NHS Labiaplasty, advice from UK members please?

Hey, I know this is an old thread but just wondered how everyone is doing? I am 21 and have been considering this procedure for about 5 years but only just plucked up the courage to visit my GP today. I told her I was having problems having sex and that my labia would swell up after sex (it does) and she told me it could be thrush which I know it isn't! My labia minora hangs past my outer lips and my clitoral hood is just huge and I feel there is way too much excess skin there. My doctor was extremely unsympathetic and is forcing me to get some swabs done at a GUM clinic to see about this thrush which is just ridiculous. She kept saying you are completely normal bla bla bla and didn't have any consideration how this was affecting me mentally whatsoever. At the end of my appointment she reluctantly said she would refer me to a gynocologist but I'm not holding out much hope and will wait to see if that actually materialises. I'm just wondering whether a male doctor might actually be more sympathetic? What are people's experiences with this? I am a university student with no job so have absolutely no way of paying for this privately, I live in Oxfordshire so not sure whether the NHS fund labiaplasty in my area. I could ask my mum to pay but to be honest I don't even want her knowing about this problem it's so horrifically embarrassing. I just want this problem fixed now, I'm so fed up!!

Any luck with your situation?

From my experience of my friend, her baby is now one year old and she has had a non-caring nurse stitch her up - after the birth - so badly that I'm sure that she wasn't born with a Vagina and hasn't seen one for reference..! After eventually finding a well-respected specialist, she has had her operation knocked back several times and is more nervous of the situation and operation now. I have to hold her hand and reassure her virtually all the way in. If you haven't had a child, I'd imagine that it would be a huge struggle to achieve an interview with someone who knew what they were doing! My friend's stepfather, on the other hand, has had no problem at all going through the process of hormone therapy and counselling and an appointment for a sex-change operation - as 'he is uncomfortable being a man and he wants to be a woman'. - All of this at the taxpayers expense!!! Personally, I think that he should pay, (and get to the back of the queue, and where psychological/physical difficulty is experienced, genital/bodily abnormalities should be attended to as a matter of course. But I'm only a man of no position to say or judge the medical community.

how did this go? I am moving to Oxfordshire soon and dont want to go through the embarrassment of a GP visit only to be told they wont fund the procedure

I live in the South West and am really trying to get this procedure. My inner labia are both about 5cm in length. I have discomfort in most clothes and am always tucking them back in. Cant wear thongs or anything but full cotton underwear though they can be uncomfortable in that. What are my chances of getting this on the NHS? I have been looking at private and it is so expensive! It really upsets me that this surgery has got such a bad reputation and only seen as cosmetic when it is so much more than that.

Hey, just thought I'd add to this thread! Just to clarify you can still occassionally get this done on the NHS but only for physical discomfort not cosmetic reasons. I got told this morning that my gynecologist would do this for me on the nhs and I'm having my operation in 2 weeks time!

thats great to hear! what part of the country are you in? how much "discomfort" are they looking for to see it as not being cosmetic?

I'm in South Yorkshire, I was being seen in sherwood area but they really weren't helpful and as I go to university and have 2 different doctors I had the option to transfer to the one in South Yorkshire which is the best thing I've done! It really does depend on the area as when I was being seen in sherwood they had no intention whatsoever of letting me have the surgery. I am in quite a lot of discomfort really, just generally walking around I find myself constantly having to readjust myself, and any kind of cycling, horse riding etc is out of the question. I also have discomfort during sex. I didn't even mention anything to do with whether the appearance bothered me (it does a little, but the discomfort is the real issue) and I think that helped as she did say that you can never get it done for cosmetic reasons. Any more questions just ask! I have my pre op appointment on Tuesday so may be more helpful then! :)

how did your appointment go? most people i have seen talking about still being able to get the procedure are in south yorks so at least it is available somewhere!

Hello, My appointment went pretty well thank you, mainly just simple things like blood pressure checks etc. They also informed me more about the surgery and confirmed that I would be having it under general anaesthetic. Little nervous about that as I've never had it done before but hopefully all we be okay. Only issue I have at the moment is that I was hoping I would be able to get a taxi back myself and rest at home after I was discharged, but turns out they are insisting I have someone to come pick me up from the hospital to travel home and stay with me for at least 24 hours. As I live alone with parents/friends who all work full time this is a little tricky and I'd also rather not explain to people what I'm having done so still trying to figure this out! But my surgery is in just over a week now so I'll let you know how it goes!

good luck! that was one of my worries as well, i am not planning on telling anyone so i will have to see how that goes (providing i can even get it in the first place!) i really need to just get to my gp and hopefully get this process started

Thank you! Will update you after my surgery and let you know how it is. Good luck to you seeing your doctor! I would honestly recommend trying to see someone else if the first doctor you see isn't helpful. I've seen a few regarding it and some of them are very understanding whilst some others just don't seem to understand it at all.

Hi, just an update - I had my surgery this morning and just resting now! Very sore at the moment but other than that feeling fine! If anyone has any questions about the surgery or talking to your doctor to try and get the surgery then don't hesitate to ask :)

how are you healing?
i still havent gone to my doctor as im scared they will say no but especially as it is summer and as soon as i put on shorts i get a lot of pain, i really need to at least try
was there anything you said that seemed to really make them feel ok with giving it to you on the nhs do you think?

Hi. I don't think what ever you say will make much difference as some NHS trusts just won't fund it so the best thing you can do first is Google the NHS trust for your area and see if they do the operation then if they do go see a female doctor as there more sympathic then your just have to try and say that it is causing you physical pain and that is then causing you emotional stress and then just hope they will be sympathic enough.
Hope this helps :-)