Background: Labia minora (LM) appearance and reduction have gained increasing media attention in The Netherlands.
Objective: To determine the prevailing female view about LM appearance and reduction and the role of the media in shaping that view.
Methods: From October 2007 to January 2008, questionnaires designed to elicit prevailing female opinion were distributed to and completed by several groups of females. Survey participants included female medical students at the University of Groningen (n = 394; average age, 22 +/- 3 yrs); patients visiting the outpatient Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the Medical Centre Leeuwarden (n = 51; average age, 40 +/- 13 yrs); and female patients visiting Heerenveen, a private clinic (n = 37; average age, 41 +/- 10 yrs).
Results: Most participants (95%) frequently examined their own LM. Almost half of the participants (43%) found the appearance of their LM important and 71% thought that their appearance was normal. Almost all participants (95%) have known about the possibility of LM reduction for the past 2.2 years. Most participants (78%) heard about LM reduction through a media source. Fourteen percent of the total sample found the appearance of their LM to be abnormal, 7% had considered LM reduction, and 0.42% had undergone such a procedure.
Conclusions: Our survey demonstrates that the appearance of LM is important to women and that almost all women surveyed have heard about LM reduction during the past 2.2 years. Our findings probably reflect the influence of increased media attention on this issue in The Netherlands.