Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2014 Jan;11(1):33-9.
doi: 10.1111/jsm.12254. Epub 2013 Aug 23.

Physicians' attitude toward female genital plastic surgery: a multinational survey

Lior Lowenstein  1 , Andrea Salonia, Arik Shechter, Hartmut Porst, Andrea Burri, Yacov Reisman
Affiliations

Physicians' attitude toward female genital plastic surgery: a multinational survey

Lior Lowenstein et al. J Sex Med. 2014 Jan.

Abstract

Introduction: The demand for female genital plastic surgery (FGPS) has increased over the last few decades. Yet, to date, there are no objective explicit measurements to define "abnormal" appearance of genital organs. Using the results of this study, we aimed to produce a statement of the European Society for Sexual Medicine (ESSM) on FGPS practice.

Aims: To evaluate the prevalence of demand for FGPS and to explore the attitudes of sexual medicine specialists toward indications for FGPS.

Methods: Attendees of the 2012 Annual Congress of the ESSM in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, were asked to participate in a survey during the congress.

Main outcome measure: A 25-item self-report, closed-question questionnaire subdivided into three sections: sociodemographic data, professional background, and personal attitudes toward FGPS.

Results: Overall, a total of 360 physicians (mean age 48 years; range 23-72) from different medical disciplines completed the survey. There were diverse responses among participants regarding the definition of abnormal labial appearance and the techniques for labial reduction they perform. Overall, 65% responded that FGPS is frequently or occasionally demanded by the patients they treat. Likewise, most physicians (63%) reported that they never perform FGPS. Conversely, only 14% reported that they either frequently or occasionally perform FGPS. Almost one-third of participants believe that FGPS (labial surgery) improves sexual function. Fifty-two percent of participants answered that they believe that self image is the main reason for women to ask for labial surgery.

Conclusions: Self-image was regarded as the main factor in the demand for FGPS. Many practitioners in the field of sexual medicine recommend that women be referred for consultation with a psychiatrist or psychologist before undergoing FGPS.

Keywords: Cosmetic Surgery; Female Genital Plastic Surgery; Labial Plastic Surgery; Self-Image; Survey.

PubMed Disclaimer