Labia

Looks like

Two pairs of skin folds around the vaginal opening: outer fatty folds with hair and inner thinner folds.

What it does

Protect the vaginal and urethral openings and contain sensitive nerve endings.

Keeping it well

Plain water is enough for washing; a persistent itch, white patches, a sore or lump needs examining, especially after the menopause.

Its parts

• Labia majora
• Labia minora

Related conditions

• Bartholin's cyst and abscess
• Bone metastases and spinal cord compression
• Female genital mutilation (FGM)
• Lichen sclerosus
• Thrush & bacterial vaginosis
• Vulval cancer
• Vulvodynia and vaginismus