Sexual Healing by Dr. Margarita Kressin

There is a trend in California with women getting labioplasties to make their vaginas “prettier”. The International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH) does not condone this practice. These surgeries are cash-pay typically, like any other cosmetic surgery. The women bring in pictures from Playboy, for example, and have the surgeon copy the vagina in the picture.

There are only two real reasons labioplasties should be performed, in my mind: women who have to self-catheterize, and when it starts to interfere with sexual penetration. Sometimes the lips do get caught if it is quite copious when the catheter is inserted, or with the insertion of the penis, the labia get caught resulting in prohibitive or painful sexual intercourse.

The vagina should be wrinkly and bumpy with folds and nooks and crannies. No two are exactly alike. And remember, you need to look to know your own wrinkles and bumps and folds and nooks and crannies.

I don’t really know exactly how I knew what I knew about sex when I was growing up. I had one of those classes in 5th grade on sex ed. The boys went to one side of the school; the girls were gathered on the other side in several classrooms. We talked about having your period, the difference between girls and boys, but they actually did not really talk about sex or sexual response.

My mother pretty much delegated what I needed to know regarding my sexuality and sex in general to the schools. I think the parents of today are doing a better job, I hope.
 
I do encourage my female patients to have a conversation with their daughters regarding their bodies. I hope they do tell their daughters to look at their genitals. That it is a body part and like any body part needs to be looked at and maintained. I hope they tell them that sex is a wonderful thing. It is not in and of itself sinful, ugly, a bargaining chip. Sex should not be painful, coercive, manipulative, or forceful.

Sex is a beautiful thing when shared by consenting adults. It’s about giving (and receiving). It is fun and exciting and considerate. It should bring people together and not tear them apart.

Talking about sex does not mean nor does it give our young people permission per se to try it. It is simply information and knowledge. And it is better that they get this information from the parents than misinformation from peers.