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The Center for Congenital Anomalies of the Reproductive Tract at Children's Hospital Boston treats congenital malformations of the vulva, including labial hypoplasia and labial hypertrophy.
Labial hypoplasia
For unclear reasons, one or both labia may not develop normally. This may be evident in childhood or may only be evident through development in puberty as one side develops normally and the other side is noted to be smaller or absent.
The labia function as fat pads and specifically function as protection from trauma. The absence of one or both labia have no long term medical implications.
For women with labial hypoplasia, sexual function is normal as the clitoris and clitoral hood are normal. If a woman is bothered by the fact that one labia is markedly larger than the other, than the "normal" sized, larger labia could be reduced to match the size of the smaller or nonexistent labia.
Labial hypertrophy
For unclear reasons, one or both labia may grow to larger sizes. Enlargement of the labia can result in irritation, chronic infections, pain, interference with sexual activity and/or interference with activity involving vulvar compression such as horseback riding. In addition, some women complain of a "bulge" in their underwear or bathing suit from the enlarged labia and this may be cosmetically displeasing.
Women who have labial hypertrophy without symptoms require no surgical intervention. If women do have problems from the labial hypertrophy, however, the labia can be surgically reduced to an appropriate size for the individual.
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