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Published in: International Urogynecology Journal 6/2014

01-06-2014 | Original Article

Psychosexual outcome after labiaplasty: a prospective case-comparison study

Authors: David Veale, Iona Naismith, Ertiniss Eshkevari, Nell Ellison, Ana Costa, Dudley Robinson, Lanka Abeywickrama, Angelica Kavouni, Linda Cardozo

Published in: International Urogynecology Journal | Issue 6/2014

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

Our goal was to determine psychosexual outcome after labiaplasty in the long-term with specific measures of genital body image and sexual dysfunction.

Method

We conducted a prospective study with a matched-comparison group of women not wanting labiaplasty. Forty-nine women were compared against a group of 39 women matched for age, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and marital status. The labiaplasty group was assessed before, 3 months after and between 11 and 42 months after surgery. The comparison group was assessed at two time points 3 months apart to control for the passage of time. The primary outcome measure was the Genital Appearance Satisfaction (GAS) scale.

Results

Of the 49 women receiving labiaplasty, 19 (38.8 %) were lost to follow-up but were reassessed clinically. Twenty-four of 25 (96 %) women in the labiaplasty group showed a reliable and clinically significant improvement on the GAS scale 3 months after the procedure; 21/23 (91.3 %) showed an improvement at the long-term follow-up. A large effect size was found for improvements on the GAS scale in the labiaplasty group. Small-effect sizes were found for improvements in sexual functioning. Nine women obtaining labiaplasty met diagnostic criteria for body dysmorphic disorder before the operation; eight lost that diagnosis at the 3-month follow-up; 26 % reported minor side effects.

Conclusions

Labiaplasty is effective in improving genital appearance and sexual satisfaction, but larger studies are required to determine the prevalence of potential side effects.
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Metadata
Title
Psychosexual outcome after labiaplasty: a prospective case-comparison study
Authors
David Veale
Iona Naismith
Ertiniss Eshkevari
Nell Ellison
Ana Costa
Dudley Robinson
Lanka Abeywickrama
Angelica Kavouni
Linda Cardozo
Publication date
01-06-2014
Publisher
Springer London
Published in
International Urogynecology Journal / Issue 6/2014
Print ISSN: 0937-3462
Electronic ISSN: 1433-3023
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-013-2297-2

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