'Everything's neatly tucked away': young women's views on desirable vulval anatomy

In the context of rapidly increasing requests for female genital cosmetic surgery (FGCS) and a lack of published research in this area, we explored young women's knowledge of vulval anatomy and sources of anatomical information. We conducted 21 semi-structured interviews with young women aged 18-28 years at an Australian tertiary institution. Interviews explored participants' knowledge of 'normal' and 'ideal' genital anatomy and how these perceptions were formed. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysis identified 6 major themes and 30 sub-themes. We found that many women were unsure what constitutes normal genital anatomy. Few women knew to which parts the word vulva refers. All participants identified a photograph of hairless female genitals with no visible labia minora as the societal 'ideal', and all strongly agreed on the need for appropriate educational resources. Young women would benefit from access to resources showing the normal range of genital anatomy. Results suggest that doctors receiving requests for FGCS should explore women's understanding of their anatomy and what they believe the surgery will achieve. Some young women may simply need reassurance of their normality. Findings from this study may contribute to educational material for both health professionals and young people.