A comparison of risk factors for women seeking labiaplasty compared to those not seeking labiaplasty

•Women seeking labiaplasty were compared to a comparison group.•About a third of those seeking labiaplasty recalled specific negative comments about their labia.•Women seeking labiaplasty did not have an increased perception of being teased in general.•They did not have higher disgust sensitivity.•They did not have an increased risk of neglect or abuse during childhood.

Little is known about the factors associated with the desire for labiaplasty. We compared 55 women seeking labiaplasty with 70 women in a comparison group who were not seeking labiaplasty. Measures administered included the Perception of Appearance and Competency Related Teasing Scale, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Disgust Scale Revised, and the Genital Appearance Satisfaction scale with open-ended questions about their genitalia. Approximately a third of the labiaplasty group recalled specific negative comments in the past towards their labia, a proportion significantly greater than the three per cent in the comparison group. Participants reporting genital teasing also showed higher Genital Appearance Satisfaction scores than those who were not teased. However, women seeking labiaplasty were, compared to the comparison group, no more likely to have a history of neglect or abuse during childhood. There was no difference between the groups on disgust sensitivity or the perception of being teased in the past about their competence or appearance in general.