Here’s my vulva, it’s like a cheeky tongue sticking out! It’s usually all covered up with thick pubic hair, but I shave probably once a year just to say hello (and then the itchiness and ingrown hairs remind me why I don’t usually bother!). My long frilly labia have never bothered me, but I’ve always wished my clitoral hood was a bit more tucked away. Then I hear stories of women who have had genital cosmetic surgery and lost some – or all – sensation, which I think is so terrifying it’s not worth the risk at all. Luckily none of my sexual partners have ever said anything to make me feel negative or self-conscious about my vulva. I’m still learning to love my clitoral hood after many phases of insecurity, influenced by the overwhelming promotion of cosmetic surgery that comes up in the search results for ‘large clitoral hood’. But I would rather come to terms with my vulva than let our societal beauty ideals push me to self-mutilation. This page is so liberating for those of us who spent many years wondering if we’re ‘normal’ – thank you!
Anonymous – 25 years old