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Clinical Anatomy (New York, N.Y.) Sep 2022O'Connell et al. proposed that the vestibular bulbs be renamed the "clitoral bulbs" because of their consistent relationship to the clitoris and inconsistent... (Review)
Review
Clitoral Anatomy in the Feminist Literature: Vagina obscura: An anatomical voyage (2020) and Clitoral Conventions and Transgressions: Graphical representations in anatomy texts, c1900-1991 (1995).
O'Connell et al. proposed that the vestibular bulbs be renamed the "clitoral bulbs" because of their consistent relationship to the clitoris and inconsistent relationship to the vestibule. Normally such proposed esoteric changes in anatomical nomenclature would get little notice by anatomists, yet alone the general public; however, many subsequent articles and books placed this change in the context of centuries of male anatomists and physicians downplaying female sexual anatomy and sexuality. Most prominent is a 2022 book by Rachel Gross, Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage. Here we review this "Anatomical Voyage" and find author bias in omitting/including erroneous facts in this book. We also present a critique of a 1995 article that appeared in Feminist Studies; Graphical Representations in Anatomy Texts, c1900-1991. This article, which has been repeatedly cited in the clinical literature, asserts that between circa 1950-1980 anatomy textbooks purposely eliminated depicting/labeling the clitoris in illustrations because the authors of the textbooks were reflecting societal norms that de-emphasized the importance of the clitoris. Unfortunately, the methods used by Moore and Clarke are not replicable; and further, their conclusions were not justified because of clear bias in their description and depiction of the anatomy sources they review.
Topics: Clitoris; Female; Humans; Male; Orgasm; Sexual Behavior; Vagina; Vulva
PubMed: 35766248
DOI: 10.1002/ca.23924 -
Vaginal labiaplasty: current practices and a simplified classification system for labial protrusion.Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Mar 2015Vaginal labiaplasty has been described for the management of functional and aesthetic problems associated with protrusion of the labia minora. Despite increasing numbers... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Vaginal labiaplasty has been described for the management of functional and aesthetic problems associated with protrusion of the labia minora. Despite increasing numbers of procedures performed, there is a paucity of data to guide treatment paradigms. This systematic review aims to establish a simple, unifying classification scheme for labial protrusion and summarize current labiaplasty techniques and practices.
METHODS
A systematic literature review was performed using the PubMed database. Additional articles were selected after reviewing references of identified articles.
RESULTS
The search returned 247 articles. After applying inclusion criteria to identify prospective and retrospective studies evaluating different techniques, outcomes, complications, and patient satisfaction, 19 articles were selected. Labiaplasty of the labia minora was described in 1949 patients. Seven different surgical techniques were used for labiaplasty, including deepithelialization, direct excision, W-shaped resection, wedge resection, composite reduction, Z-plasty, and laser excision. Patient satisfaction rates for each technique ranged from 94 to 100 percent. The most common postoperative complication for all techniques was wound dehiscence (4.7 percent). Key areas for perioperative patient management were defined.
CONCLUSIONS
Labiaplasty is safe and carries a high satisfaction rate. However, current practices remain exceedingly diverse. The authors propose a simplified classification system based on the distance of the lateral edge of the labia minora from that of the labia majora, rather than from the introitus. Key areas for perioperative patient management include patient anesthesia, resection technique used, wound closure, and postoperative care. Further randomized studies using a standardized classification system are required to better compare different techniques and establish best practices.
Topics: Female; Humans; Hypertrophy; Plastic Surgery Procedures; Vulva; Vulvar Diseases
PubMed: 25719696
DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000001000 -
Breastfeeding Medicine : the Official... Apr 2013Ectopic breast tissue is defined as glands of breast tissue located outside of the normal anatomic breasts. Historically, ectopic breast tissue has been thought to arise...
Ectopic breast tissue is defined as glands of breast tissue located outside of the normal anatomic breasts. Historically, ectopic breast tissue has been thought to arise from a remnant of the embryonic mammary ridge along the "milk line" or the midaxillary line from the axilla to the groin, including the vulvar region. Extramammary tissue displays the same pathologic and physiologic changes as normal breast tissue and is often discovered in multiparous women as the result of swelling from lactational activity. We present a case report of a gravid patient with lactating vulvar mass and a brief historical perspective of vulvar ectopic breast tissue.
