The Globally Rising Tide of Cosmetic Gynaecology: Are Providers Aware of the Ethical Aspects?

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

The recent alarming rise in the popularity of female genital cosmetic surgeries seen globally has increased commercial opportunities in the aesthetic industry, but at the same time, medical professionals are faced with many ethical dilemmas revolving around the fact that often these procedures are not medically indicated. There is currently no robust scientific evidence available in regard to the safety and long-term outcomes of these procedures. Misleading marketing of these procedures has led to exploitation, especially of vulnerable populations like adolescents. There are also concerns that women might not be fully aware of the risks and potential long-term complications of a failed procedure requiring remedial surgeries, which can have irreversible implications on a woman's physical, mental and emotional health. The increase in demand is mostly driven by the desire to improve self-esteem and keep up with the unrealistic beauty standards set by society through social media platforms run by influencers and media celebrities. This has increasingly led to exploitation of young women's insecurities. There are only a few institutions worldwide offering formal training to professionals in the field of genital cosmetic procedures. In the developing world, there is a lack of regulatory authorities, which is particularly concerning when looking at the highly sensitive ethical aspects

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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