Research reveals the 'perfect vagina' in men's eyes – from shape to pubic hair style… and why experts fear porn is distorting their expectations
Researchers have discovered which type of vagina men find most attractive.
Two recent studies show that on average, men between the ages of 18 and 80 prefer smaller, 'tucked-in' genitals with very little pubic hair.
Younger men preferred the tightest vaginas with the least amount of hair, which some experts believe could be due to the fact that men's exposure to pornography distorts their views on sex and creates unrealistic expectations of the female anatomy.
Meanwhile, the second survey found that almost half of men said they had negative thoughts about their partners' vaginas.
The pressure of porn and the demands of men may also lead to a major wave of vaginal plastic surgeries, which have increased by more than 70 percent in the past decade.
As cosmetic surgery for women's genitals has become increasingly common, researchers looked at what men found most attractive
A 2015 study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology asked 2,403 American men between the ages of 18 and 80 which shape of their vulva they preferred.
The average age of the participants was 55 years.
The majority of men surveyed were white (87 percent), married (68 percent), employed (69 percent), and had at least a high school education (97 percent).
About a third of respondents lived in the south, while other regions were more evenly represented.
Additionally, 39 percent said they had more than 10 sexual partners in the past, while 17.8 percent had six to 10.
The men were given a 27-question email questionnaire with six images of real vaginas and diagrams of the female anatomy.
The groups of images were followed by a question about participants' preference for labia size and pubic hair style.
For labia size, participants could choose from the following options: small, medium, large, no preference and 'I don't know'.
The researchers found that men aged 18 to 24 were three times as likely to find only a labia minora attractive.
Those who had more sexual partners were also most likely to choose this look.
About 43 percent found the labia minora most attractive, while another 43 percent preferred the medium-sized labia.
Meanwhile, only 24 percent were in favor of labia majora.
Researchers found that men tended to find small labia attractive, while larger labia were seen as unattractive
Men also most often preferred well-groomed pubic hair and were least likely to choose “natural” hair
For the pubic hair style, the following choices were given: natural, cut/partially groomed, partially removed, completely removed, and no preference.
Finally, the men surveyed were asked if they were familiar with vaginal tightening procedures and whether they would encourage their female partner to change her genital appearance or have surgery if he did not prefer the appearance of her vagina.
Only 63 percent of men could correctly label parts of the female anatomy, with the clitoris and anus most often correctly identified, and 63 percent found the labia minora, the inner vaginal lips.
However, 36 percent had a neutral opinion and did not prefer one size over the other.
When it comes to pubic hair, most men (67 percent) opted for the partially groomed look, and 47 percent preferred a fully shaved hair look.
When asked about their hair preferences, 16 percent said they preferred a natural hair pattern, 39 percent opted for partial hair removal, 24 percent opted for a full shave and 19 percent had no preference.
Just over half of men surveyed (51 percent) reported that the appearance of a woman's genitals would influence whether he wanted to have sex with her, although 60 percent said it wouldn't matter.
And three-quarters said they would not encourage their partner to have cosmetic surgery on her vagina.
In general, men aged 18 to 24 and men with more sexual partners preferred smaller labia and were more likely to find natural pubic hair unattractive.
Meanwhile, men who lived in the South and had full-time jobs were more likely to say they would encourage their partner to have cosmetic surgery. Those living in the Midwest were the least familiar with labiaplasty.
“Although many of the men did not show strong preferences in hair patterns, well-groomed labia were most often considered attractive,” the researchers wrote.
'These findings are consistent with pubic hair removal practices performed by contemporary women.'
'Although younger men showed a preference for smaller labia, this trend was not observed in older populations, possibly indicating that this perception is related to social trends, such as what is seen in the media, and that this influence with the age could decrease.'
A study in the International Journal of Urogynecology surveyed 248 men in Australia about their vaginal preferences and how they viewed their partners' genitals.
The vast majority of men surveyed (81.5 percent) were between the ages of 18 and 24, and 75.5 percent were white.
An overwhelming majority of 93 percent were also heterosexual, while just over half were in a relationship.
Additionally, 77 percent had at least a bachelor's degree.
The researchers found that 75 percent of men in a relationship thought their partners' genitals were “completely normal,” and only three percent thought they were “not normal at all.”
About 73 percent said they were satisfied with their partners' vaginas, 23 percent were neutral and four percent were dissatisfied.
The team also found that men most often (45 percent) preferred a completely hairless vagina, while about 25 percent opted for a trimmed look. And only five percent said a natural look was their preference.
When asked to name their ideal labia, about half of respondents had no preference, although 30 percent said they wanted “small and tucked in.”
Additionally, 45 percent said they had thought about female genitalia in a negative way.
Participants most commonly said their opinions were influenced by pornography, medical images, previous partners and men's magazines.
“It seems unreasonable to expect that these types of discussions do not reflect discourse in the broader population or that such perceptions do not influence women and the way they think about their own genitals,” the researchers wrote.
It's because cosmetic surgeries to make a 'designer vagina' look better in tight clothes like leggings and swimsuits are on the rise.
The procedures are intended to alter the outer parts of a woman's genitals, including the vulva and labia.
The vulva is the part of a woman's genitals that is on the outside of her body. It contains the labia, clitoris and the opening to the urethra.
The lips of the labia are the folds of skin surrounding the vaginal opening. The labia majora are the fleshy area covered with pubic hair, while the labia minora are located on the inside of the outer lips.
The labia can vary in size and be pink or brown. The appearance is also subject to change with age.
The clitoris is located at the top of the vulva, where the labia meet. It is made of spongy tissue that forms when a woman becomes aroused.
A labiaplasty involves shortening or reshaping the vaginal lips. The procedures are on the rise, according to the National Database of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
The group found that 18,813 labiaplasty surgeries were performed in the U.S. in 2021, a 36 percent increase from 2020. Around the world, 164,667 procedures were performed in 2020, a 73 percent increase from 2015.