What Affects Labia Size?

Labia size, the size of the inner and outer lips of the vulva, varies with each woman's unique genetics. Only in cases of labial hypertrophy do size and length become a major issue.

What is the Labia?

• The "labia" refers to the lip-like female genitalia at the entrance of the vagina. There are two pairs of lips: the labia majora (exterior) and labia minora (interior).

What is Too Large or Too Long?

• Net Doctor, a UK medical website, quotes Dr. David Delvin, GP, who assures readers that despite women worrying about their labia size ("too large" or "too long"), most cases are completely normal. He also reminds readers that some people's views of proper labia size are influenced by "misleading pornographic magazines or videos," where the "heroine's vulva appears impossibly neat and tidy."

Genetics: A Primary Cause

• Heather Corinna, author of "S.E.X.: The All-You-Need-To-Know Progressive Sexuality Guide to Get You Through High School and College," and a counselor at Cedar River Clinics/Feminist Women's Health Center, states that "Variances happen because we don't all have the exact same genetics, nor the same hormonal levels." She also adds that "our labia are not fully developed when we're born. ... They change during our lives."

Labial Hypertrophy

• The Center for Young Women's Health, sponsored by the Children's Hospital of Boston, does cite an exception to the normal variance: labial hypertrophy, which refers to an abnormal enlargement of the labia. While the exact cause of this condition is unknown, it is not brought upon by masturbation or sexually transmitted diseases.

Genetics and Labial Hypertrophy

• EMedicine, sponsored by WebMD, suspects genetics as the primary cause of labial hypertrophy, due to results from a study of identical twins with the same degree of labial hypertrophy.