Topics: Adult; Breast; Choristoma; Female; Humans; Lactation; Mammary Glands, Human; Vulva
PubMed: 23268658
DOI: 10.1089/bfm.2012.0128 -
International Urogynecology Journal Jun 2014Female genital cosmetic surgery is performed for aesthetic reasons as well as for medical and functional indications, such as congenital labia minora hypertrophy. The...
AIM OF VIDEO/INTRODUCTION
Female genital cosmetic surgery is performed for aesthetic reasons as well as for medical and functional indications, such as congenital labia minora hypertrophy. The purpose of this video is to teach vulvar anatomy and review labia minorplasty techniques.
METHODS
We demonstrate one technique in this video.
CONCLUSIONS
There are a variety of different techniques for labia minorplasty. When deciding the most appropriate technique to use, the patient's goals must be considered.
Topics: Female; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures; Humans; Vulva
PubMed: 24566493
DOI: 10.1007/s00192-014-2332-y -
International Journal of Gynaecology... Mar 1993
Topics: Female; Humans; Infant; Vulva
PubMed: 8096479
DOI: 10.1016/0020-7292(93)90840-s -
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde Feb 1973
Topics: Adult; Female; Hematoma; Humans; Pregnancy; Puerperal Disorders; Vulva
PubMed: 4688390
DOI: No ID Found -
Tidsskrift For Den Norske Laegeforening... Nov 1950
Topics: Female; Humans; Neoplasms; Vulva; Vulvar Neoplasms
PubMed: 14788027
DOI: No ID Found -
Annals of Plastic Surgery May 2013We present the case of a 23-year-old female with bilateral ectopic breast tissue of the vulva, the repair of which necessitated a novel labiaplasty technique....
INTRODUCTION
We present the case of a 23-year-old female with bilateral ectopic breast tissue of the vulva, the repair of which necessitated a novel labiaplasty technique. Labiaplasty is becoming an increasingly frequent cosmetic procedure, and the popularity of brief didactic labiaplasty courses has risen in response to consumer demand. There is a paucity of detailed anatomic description of female sensory innervation patterns to the clitoris and surrounding structures. This places patients at risk for denervation of clitoral structures during labiaplasty procedures. Our novel technique proposes a method of individualized patient neurosensory mapping preoperatively, which allows for surgical planning to avoid injury to the sensory branches of the dorsal clitoral nerve.
METHODS
A 23-year-old female presented with bilateral vulvar masses that involved the clitoral complex, which had first become apparent during the second trimester of pregnancy, and failed to resolve in the postpartum period. We describe the preoperative planning and intraoperative approach and dissection to labiaplasty in this patient, which was complex given the size of the masses, and specifically designed to avoid injury to sensory branches of the dorsal clitoral nerve.
DISCUSSION
As labiaplasty becomes more common, it is important to approach labiaplasty patients with a detailed understanding of the sensory innervation of the clitoris and surrounding structures, to avoid nerve injury and resultant sexual dysfunction. Traditional labiaplasty approaches may violate the sensory innervation patterns of the clitoral region, thus causing a sensory loss that affects patient sexual function. Our novel approach to preoperative clitoral nerve sensory mapping provides an alternative method of labiaplasty that may avoid denervation injury.
Topics: Breast; Choristoma; Female; Humans; Peripheral Nerve Injuries; Pudendal Nerve; Vulva; Vulvar Diseases; Young Adult
PubMed: 23542853
DOI: 10.1097/SAP.0b013e31827ead39 -
Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive &... Mar 2023
Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; East Asian People; Hypertrophy; Plastic Surgery Procedures; Vulva
PubMed: 36822107
DOI: 10.1016/j.bjps.2023.01.025 -
International Journal of Dermatology Oct 1984
Topics: Acantholysis; Adult; Chronic Disease; Diagnosis, Differential; Epidermis; Female; Humans; Leukoplakia; Pemphigus; Pruritus Vulvae; Vulva; Vulvar Neoplasms
PubMed: 6500799
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-4362.1984.tb04212.x