Have you ever taken a mirror and looked between your legs? Have you wondered if everyone else’s anatomy looks like yours? Have you ever been worried yours isn’t “normal”? Have you ever been wowed by how complex and amazing genitals are?

Many people are curious about genitalia, but there’s a lot of misinformation out there. When people talk about the vagina, what they are often referring to actually has a different name – the vulva – which refers to the external sexual anatomy of people with a vagina. 

The vulva includes many anatomical structures, including the labia. In this article, we will talk about the labia in more detail.

What is a Labia?

The labia are what people often think of as the “lips of the vagina”. They are two sets of skin folds – the labia majora and the labia minora – on either side of the vulva, and they cover the vaginal opening. 

The labia majora are the outer lips, and are usually larger, fleshy, and covered with pubic hair after puberty. The labia minora are the inner lips and usually feel a little thinner, more delicate, and can feel “wet”. Like any other body part, the labia come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colours, and textures. 

Labia vs. Vulva

It can be helpful to start by situating exactly where the labia are and what they’re connected to. 

Again, the labia are the inner and outer lips of the vulva, and the vulva includes everything genitals-wise that can be seen from the outside for people with vaginas. (If this is confusing, don’t worry: We have a whole blog article about the difference between the vulva and the vagina).

The vulva includes the labia as well as several other anatomical structures:

• Clitoris: This is a part of the vulva that people often talk about! It’s the sensitive, button-like organ at the top of the vulva, and is covered by a protective sheath called the clitoral hood. The clitoris plays a central role in sexual pleasure; stimulating it is generally a requirement for many women to orgasm. 
• Vaginal Opening: This is the entrance to the vagina and is surrounded by the labia minora. 
• Urethral Opening: This is the opening through which urine exits the body, located just above the vaginal opening.
• Mons Pubis: This is the fatty pad of tissue covering the pubic bone, and leads down into the labia majora. This area becomes covered with hair around puberty. 
• Perineum: This is the area between the vaginal opening and the anus. 

Each of these areas plays an important biological role for people with vaginas, and can also be uniquely sensitive and play roles in sexual pleasure too. 

Purpose of the Labia

The labia serve multiple important purposes, including:

• Protection: The labia protect the vaginal and urethral openings from dirt, bacteria, and other potential contaminants.
• Sexual Pleasure: The labia are filled with nerve endings and can be important components of people’s sexual arousal and pleasure. The labia become engorged with blood and may visibly swell when aroused. 
• Moisture Regulation: The sebaceous glands in the labia produce oils that keep the area lubricated, preventing dryness and irritation. 

Are My Labia Normal?

You may be concerned about whether your labia are “normal”, but don’t worry! There is no definition for what "normal" labia should look like — labia can be all different sizes, shapes, and colours that are all healthy and unique to each individual. 

While a few general “types” of labia may exist, there’s still wide variation within them. Embracing this natural diversity is important for embracing self-love and a positive body image. 

 Labia Shape: Innies, Outies, and More

Every labia is unique. A few ways that people’s labia shapes can vary include:

• Symmetry of inner lips — some labia minora are equal in length, while others have one lip that is longer than the other.
• Length of outer lips — some people have labia majora that don’t extend far downward and are closer to their body, while others have longer, softer labia majora that are more prominent. 
• Open or closed appearance of outer lips — some people’s labia majora have a more open appearance, allowing the inner lips to be more visible, while others have a more closed appearance that covers more of the inner lips.
• “Innie” — a vulva where the labia minora are shorter and don’t protrude past the labia majora.
• “Outie” — a vulva where the labia minora protrudes past the labia majora. Some women have long, dangling inner lips, while others have it just peeking past the outer lips.

“Innie” and “outie” are just slang terms for the labia’s general appearance, not medical designations. Both are normal and no cause for concern. You can read more about “innie” vs “outie” vaginas in our blog article. 

Labia Size

There’s a wide range of labia sizes, too. A study of over 200 women found that the median width of the labia minora was 19.0 mm, and the median length was 35.5 mm — but the median only indicates the “middle” values of the full range, which is substantially more diverse. For example, another study conducted in 2018 recorded labia minora ranging from 5–100 mm in length and labia majora from 12–180 mm in length. To truly appreciate natural diversity, it's important to consider the range of “normal”.

Labia Colour

Labia can range in colour from pink to dark brown, depending on factors like genetics and hormone levels. It’s common for labia to appear darker than the rest of the body and to become darker when aroused. 

Common Labia Conditions

Labia, like any other part of the body, can be affected by health conditions. Some common conditions include:

• Labia Hypertrophy: A benign condition where one or both labia grow larger than what might be considered desirable. While primarily an aesthetic concern, it can also cause discomfort, for example, when wearing certain clothing or during sports or sexual activity.
• Lichen Sclerosus: A skin condition more prevalent in women over the age of 50, this is characterised by itchy white patches on the vulva, including the labia.
• Bartholin's Cyst: This is a fluid-filled sac that develops near the vaginal opening. Typically, it presents as a small, painless lump, but it can become infected or enlarged, which can be uncomfortable or painful.
• Vulvodynia: This condition is marked by chronic discomfort or pain in the vulva (including the labia), especially during penetrative sex.

While it can be helpful to be aware of what kind of condition you might be experiencing, if you’re worried about your labia, it’s important to seek care from your primary care provider rather than self-diagnosing. They can help to confirm what’s going on and offer tools for treatment.

Labia Nicknames and Labia Shame

Like a lot of sexual organs, some creative (frequently icky) nicknames have been developed for the labia, including “beef curtains”, “flaps”, and “roast beef”. While it’s one thing for people to use affectionate nicknames for their own body parts, using negative or derogatory nicknames to describe parts of the body can contribute to distorted self-image and feelings of shame or embarrassment. 

Some people still become dissatisfied with the natural appearance of their genitals. Studies have shown that the way people feel about their labia is closely linked to negative genital self-image. 

While physical discomfort can influence these feelings (e.g., if long protruding labia minora become irritated during sex), unrealistic media representations in pornography also play a key role in skewing people’s perceptions of what is normal or desirable. 

This can lead to mental and emotional health challenges, as well as the desire for elective cosmetic surgery to reduce labia size (labiaplasty). In reality, there is an enormous amount of diversity in the colour, size, and texture of the labia, and all can be healthy, sexy, and empowering.

Promoting Labia Positivity

Initiatives such as the Labia Library, a vault of photos of 52 different vulvas, are helping to normalise how diverse labia appearances are and to combat the stigma surrounding female genitalia.

Another project dedicated to helping women embrace their labia was created by the UK-based photographer, Laura Dodsworth, after she saw a BBC documentary in which girls younger than 10 were seeking labiaplasty. The project aimed to challenge societal taboos, reduce stigma, and promote body positivity by showcasing the wide range of normal appearances of vulvas.

Promoting positive and respectful language when discussing the body can also help foster a healthier, more inclusive understanding of normal anatomy, empowering women to embrace their bodies without shame or judgement.