10/01/08

Medical literature does not support the increasingly popular use of vaginal surgery for purely cosmetic reasons, according to Linda Cardozo, professor of urogynaecology and consultant gynaecologist for women’s health at King’s College in London.

Speaking at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 7th International Scientific Meeting in Montreal, Cardozo was quoted as naysaying various claims in the media, and perhaps more alarmingly, those made by some surgeons quoting comments from "satisfied clients."

There is very little objective scientific evidence to support the claims of many surgeons who recommend cosmetic vaginal surgery, she says. Claims that labiaplasty restores "normal anatomical relationships," for example, after the effects of childbirth or aging, are in error, she claims, as are claims by some surgeons that suggest the procedure "enhances sexual gratification."

If women seeking this type of surgery were to be made aware of the medical literature that does exist, they might think twice about having it, Cordozo suggests. For example, some literature on reconstructive pelvic surgery suggests that repeated surgery on the vagina increases the risk of scarring, loss of sensation, and decreased sexual function—the opposite of what many clients want.

More.

[Source: Medical News Today]