As our parents prepare us for adulthood, some things slip through the cracks. We learn about puberty, how babies are conceived, and then the conversation stops. One area with a large information-sharing gap is the process of menopause<\/a>. This lack of information puts both women and the people who love them at a disadvantage. It can leave people confused and frustrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Perimenopause, which is the time leading up to menopause, is not a short process. Hormone levels can begin to fluctuate widely as early as a woman\u2019s 30s. At the same time, the average age of menopause is about 51, though it can occur as late as 60, according to the American Medical Association<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Cleveland Clinic<\/a> explains that \u201cMenopause is a point in time when a person has gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period.\u201d It is a natural part of the aging process for women, but for decades, if not centuries, the menopausal experience has been shrouded in coded language and silence. Not anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The habit of Millennials seeking community in online spaces is opening the blackout curtains on the taboo subject. This has led to honest conversations about what happens when women go through \u201cthe change,\u201d and the revelation about shrinking labia is causing a bit of panic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Labia are the outer visible anatomy of the female genitalia, consisting of the labia minora and labia majora. This tissue protects the urethra, vaginal opening, and other sensitive areas from infection and friction, Dr. Somi Javaid, OB-GYN and founder of HerMD, tells<\/a> The Flow Space<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So the idea of losing them due to a lack of estrogen has some women calling for a timeout as they try to process this previously unheard-of information. Several of these women took to social media to seek clarity and support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo nobody was going to tell me that one day I could lose my coochie lips?\u201d one woman asks in an Instagram video<\/a>. \u201cThat one day, my bean could just decide to clock out for the rest of my life? Why aren\u2019t the older women sharing with us? Why aren\u2019t the elders sharing this with us, cause this lady got on here and said if you start your estrogen early when you first go through menopause, you can save your lips.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI just saw this post of this doctor lady explaining that your labia minora grows during puberty, and then you lose it in menopause,\u201d another concerned woman says in a TikTok video. \u201cCome again? You\u2019re telling me\u2026is it\u2026where does it go? Where is it gonna\u2026does it just\u2026I have so many questions. Does it just\u2026one day I\u2019m gonna wake up, and I\u2019m gonna have no labias? Does it slowly disappear?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n These were not the only people concerned. Video after video showed women, and some men, flabbergasted and concerned about the mystery of the disappearing labia. Commenters were equally freaked out. All of this open confusion and fear created a perfect learning opportunity. OB-GYNs, urologists, and other medical professionals took to their own platforms to ease people\u2019s stress about the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Sally Doust<\/a>, a women\u2019s health specialist, explains:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo yes, the labia can shrink around menopause, and this is because estrogen levels are dropping, and this affects the tissues. The good thing is, you can prevent it. Start vaginal estrogen really early, as soon as you start to notice any of these changes, and it improves blood flow, elasticity, and lubrication, relieves dryness and soreness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Doctors and nurses online continue to reassure viewers that, while it sounds scary, vaginal estrogen can prevent it. One urologist explains<\/a> that after women go through menopause, their estrogen levels are lower than those of men. This drop in estrogen causes structural changes in the labia, which can also lead to adhesions and pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"menopause,](\"https:\/\/www.upworthy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/UP-TOP-SPLASH-JACALYN-2026-03-16T131632.413.jpg\")
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