What Really Happens to a Woman's Vagina During Menopause? The Shocking Truth!

Unspoken Changes: What Every Woman Should Know About the Shrinking Labia Minora During Menopause

For many women, menopause is a time of profound change—hot flashes, sleep disturbances, mood swings—but one change that’s been largely overlooked until recently has to do with the vulva. Specifically, the labia minora (the inner lips of the vulva) can shrink or even disappear entirely, a fact that’s only now coming to light for many women, thanks to a viral social media post by a urologist and sexual health expert.

This revelation has left women shocked, confused, and questioning the changes happening in their own bodies. After the video gained widespread attention, countless women were left in awe—many of them unaware that this change could be an inevitable part of aging. Some were even unsure whether their own labia minora were at risk of disappearing, while others were simply bewildered by the whole concept.

But why is it that so many women are just now learning about this? And how common is this process?

What Happens to the Labia Minora During Menopause?

The labia minora are the soft, sensitive folds of skin that protect the vaginal and urethral openings. They play a crucial role in protecting these sensitive areas from infection, irritation, and dryness. Additionally, they are involved in sexual arousal, helping with lubrication during intimacy.

As women approach menopause—typically between the ages of 45 to 55—they experience significant hormonal shifts that can cause these changes to the vulva. During puberty, the labia minora develop under the influence of estrogen, but in the years leading up to and during menopause, hormonal changes can cause them to shrink or, in some cases, disappear altogether.

An OB-GYN based in Florida explains that this is just one of many changes women experience during menopause. According to this expert, other common changes include:

• Loss of pubic hair
• A shrinking of the mons pubis (the fatty mound above the pubic bone)
• Reduction in the size of the labia majora (outer lips of the vulva)
• Shrinking of the clitoris and its hood

While the reasons for these changes are not entirely clear, they are part of the natural aging process that affects every part of the body, and the vulva is no exception.

The Surprising Impact on Sexual Health

Many women are unaware that the vulva undergoes such changes in menopause. In fact, some only start learning about it once they experience pain during sex, dryness, or vulvar discomfort—issues that can arise as the labia minora shrink.

These changes can be concerning. In some cases, shrinking labia minora can make the vulva more susceptible to tearing, chafing, or increased vulnerability to infections. The loss of this tissue could also lead to difficulties with sexual pleasure and satisfaction, making intimacy more uncomfortable or even painful. Yet, despite the significant role the labia minora play in protecting and enhancing the vulva’s functions, this topic has been somewhat of a taboo, often leaving women unprepared or uninformed about what may happen during menopause.

An expert in sexual medicine highlighted this knowledge gap, explaining that many doctors don’t receive proper training on how to conduct a thorough vulvar exam, leaving women to suffer in silence or simply not know where to seek help. This expert explained that during their medical training, students were only allowed to conduct one pelvic exam on one person and were explicitly told to avoid examining the clitoris in order to prevent making patients uncomfortable. As a result, many doctors are simply unaware of the changes the vulva undergoes with age and menopause.

Why Are We Just Now Learning About This?

Despite the fact that vulvar changes are a well-documented aspect of aging, this topic hasn’t been openly discussed in medical education or public forums, leaving many women unaware of what could be happening to their bodies. This lack of education among both patients and healthcare providers has likely contributed to the delayed realization that labia minora shrinkage could be a normal part of aging for women.

As one expert pointed out, there is a lack of research on this area of the body. Most of the research on the vulva has been focused on procedures like labial reduction surgery—often motivated by aesthetic goals—or the desire to make the vulva resemble a “porn-star” ideal. However, some healthcare professionals are actively working to investigate what’s truly happening to the labia minora and to shed light on whether estrogen and testosterone are the key hormones responsible for these changes.

Could Estrogen or Testosterone Be the Culprits?

Hormonal shifts during menopause—especially the drop in estrogen levels—are thought to contribute significantly to the shrinking of the labia minora. Research is currently being conducted to determine whether estrogen therapy (or the lack of it) has any direct impact on the size and function of the labia minora. It's also unclear whether these changes happen in every woman or whether some individuals experience them more intensely than others.

Another important question being explored is whether it’s possible for the labia minora to regrow after they shrink or disappear, something that could have profound implications for women’s sexual health and quality of life.

Why Is This Important to Talk About?

The importance of these discussions cannot be overstated. For many women, menopause represents a time when they’re already grappling with a variety of symptoms—hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and mood swings—and the physical changes to the vulva can compound these issues. By raising awareness about labia minora shrinkage and other vulvar changes, healthcare providers hope to give women the information they need to be proactive about their health and seek treatment or advice when needed.

Unfortunately, these topics remain highly underdiscussed. As experts in the field have emphasized, part of the problem is a lack of education in both the medical community and the general public. For many women, the shrinking labia minora comes as a complete surprise during menopause, and they’re often left to navigate these changes alone.

Looking Ahead: What Can Be Done?

With the right awareness and education, women can better prepare for the changes that come with menopause. Experts suggest that the best way to manage these changes is to seek professional guidance and vulvar health care early on. If you're noticing discomfort or changes in your vulva during menopause, it’s important to consult with a healthcare provider who is familiar with the vulva and understands the natural process of aging in this area.

In some cases, treatments for vaginal dryness, discomfort, or sexual health issues may help mitigate some of the negative impacts of vulvar shrinkage. Hormonal treatments, vaginal lubricants, and pelvic floor therapy may be useful strategies to help women continue to experience a good quality of life during and after menopause.

Conclusion: Shining a Light on an Overlooked Issue

The shrinkage of the labia minora during menopause is an important but often overlooked change that many women face. As more women become aware of this process, there’s hope that future generations of women will be better equipped to understand and address the challenges that come with aging and menopause. While the research is still ongoing, bringing attention to these issues is a critical first step in improving the overall quality of care for women as they age.