Innie vs Outie Vagina: Why Every Vulva Is Unique

Let’s get one thing straight: there’s no such thing as a “weird-looking” vagina — because they’re all different. Still, thanks to internet myths and awkward locker-room chats, a lot of us grew up wondering if having an “outie vagina” (aka visible labia) was normal. Spoiler: it totally is.

Here’s the truth about innie vs outie vaginas — what those terms actually mean, why your vulva looks the way it does, and why “normal” isn’t a thing when it comes to your body.

In this article: 📝

What is an outie vagina?

Firstly, we should point out that an ‘outie vagina’ isn’t exactly a medical term. 😅

Following on from the outie vs innie belly button scenario, it’s a term people have coined that refers to the visible part of the vagina. And instead of talking about the vagina as a whole, they’re actually talking specifically about the vulva.

This is the area on the outside of your genitals, which includes the clitoris and the labia. And there are two types of labium, referring to your two sets of vaginal lips. 👄

• Labia major: the larger or outer lips (the fleshy parts with pubic hair).
• Labia minora: inner lips (which may or may not be visible).

Illustration by Lucy Han via Teen Vogue.

So, ‘innie’ or ‘outie’ is actually determining the length (how far out or in they are) of the inner lips or outer lips, not the ‘vagina’.

🔍 Get Clued Up: All About Vaginal Anatomy 💗

What does an outie vagina look like?

Well, that’s the thing — no two outie vaginas look the same. 🤷‍♀️

They can vary in size, length, color, or shape. You might also find they’re symmetrical, or asymmetrical… Basically, there’s no one rule for how an outie vagina looks.

But to look at an ‘outie’, you’d probably see the inner lips of the vagina protruding from the outer lips — creating the effect of the lips being out rather than in.

So, what does an innie vagina look like?

An ‘innie’ vulva compared to an ‘outie’ one would essentially mean the inner lips don’t protrude from the outer lips. And it would all be more tucked in, and not out of the vagina.

You may want to see some images of different types of labium though to recognize innies and outies for yourself… Take a look at the Labia Library — they have a whole gallery to peruse through.

How common is it to have an outie vagina?

So, it turns out, pretty common. This study shows 56% of vulvas having a more visible labia minora (inner lips).

In other words, over half of these women had ‘outie vaginas’. So, having an outie vagina is normal, ladies. But, the same study showed that 73% of women who considered their genital appearance to be ”abnormal” had an ‘outie vagina’.

Although some people may feel self-conscious about it, there’s nothing to feel embarrassed about.

In fact, this study also shows that men just don’t care either way… Asked about their preference for outie or innie vaginas, they said it didn’t impact sexual desire or pleasure, and they lacked strong preferences for a specific vulva appearance.

And not only that, but so many more people will have outies than you realize. So, there’s just no need to feel any negative way towards it. 🤗

Why do some people have outie vaginas?

There’s no rhyme or reason why women have either an outie or an innie vagina. It’s perfectly natural, and very common, to have either. Some reasons we’ve put together though include:

Genetics and outie vaginas 🧬

Having an outie vagina may be to do with your genetics… Although, there aren’t many studies to back this up — mostly because it’s so normal to have an outie.

Weight loss and outie vaginas 🏃

In some cases, it could be due to extreme weight loss. If you’ve recently lost loads of weight, you could experience drooping or sagging around your labia and vaginal supportive tissue, meaning the labia lips could protrude, or become uneven.

Puberty and outie vaginas 🧒

Another time your vulva may change is during puberty. The vulva responds to an increase in estrogen, which can cause the labia minora to grow and widen — causing changes that typically stay this way until the menopause.

Pregnancy and outie vaginas 🤰

Pregnancy can also cause some changes in your female genitalia (as well as a whoooole bunch of other changes 🙃).

It’s not uncommon for your labia and vagina to feel fuller and appear swollen whilst you’re pregnant.

Side note: this increase in blood flow can also lead to an increased arousal, too… 😈

You may also notice your labia darkening, or taking on a bluish tint when you’re pregnant, as well.

🔍 Read More: Ultimate Guide to Vaginal Health in Pregnancy 🤰

How can you fix an outie vagina?

We honestly can’t stress this enough, ladies — there is nothing to fix. Although there’s no need to change your vagina if it’s an ‘outie’, some people may want to try and ‘fix’ it.

The only time where you should seek help to fix an outie vagina is if it’s becoming a medical problem (for example, if it’s causing you discomfort), or if it’s taking an emotional toll on your mental health. For your mental health, if you do feel worried about it, you could speak with a counselor who can talk things through with you.

If your doctor suggests it may be an option to reduce the size of your labia minora for medical reasons (such as labial hypertrophy), they may suggest a surgery called a labiaplasty. This can be expensive, and can carry a number of risks (such as bleeding, infection, and scars), so you should consider this carefully before choosing to go ahead with it.

Be sure to chat all of this through with your doc before making any decisions, though.

So, there you have it — everything you need to know about outie vs innie vaginas, and how normal every type of vulva is. ✨

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