. Unfortunately, there are pain issues that are common and the health community has a long future of trying to figure out pain. There is still so much to learn. People put so much faith in the medical community and surgery, and there is a lot we can do, but there is a lot we are venturing into that we will most likely be correcting, or trying to correct in the decades to come. Microsoft Windows is kids' stuff compared to the complexities of the human body.

This kind of stuff just pisses me off. I'm so sick our free, "civilized" society objectifying women and treating their bodies like blowup dolls.

I don't know about you guys, but the genes that are responsible for my labia have worked successfully for generations of women for millennia, and I fully intend to keep mine as is. Yes, I also have hair down there. Go figure. I'm a mammal. Golly gee.

MountainandRoad, I'm not picking on you. The topic just got me to rant. I do have a bit of discomfort after riding for about 90 minutes or more, so I am going to look into different women's saddles. I hear finding the right one can make a world of difference.

I'd like to offer a different perspective. It wasn't society that made me hate my labia. I was only 12 years old, going through puberty, never seen a porno magazine in my life nor a blow up doll, and completely horrified when my vagina started to enlarge, and my inner labia got so big that they pushed themselves downwards. I felt like something was wrong. They are discolored, stretchy, and itchy. I have to take showers all the time to clean them. Men get the flesh of the skin around their penis' head removed; why can't women opt to do the same type of procedure, especially if they make the choice and for hygienic purposes?

That same 12 year old girl feelings are still carried within me to this day. I am VERY uncomfortable with the size of my vagina, always have been and always will until I receive the labioplasty procedure. It has gotten worse as I've gotten older as time takes it toll, and so has the chafing, irritation, and pain during sex. I'd like to enjoy my life, not have to worry about a certain body part that's giving me so many problems. That's why I think it's short sighted to merely blame it on "society objectifying women". If that was the case, then I'd have dyed my hair blonde and gotten breast implants a long time ago. Besides, I'm doing it for myself, as are most women making the choice. I could care less about trends in plastic surgery or sexual attitudes in society. I fully honor my own and don't let others decide for me. I am thrilled that this procedure is available.