Male Preferences for Vaginal Aesthetics: A Survey of Women’s Anatomy

Scientists have revealed what men really think about female genitalia.

More than 200 heterosexual men ranging in age from 19 to 77 were asked to rank the importance of 24 specific characteristics in a woman’s vagina.

The study found that the majority of participants placed more importance on how sex felt rather than how it appeared. Factors like smell, taste, and sensitivity were highly valued, while physical characteristics such as symmetry or size of the labia were considered less important.

Researchers concluded that the perception of men towards women’s genitals is largely influenced by their functionality and sensation rather than their visual aesthetics.

Participants were also required to rank their level of agreement with statements like ‘Women’s genitals are beautiful’ and ‘Women should feel proud of their genitals.’

The findings revealed that while men’s attitudes toward female genitals were generally positive, their opinions varied widely from person to person.

Roughly one-fifth of participants reported negative views, suggesting that a considerable minority of men do not find female genitals attractive.

Previous research has shown that a woman’s self-perception is influenced by her partner’s attitudes and opinions.

‘We had done qualitative research with women about their genital self-image that found that even casual negative remarks from male partners could have a big impact on women,’ said study author E. Sandra Byers, professor emerita at the University of New Brunswick (UNB).

Those impacts can even affect a woman’s health. Feeling bad or self-conscious about one’s own genitals has been linked to lower sexual satisfaction, poorer sexual health and increased likelihood of considering cosmetic surgery.

‘Hence, the need to investigate men’s attitudes towards female genitals as well as the link between those attitudes and genital feedback to partners,’ Byers told PsyPost.

Byers and her colleague, UNB clinical psychologist Miranda Fudge, published their findings in the International Journal of Sexual Health on November 8.

The 24 characteristics that the participants were asked to rank were divided into three categories: Appearance/Physical Characteristics, Smell/Taste and Function.

Those in the Appearance category included clitoris size, shape and pubic hair.

The Smell/Taste category included only two options: aroma and taste.

And in the Function category, the researchers listed attributes about the feeling of female genitalia,  including warmth and sensitivity.

The results suggest that when it comes to what shapes men’s perceptions of female genitals, functional and sensory aspects matter more than aesthetics, the researchers found. 

This conflicts with societal messaging that emphasizes an perfect genital appearance – especially in media and pornography. 

But that’s not to say that men don’t have aesthetic preferences, or that sociocultural factors don’t influence them. 

The study also revealed a significant subgroup who feel negatively about female genitals. 

‘Holding negative views likely reflects societal messages about female genitals and may influence not only men’s own but also their female partners’ sexual well-being,’ Byers said.

The study found that men’s attitudes toward female genitals impact their own sex lives in several ways.  

For one, the study found that men with more positive views reported having a greater number of female sexual partners over the course of their lives. 

But surprisingly, the researchers did not find a link between their perceptions and the frequency of specific sexual activities, such as oral sex.

Men with positive views were also more likely to likely to engage in behaviors that foster intimacy and instill confidence in their female partners, such as giving compliments or positive affirmations about their genitals.

Those with negative attitudes, however, were more likely to make critical comments. But the study found that the overall frequency of negative feedback was low. 

The study’s conclusions, however, may not be reflective of more diverse populations. 

The participants were predominantly white and educated, and therefore future studies would benefit from surveying a more varied group.

Additionally, the authors note that survey respondents may have been hesitant to be fully honest about their negative attitudes or behaviors, and therefore it’s possible that the minority group could actually be larger.

The study also relied on self-reported data about the men’s sexual orientation and history, which may have been influenced by the ‘social desirability bias,’ or the tendency of survey respondents to answer questions in a manner that will be viewed favorably by others.