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I’m a girl an I masturbate alot and I’m starting to worry about my vagina it seems darker and my vaginal lips look stretched out although I’ve never had sex. I’m starting to get self-conscious about it because I’m 16 and I feel like it will affect me in my future relationship. Is here any proceeder I can do to reduce the look of it without any parental consent papers?

First things first: it’s VERY normal to masturbate, and masturbation (or sex) does not change the shape or color of your vulva, vagina, or labia (lips).  Bodies – including genitals – come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, so whatever your vulva looks like is completely normal and okay.

What DOES change the way your vulva looks is puberty, just like the rest of your body. Vulvas and labia often grow bigger and darker as your body develops, so that’s probably why you’ve noticed that your genitals look different than they used to.

I’m so sorry this is making you worry and feel self-conscious. There is NOTHING wrong with you.  I hope you can learn to love and appreciate your vulva, because it’s as unique as you are (and anybody you have a relationship with in the future should feel the same way).  In fact, many people like the way bigger or “stretched out” lips look, and labia have lots of nerve endings that can feel really good when touched.  Love your labia!  Besides, anyone who would make you feel bad about your vulva is not only unkind, but also doesn’t know very much about genitals.  There is no “right” or “wrong” way for them to look.

There are plastic surgery procedures that can reduce your vulva lips, but you cannot get them without permission from your parents. A better idea is to work on loving your genitals the way they are, just like the rest of your body. Watching this video is a great place to start.

Tags: vagina, vulva, masturbation, body image, labia

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