40 Female Genitalia in Pornography: The Source of Labiaplasty Trends?

Abstract

Introduction Trends in appearance of female genitalia has been influenced by social media, entertainment industry, and even politics. Cosmetic labiaplasty has increased by 39% over the last decade. Wide availability and accessibility of pornography is another source where women and men learn about the anticipated normal appearance of the genitals. Objective The purpose of this review is to evaluate the current trends in appearance of female genitalia based on the most viewed pornography videos. We hypothesized that pornography may influence such trends in labiaplasty. Methods After panel of experts agreed on definitions and classifications of the different genital parts and beautification trends, we reviewed videos from the category “most viewed videos” on the most popular free pornography websites. We analyzed common representations of female genital appearance, including hair grooming (completely shaved, trimmed, natural), hyperpigmentation (natural with hyperpigmented perianal and labial skin vs. bleached with equal hyperpigmentation throughout), appearance of labia majora (thickness, length), appearance of labia minora (presence and length compared to the labia majora), clitoral hood appearance (status post clitoral hood reduction), and width of the genital hiatus. Results We reviewed the 25 most viewed videos from the five most popular free pornography websites. Among females and males, complete shaving of the pubic hair was the most common pattern, 56% (14) and 52% (13) respectively, followed by the trimmed pubic hair equally among both genders 40% (10). Only 8% of videos demonstrated labia majora resembling pre-pubertal (surgically enhanced) appearance. 44% of women had labia minora larger than labia majora, 36% had them at equal length, and 16% showed no labia minora and were consistent with labiaplasty. 92% of videos demonstrated a normal appearing clitoral hood with no signs of surgical reduction. Bleaching or removal of natural hyperpigmentation was noted in 20% of videos. Wide genital hiatus consistent with vaginal delivery was identified in 16% of videos. No signs of pelvic organ prolapse, piercings, or other abnormalities were noted. Conclusions We found that the most popular pornography videos had a range of genital appearances, disproving our hypothesis that labiaplasty and bleaching are commonly seen in pornography. However, pornography likely has influenced trends in hair removal. The most viewed videos on the most popular pornography sites may nonetheless create expectations for both genders on the genital appearance of a partner. Disclosure No

The Potential Cutaneous Effects of Pornography Addiction: A Narrative Review

“…Further, after viewing media including pornography, adult females were more likely to have self-image issues, leading to pubic hair trimming patterns. However, any association between labiaplasty surgeries and masturbation remains unclear [15][16][17].…”

“…More evidence points towards pubic hair trimming among women in an effort to mimic patterns seen in pornographic materials [ 16 , 17 ]. This may reflect a general cultural trend or a tendency to internalize the pubic hair patterns seen in pornography.…”

“… Sample was primarily Caucasian, heterosexualcollege-aged women. Dubinskaya et al 2022 [ 16 ] Cross-sectional study 25 most-viewed videos from popular pornography sites were reviewed. Female genital appearance, hair grooming, pigmentation, and labial dimensions were assessed.…”