What are nonsurgical aesthetic genital procedures?

As women go through childbearing, hormonal changes and aging, they can experience changes in their genitalia. Changes that can impact a woman's quality of life include vaginal laxity, stress urinary incontinence, loss of vaginal lubrication, a decrease in erotic sensation and loss of tone of the labia majora. As women, their physicians and the media are finally beginning to talk about these issues, the number of treatments available is increasing.

Devices that have been developed to treat some or all these changes use radiofrequency or laser energy to induce collagen tightening. Fillers are also sometimes used to inject in the clitoris and/or "G-spot." Though not all investigators agree that the G-spot exists, it's described to be an erotic area just inside the front wall of the vagina.

The field of nonsurgical aesthetic genital procedures is growing as the changes women experience receive greater attention. Before discussing each one, let's look at the anatomy.

External anatomy of the female genitalia

The hair-bearing area over the pubic bone at the upper portion of the female genitalia is called the mons. The hair-bearing outer lips are called the labia majora (singular is labium majus). The inner lips are called the labia minora (singular is labium minus). In the upper portion in the center is the clitoral hood, sometimes called the prepuce, which covers the clitoris in part or entirely. Below the clitoris is the urethral opening, and below that is the vaginal opening.

Now let's look take a closer look at what nonsurgical aesthetic genital procedures are available.