MEN have rated women’s vaginas in the name of science – and revealed what attributes are most attractive.
Previous research has shown women’s perceptions of vaginas are often shaped by social and cultural influences, including unrealistic expectations created by watching porn.
2
But in a new study, scientists found men viewed female genitalia in a favourable light and much preferred function over appearance.
Their research involved 212 heterosexual men, aged 19 to 77, from the US, who had experience with female partners.
They were then asked to rank the importance of 23 specific genital characteristics, including smell, tightness and labia size (the folds of skin around the vaginal opening).
It was found men didn’t prioritise appearance as highly as functional and sensory aspects.
Read more on vagina health
Attributes rated more important included physical pleasure, smell, taste, tightness, and lubrication, which suggested men focus more on functional experiences than aesthetic considerations, such as symmetry and labia size.
Around a fifth of the study’s participants reported negative views, which indicated a small minority of men harbour unfavourable attitudes towards female genitals.
The participants who rated their overall perceptions as moderately positive also agreed with statements such as “Women’s genitals are beautiful” and “Women should feel proud of their genitals”.
Another finding from the study was a link between men’s attitudes and their behaviour in sexual and relational contexts.
Men who held positive views were more likely to engage in behaviours related to intimacy and confidence in their female partners, such as giving positive verbal feedback about their genitals.
Those with negative attitudes were more likely to provide critical feedback.
Men with more positive views were also reported having a greater number of lifetime female sexual partners.
Study author E. Sandra Byers, professor emerita at the University of New Brunswick, told PsyPost: “Most, but not all men who are attracted to women have positive (though not very positive) views of female genitals.
“Holding negative views likely reflects societal messages about female genitals and may influence not only men’s own but also their female partners’ sexual well-being.”
Previous studies have found…
A 2015 study of 1,847 men from across the US, aged 18 to 80, also found men weren’t particular about the appearance of female genitalia.
Participants in the study had to rate images depicting small, medium, and large labia as attractive, neutral, or unattractive.
Small and medium labia were generally preferred over a large labia.
But 36 per cent of participants remained neutral towards all three sizes.
When directly asked about their preferences, 54 per cent said they had no preference.
And when it came to sexual pleasure, 60 per cent said it wasn’t impacted by appearance.
Byers said they’re now in the process of writing up findings relating to men’s genital self-image.
What a healthy vagina should look like
A healthy vagina varies from person to person in many ways, including the colour, shape and size.
But it’s worth looking out for the following signs of symptoms that could indicate a health issue:
- A change in the colour, odour or amount of vaginal discharge
- Vaginal redness or itching
- Vaginal bleeding between periods, after sex or after menopause
- A mass or bulge in the vagina
- Pain during intercourse
You might not need to see your GP, particularly if you’ve been diagnosed with a vaginal yeast infection in the past and you’re experience similar symptoms.
But if your symptoms don’t go away after using medication that you get from a pharmacy, speak to your doctor.
Things you can do to keep your vagina healthy include:
- Be sexually responsible – use condoms or maintain a mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who’s free of sexually transmitted infections. If you use sex toys, clean them after every use.
- Get vaccinated – vaccinations can protect you from HPV, the virus associated with cervical cancer, as well as hepatitis B — a serious liver infection that can spread through sexual contact.
- Do Kegel exercises – kegel exercises can help tone your pelvic floor muscles if you have prolapse, leaking of urine or weakness of the pelvic floor.
Source: Mayo Clinic
2
