Question: I am 23 years old virgin girl getting married soon. The problem is that I feel I am malformed. I have a large hood covering my clitoris that you can see hanging between my two labia majora. I am afraid my husband will think this is abnormal and I am malformed since he is not a virgin while I am. Please help. What makes my problem worse is that I tried to ask about this problem in one of the message boards online and a doctor answered me saying I have to go to a plastic surgery to repair this. I do not want to do that, and I do not want anyone to know this fact about me. I am trying to hide things but I am only worried about my husband. What shall I do? Please help.

Answer: Actually, you are perfectly normal. I am not sure what percentage of women have a vulva shaped as yours is, but I do know about two-thirds have inner labia that are visible between their outer labia. You will want to read the page on Clitoral and Labial Size in the Anatomy section as I mention women's concerns about the size of their vulva there.

Unfortunately, many doctors only see surgical solutions to women's concern about their appearance. We see cosmetic surgery as perfectly normal, even when it is inappropriate.

You can see examples of large inner labia and hoods on the page about Clitoral and Labia Size, and by subscribing to the Yahoo club and looking at all the photos there.

Even though you are a virgin, discuss this with your future husband now. Tell him you are concerned he will think your genitals are weird, and explain why. You may even want to show him. There is a very likely chance his prior partner(s) were the same or had uniquely shaped vulvas as well.

Please read the pages on my website about Virginity and sexual development before your honeymoon. I give some advice there for virgin brides that will help you to get your sexual relationship off to a good start. Read it with you husband to be, even though he is not a virgin, he is a virgin with you. Even though he has had sex before, he still does not know how to make love to you.

I sincerely hope you are already a skilled masturbator, as this will help you with partner sex in the future.