What is an “outie” vagina? | Aldult Toys Blog

At some level, everyone compares themselves to others – it’s possible that this is human. But when you add to that the Internet in general and mainstream pornography in particular, our tendency to compare can easily go awry.

For example, some people, when comparing their vagina to representations of other vaginas, fear that their “outer vagina” is somehow abnormal.

What is an “outie” vagina?

Although discussions of “innies” and “outies” are usually reserved for cute belly button talk, the terminology has been co-opted to describe two different “types” of vaginas, or more precisely, the vulvasWhile the vagina is completely internal, the vulva refers to the external, visible parts of your genitals, including your labia.

Although this is inaccurate, when someone uses the term “outgoing vagina” they are simply referring to when the labia minora (inner lips) are longer and protrude beyond the labia majora (outer lips). An “ingoing vagina” then occurs when the outer lips are more prominent than the inner lips.

Outies are 100% normal, quite common and beautiful just the way they are.

Fact: Before online pornography, people with vulvas didn’t have such easy access to images of so many other vulvas. While today it’s easy to look at vulvas all day long if you want, their representation is far from inclusive or even proportional to the types of vulvas that exist. in the real worldJust like the body types that are predominantly represented, the genital shapes and types represented are generally very limited – common at best!

But even though protruding vaginas aren’t often pictured, they’re totally normal. In fact, protruding vaginas might be the most common type of vagina! According to one study Study 2017About 56% of people with a vulva may have an “outie.” Despite this, 73.3% of people who reported feeling like their genitals were “abnormal” had outies.

All this is thanks to the vagina shame Make no mistake, this is an epidemic. In the world as we know it, it’s common for people with prominent inner labia to feel self-conscious, and goodness knows why. It’s probably safe to blame mainstream porn, as well as those who can’t tell the difference between it and the real thing and end up shaming their partners for looking “different.”

Fact: Vulvas are beautiful and no two vulvas are alike.

Vulva may vary considerably in size, shape and colorIt is completely normal to have protruding or asymmetrical inner or outer labia, an enlarged clitoris, or any other unique feature. Unless you notice a significant change from your normal, or if you experience pain or irritation, chances are your vulva is normal and delicious just the way it is.

Last minute: Your self-esteem as a person and as a sexual being should in no way be affected by the shape of your genitals.

Does having an ‘outie’ change the way you feel about sex?

Although your outer lips play an important role in sexual satisfaction, the size of your labia is unlikely to affect the sensations you feel.

Similarly, having an open vagina is unlikely to interfere with daily non-sexual activities, such as sports. There are rare cases where lip hypertrophy occurs when the labia minora are disproportionately larger, sometimes causing irritation or infection. But more often, people simply feel self-conscious or embarrassed about the appearance of their vulva.

Don’t dare to do a labiaplasty

Unfortunately, some people feel so self-conscious and embarrassed about the appearance of their lips that they seek out cosmetic products. labiaplasty—a surgical procedure performed by plastic surgeons to reduce and/or reshape the labia minora.

Worldwide, the number of labiaplasties performed In 2019, the number of labiaplasty requests reached 164,667, which is an increase of 24.1% compared to 2018 and 73.3% compared to 2015. According to the 2017 statistics of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, labiaplasty requests increased by 217.2% between 2012 and 2017. Labiaplasty was the 15th most popular plastic surgery procedure among female patients in 2019. That said, reporting on procedures performed in the private sector is voluntary, so these figures are likely a gross underestimate.

If all this isn’t shocking enough, many of those seeking surgery are under 18 (yes, it’s legal), and I haven’t fully developed my sexual or emotional development yet.

Clinical Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at Yale, Dr. Mary Jane Minkinis among those expressing concern.

“The vast majority of people who seek labiaplasty really have nothing to worry about,” she says, noting that having one for purely cosmetic reasons can be dangerous.

“Surgery is surgery. You can get an infection during any operation and, in my opinion, it’s a bit silly to risk real pain by doing something that’s completely unnecessary.”

Moral of the story: Unless you have a lip condition that poses a threat to your health, there is absolutely no reason to consider labiaplasty.

Loving yourself as you are leads to better sex

As with your body in general, loving your vulva and feeling confident in it go hand in hand. When you love something, you take better care of it, which leads to greater pleasure, you know? If you’re constantly worrying about how your vulva looks compared to the “perfect” vulva depicted in mainstream porn, it could be affecting your sexual health, your self-esteem, and those crucial places where they intersect. In other words, it’s pretty hard to have a good (nay, great) sex life when you hate your pleasure dome.

If you’re looking for ways to feel more comfortable with the appearance of your vulva, there are plenty of delicious resources available to you:

– THE Lip Library contains anatomical information and diversity vulva photo gallerythe aim being to demonstrate that there is no “correct” or “normal” appearance of the vulva.

– THE The Great Wall of the Vagina is ideal for anyone who wants to see a realistic variety of different but normal vulva appearances – think plaster casts of over 400 vulvas‍.

– The New View Campaign offers non-medicalized information about a variety of normal sexual expressions.

Other ways to learn to love your vulva (and yourself!) include:

– Masturbation. To please yourself regularly and in a spirit of exploration is a great way to become more comfortable, familiar, and receptive (and loving!) with your body.

– Therapy. Talking to a good therapist (possibly a sex therapist) about your feelings can also be a helpful way to feel more comfortable with the appearance of your vulva. Some people also find that expressing their concerns to their partner can help alleviate unnecessary worry.

Bottom line: If you’ve been wondering if your lips are normal, but haven’t thought about it until recently, It is. If you have a partner who makes you feel weird about your vulva, there is something wrong with them. them. If you need a little love to help you love all your parts better, you’ve come to the right place (see suggestions above!) And if you’re just curious about whether your vagina is an inside or an outside, grab a mirror and start exploring, baby. You never know what exciting treasures you might find. <3