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Influence of Self-Perceived Vulvar Appearance on Female Sexual Function
Ava G Chappell1, Daniel C Sasson1, Alex J Soriano2
1Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
Aesthetic Surgery Journal
|January 28, 2021
Summary
Concerns about vulvar appearance negatively impact female sexual function. Women uncomfortable with their vulva
Area of Science:
- Female sexual health
- Psychosexual medicine
- Genital appearance perception
Background:
- Female sexual function is influenced by biological and non-biological factors.
- The relationship between self-perceived vulvar appearance and sexual function remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of vulvar appearance on sexual function in adult women.
- To assess the association between self-perceived vulvar appearance and sexual function.
- To evaluate the impact of prior genital procedures on vulvar appearance and sexual function.
Main Methods:
- An observational online study was conducted using Amazon Mechanical Turk.
- Survey included demographics, subjective vulvar appearance measures, and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI).
Main Results:
- 37.2% of women were concerned about their vulvar appearance; 33.7% had prior genital cosmetic procedures.
- Women uncomfortable with their vulvar appearance reported lower FSFI scores (24.6 vs 27.0, P=0.01).
- Discomfort with vulvar appearance and history of cosmetic procedures were associated with significantly higher odds of sexual dysfunction (aOR 2.43 and 2.46, respectively).
Conclusions:
- Self-perceived vulvar appearance significantly affects female sexual function and is linked to sexual dysfunction.
- Screening women seeking cosmetic genital procedures for sexual dysfunction is recommended to manage expectations and ensure optimal care.
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