Labia is a Latin word that literally means “lips.” In anatomy, it refers to the two pairs of skin folds that surround the opening of the vagina and form part of the vulva, the external female genitalia. Some people casually refer to the labia as “lips” for this reason.
The Two Types of Labia
There are two distinct pairs of labia, each with different tissue and different roles.
The labia majora are the outer, larger folds. They’re covered in skin similar to the rest of your body and contain sweat and oil-producing glands that help with lubrication. During puberty, hair grows on the labia majora. Their primary job is to enclose and protect the more delicate structures underneath.
The labia minora are the inner, thinner folds located just inside the labia majora. Unlike the outer folds, the labia minora are lined with a mucous membrane that stays moist through specialized cells. A rich blood supply gives them a pink color. They can be very small or up to about 2 inches wide, and both extremes are normal.
What the Labia Do
The labia act as a protective barrier for the vaginal opening and the urethra (the opening where urine exits). The outer folds shield the area from friction and irritation, while the inner folds help keep moisture in and bacteria out.
The labia also play a role in sexual response. During arousal, blood flow increases to the labia (along with the clitoris and vaginal walls), causing them to swell. The labia contain nerve endings that contribute to sensation during sexual activity and can be involved in orgasm.
Labia Are Part of the Vulva, Not the Vagina
A common point of confusion: the labia are external structures. They belong to the vulva, which includes everything you can see on the outside, including the labia majora, labia minora, clitoris, and the openings to the vagina and urethra. The vagina itself is an internal canal, roughly 7 to 9 centimeters long, that connects the cervix to the vulvar opening. When people say “vagina” in everyday conversation, they often mean the vulva.
Wide Range of Normal Sizes
Labia vary enormously from person to person in size, shape, color, and symmetry. A meta-analysis in the Journal of Clinical Medicine measured labia minora across multiple studies and found that length ranged from about 36 to 61 millimeters, with a pooled average around 53 millimeters. Width ranged from roughly 15 to 22 millimeters. It’s also common for one side to be longer or differently shaped than the other.
There is no single “correct” appearance. Color ranges from pink to brown to dark purple, and all of these fall within normal variation. Pornography and cosmetic advertising have distorted perceptions of what labia typically look like, which can create unnecessary concern.
How the Labia Change Over a Lifetime
The labia go through visible changes at several stages of life. Before puberty, the labia are small and relatively thin. During puberty, rising hormone levels cause them to grow, thicken, and darken. Hair develops on the outer folds, and oil glands become more active.
Pregnancy can increase blood flow and temporarily change the color and fullness of the labia. After menopause, declining estrogen leads to tissue thinning, a process sometimes called atrophy. The labia may become less full, drier, and more prone to irritation. These are all expected shifts tied to hormonal changes at different life stages.
When Labia Cause Discomfort
For some people, the labia minora extend well beyond the outer folds. This is sometimes called labial hypertrophy, generally defined as labia minora protruding past the labia majora, with a commonly used threshold of about 4 centimeters from base to edge. This isn’t a disease. Many people with longer labia have no symptoms at all.
When symptoms do occur, they can include pain while cycling or exercising, discomfort in tight clothing, a pinching sensation during sex, and recurring infections from moisture being trapped in skin folds. These functional problems, not appearance alone, are the typical reasons a doctor might discuss surgical options.
Labiaplasty, the surgical reshaping of the labia minora, increased by more than 50% in the United States between 2014 and 2018. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has noted that when labiaplasty is done purely for cosmetic reasons rather than for pain, sexual dysfunction, or interference with physical activity, the procedure is not considered medically indicated. Its safety and long-term effectiveness for cosmetic purposes have not been fully established.
Labial Adhesion in Children
In young children, the inner labia can sometimes stick together, a condition called labial adhesion. It most commonly affects toddlers between ages 1 and 2, though it can appear anytime from about 3 months to 6 years. Low estrogen levels before puberty are the main reason it happens.
If there are no symptoms or problems with urination, doctors often recommend a “wait and see” approach since the adhesion frequently resolves on its own as the child grows. When the adhesion covers a large area or causes issues, a topical estrogen or steroid cream is the standard first treatment. Once the labia separate, applying petroleum jelly to the area for a period of time can keep the raw skin from fusing again. Gentle cleaning with mild soap and warm water during bath time helps prevent recurrence.