Have I damaged my labia by masturbating?

Author: Aunt Vadge
Qualified Naturopath | BHSc(N)

Last reviewed: July 7, 2026

Hi Aunt Vadge,

I’m 25 and unmarried, and I’ve masturbated for years. Recently I’ve noticed my labia looks separated, and I think it may have torn at some point. It’s sometimes painful now when I masturbate, and I’ve started to feel scared that I’ve damaged myself. I wondered whether rough rubbing over the years caused a tear that never healed properly.

I’ve been reading about the vulva and had a proper look at myself, and it feels like it’s not quite normal, so I’ve stopped. I’m nervous about what it might mean for the future.

Sincerely,
Scared

Hi Scared,

You almost certainly haven’t ruined anything. Vigorous rubbing can tug the little junction between the inner labia and the clitoral hood, and if that happens repeatedly it can heal slightly separated rather than exactly as it was. It changes the look a little, but it isn’t dangerous, and it’s more common than you’d think.

The hard part is that ‘normal’ is almost impossible to judge when we so rarely see other people’s vulvas. Have a proper look through the Labia Library – it’s full of close-up photos of real, healthy vulvas, and the sheer range of shapes, folds and asymmetry is reassuring. Most of what worries people turns out to be well within normal.

In our clinic, worry about labial shape and small tears from friction is really common, and the reassuring truth is that huge natural variation is the norm.

A few practical things: try masturbating with a little lube so the skin glides instead of pulling, which is kinder to that delicate junction. A vulva-and-vagina-friendly cuts cream can help any minor tears heal well. And you do not need a labiaplasty – please don’t let anyone talk you into surgery on normal anatomy.

If you’re still worried after a look at the Labia Library, a sexual-health clinic can examine you and reassure you in person – we don’t do physical exams ourselves, so that’s the right place for a proper look. But from everything you’ve described, this sounds like ordinary variation, not damage.

Write back anytime.

Warmest regards,
Aunt Vadge

This is general information, not a substitute for personalised medical advice.