title: Measurements of female genital appearance in Chinese adults seeking genital cosmetic surgery: a preliminary report from a gynecological center.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Accurate and comprehensive measurements of the external genitalia in female adults are of great significance in surgery designs and for aesthetic evaluation in genital plastic surgeries. The authors carried out a 319-case study and provided baseline data and morphometric reference for plastic surgery involving the genital deformity caused by trauma or burns and male-to-female transsexual operations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our study design recruited 319 women referred to the out-patient clinic from August 2010 to August 2013. From each individual we measured 16 parameters and assessed the significance of variations in age, height, weight, BMI, and marital status (as a proxy for parity). We tried to establish a female external genitalia database of the population presenting for cosmetic surgery and define the general proportions of female genitalia in Chinese adults from the data we obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A wide range of values was noted in female genital measurements especially in labia minora parameters. Four parameters, including clitoral prepuce length, clitoris to urethra, labial length, and perineal body length had a proportional relationship to some extent. The position of the clitoris and urethral orifice was found to be regular in female adults. Compared with unmarried women, perineal body length decreased (P = 0.048), while the apex to perineum (bilateral) and labial length increased (P = 0.005, 0.006, <0.0001) in those who were married. Several parameters were statistically significantly associated with age, height, weight, BMI, and marital status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We presented an external genitalia database of Chinese female adults asking for cosmetic surgery. Although the ranges of genital measurements vary, there is a proportional relationship in female genital appearance, which should be heeded in surgical designs and genital aesthetic evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Gynaecological Plastic Department, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, No. 33 Ba-Da-Chu Road, Shi Jing Shan District, Beijing, 100144, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yujiao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chuande
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Fengyong
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Senkai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002681:China; D002987:Clitoris / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D010502:Perineum / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012016:Reference Values; D057830:Gender-Affirming Surgery; D014521:Urethra / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014844:Vulva / Q000033:anatomy & histology