Is my vulva appearance genetic? Does my vulva change through puberty?
ASK ELLIE on the blog
Is what your Vulva looks like, labia minora length etc genetic? Also does your vulva change in appearance and does your labia potentially develop/grow through puberty?
Since I started the Comfortable In My Skin Movement, the majority of people I photograph have at some point in their life been concerned with how their labia look. This might have been from younger years and comparing, from high school and first sexual experiences, to pornography and the portrayal of vulvas in the media.
People have been fighting for normalisation of vulvas for decades and we honour their time and dedication to fighting for the internal reproductive system and genitalia! Thankfully with easy access to social media, we can see that there is a movement of people normalising that all vulvas look different and that it is normal! Did you know in Australia there is a regulation for magazines to ensure that the labia are airbrushed or drawn with only a single crease, otherwise it gets an R18+ classification?
Ok, back to the question on hand.
Is my vulva appearance genetic?
Short answer, no.
I am not a gynaecologist, so I did consult trusty google for this one and found a great answer by Betty Dodson (if you don’t know who she is, google her!).
According to Betty, your vulva appearance doesn’t seem to be genetic. Maybe you’re close with your mum or sister, if you feel brave, ask to see what their vulva looks like!
Does my vulva change in appearance?
Yes!
From the day you’re born, your vulva continues to grow and develop and will change in appearance. It also changes when you hit puberty, when you become pregnant, after you have babies and also when you reach menopause.
These changes can be in thickness, colour, your clitoris can shrink and labia loosen. This is often because estrogen levels change and less blood flow goes to your vulva. This is all normal and part of life for a vulva owner!
Does my labia grow during puberty?
Yes!
Puberty is peak time where all your hormones are adjusting and finding their rhythm so it is only natural that your vulva changes with it. This is completely normal, there is no wrong way to develop.
Resources I used for this information:
ABC News Information
Gynae Centre UK
The Vagina Bible by Dr Jen Gunter
I hope this has helped you on your journey to becoming Comfortable In My Skin. If there’s anything I can recommend for you to do it would be the following!
Go browse through Flip Through My Flaps
Grab a mirror and look at yourself and show appreciation for your body
Book a session with me! Join the waitlist here
Much love, Ellie xoxox
