Skip navigation! Almost half of all women are concerned about the appearance of theirs, according to a survey by Refinery29 UK, and of those, about a third were specifically worried about the colour. Both labiaplasty cosmetic surgery to shorten the labia and labia lightening procedures involving laser treatments or bleaching creams are on the rise. However, experts say these treatments are unnecessary and, in fact, can be dangerous. This natural flora helps to protect the vagina and disrupting it could lead to irritation, inflammation, and infections, such as bacterial vaginosis or thrush. Women should know that every one is unique, and that variation in appearance is normal in the vast majority of cases. Research confirms this.

This week, two viral Reddit threads highlighted an enduring truth: Nobody actually knows anything about the female labia. In a TwoXChromosomes subreddit , user okcookies wrote in to fume about an overheard conversation between two coworkers, in which both men sincerely stated their belief that "the darker the vag the more dudes she's been pounded by. In another archived thread making the rounds this week, another user wrote of her frustration that "a lot of people seem to be under the impression that a female's anatomy changes drastically with every sexual experience she has.

Vaginas — or more accurately, vulvas, and all their components — come in different shapes, sizes, and colors. They even have different smells. And unless your normal involves pain or discomfort , everything is likely fine.