New research published in the International Journal of Sexual Health has found that men’s perceptions of female genitals are mostly positive but show considerable variation. While most men view female genitals in a favorable light, focusing more on functional aspects rather than appearance, a significant minority hold negative attitudes.
Existing research shows that women’s perceptions of their genitals are often shaped by sociocultural influences, including unrealistic ideals perpetuated by media and pornography. Negative genital self-image has been linked to lower sexual satisfaction, poorer sexual health, and an increased likelihood of considering cosmetic surgery.
However, research also suggests that a woman’s self-perception is influenced by her partner’s attitudes, with even passing negative comments potentially causing long-term harm to her self-esteem. Despite this, little is known about how men actually perceive female genitals or how these perceptions may impact their partners.
“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. Hence, the need to investigate men’s attitudes towards female genitals as well as the link between those attitudes and genital feedback to partners,” said study author E. Sandra Byers, professor emerita at the University of New Brunswick.
For their study, the researchers recruited 212 self-identified heterosexual men aged 19 to 77, primarily from the United States, who had experience with female partners. Participants completed an online survey hosted on a crowdsourcing platform, ensuring anonymity and confidentiality.
The researchers found that men’s attitudes toward female genitals were generally positive, but there was significant variation across individuals. On average, participants rated their overall perceptions of female genitals as moderately positive, agreeing with statements such as, “Women’s genitals are beautiful” and “Women should feel proud of their genitals.”
However, this positivity was not universal. About one-fifth of participants reported negative views, indicating that a notable minority of men harbor unfavorable attitudes toward female genitals.
Another significant finding was the association between men’s attitudes and their behavior in sexual and relational contexts. Men who held positive views were more likely to engage in behaviors fostering intimacy and confidence in their female partners, such as providing positive verbal feedback about their genitals. Conversely, men with negative attitudes were more likely to provide critical feedback, though the overall frequency of negative feedback was low.
Men with more positive views also reported having a greater number of lifetime female sexual partners. Surprisingly, the researchers did not find a link between attitudes and the frequency of specific sexual activities, such as oral sex.
Men also underestimated women’s satisfaction with their own genitals. While previous research found that 82% of women reported being satisfied with their genitals, men estimated this figure to be only 62%. This gap may reflect societal messages portraying female dissatisfaction as the norm.
“Most, but not all, men who are attracted to women have positive (though not very positive) views of female genitals,” Byers told PsyPost. “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.”
When evaluating the importance of 23 specific genital characteristics, men did not prioritize appearance as highly as functional and sensory aspects. The attributes rated most important included physical pleasure, smell, taste, tightness, and lubrication, suggesting that men focus more on functional experiences than aesthetic considerations, such as symmetry or labial size.
“Men did not identify any of 23 aspects of female genitals, including appearance, as particularly important to them,” Byers noted.
While some men undoubtedly value appearance, the overall findings suggest that functionality and sensory enjoyment are more central to men’s positive perceptions. This contrasts with societal messaging emphasizing “idealized” genital appearances and may reassure women concerned about aesthetic judgments.
The new findings align with a 2015 study of 1,847 men aged 18–80 across the United States, which found that most men did not have strong preferences for specific vulvar characteristics. Participants in the study rated images depicting small, medium, and large labia as attractive, neutral, or unattractive.
While small and medium labia were generally preferred over large labia, a significant portion of respondents (36%) remained neutral toward all three sizes. When directly asked about their preferences, over half (54%) indicated they had no preference regarding labial size. Furthermore, the majority (60%) reported that appearance did not affect their sexual pleasure.
But the new study, like all research, includes some caveats. The sample was predominantly young, White, and educated, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to more diverse populations. Additionally, the study relied on self-reported data, which could be influenced by social desirability bias. Men may have been reluctant to fully disclose negative attitudes or behaviors.
“This is part of a program of research on women’s genital self-image; a number of our findings have already been published,” Byers said. “We are in the process of writing up some findings regarding men’s genital self-image.”
The study, “Men’s Perceptions of Female Genitals,” was authored by E. Sandra Byers and Miranda C. Fudge.
