MYTH: If you have lots of penetrative sex your vagina will get loose and your labia will get longer

FACT: The amount of sex you have has no impact on the size and shape of your anatomy

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The shape and size of your labia and vagina is in no way affected by how much sex you have. No one shape or size of labia is more normal or abnormal than another – they differ in size, shape, colour and how symmetrical they are.

Like other parts of your body, your labia also grow and change throughout your life – this is a completely normal and in no way a reflection of your sexual activity.

You might notice a slight change in the shape or size of labia during and just after sexual activity as the labia, as like other parts of the vulva, swell when you are sexually aroused. They will, however, return to their former shape and size within a short amount of time with no long lasting effect.

We can often point the finger as to why such patriarchal myths exist about the vulva and vagina as they are perpetuated through free mainstream online pornography.

It is also due to a lack of representative examples in education and even daily interactions such as shop mannequins and swimsuit adverts.

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Image: Charlotte Willcox, 2019