• Skip to content
  • Skip to navigation
Raising Children Network
  • Pregnancy
  • Newborns
  • Babies
  • Toddlers
  • Preschoolers
  • School age
  • Pre-teens
  • Teens
  • Grown-ups
  • Autism
  • Disability

About labial fusion

In girls, the external genitals are called the vulva. The vulva has inner lips (labia minora) and outer lips (labia majora). The labia cover the vaginal opening.

Labial fusion is when the skin of the inner lips joins together. This changes the way this part of the body looks, and it can sometimes make it harder for urine to get past where the labia are stuck together.

Labial fusion tends to happen more in early childhood, between 6 months and 2 years. It can also happen or be present later in childhood.

Labial fusion is also sometimes called fused labia or labial adhesions.

Although some babies with ambiguous genitalia have fused labia, this article doesn’t cover ambiguous genitalia.

Symptoms of labial fusion

Labial fusion usually doesn’t cause any issues or pain in early childhood.

Sometimes, labial fusion might cause some dribbling after urination, because urine gets trapped behind the skin that’s joined together. This can lead to urine leaking onto underwear or difficulties with toilet training.

Vulvovaginitis might happen at the same time as labial fusion.

Does your child need to see a doctor about symptoms of labial fusion?

There’s usually no need to see a doctor about labial fusion unless your child experiences frequent symptoms of vulvovaginitis, like a discoloured or sore vulva.

But if you’re generally worried about the labial fusion, it’s always best to see your GP or paediatrician.

Labial fusion doesn’t affect fertility, sexual function or menstruation.

Treatment for labial fusion

Labial fusion is likely to sort itself out without treatment by puberty.

Good toilet habits can help with dribbling after urination. Encourage your child to wriggle around for 5 seconds after urinating to make sure all the trapped urine comes out.

Causes of labial fusion

We don’t really know what causes labial fusion. We think it happens after the skin around the vulva gets irritated.

Supported By

  • Department of Social Services

Raising Children Network is supported by the Australian Government. Member organisations are the Parenting Research Centre and the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute with The Royal Children’s Hospital Centre for Community Child Health.

Member Organisations

  • Parenting Research Centre
  • The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne
  • Murdoch Children's Research Institute

Follow us on social media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Twitter
Join 60,000 subscribers who receive free parenting news. Sign up now
Aboriginal flag (c) WAM Clothing
Torres Strait Islands flag
At raisingchildren.net.au we acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we live, gather and work. We recognise their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging.
  • Privacy statement
  • Terms of use

© 2006-2023 Raising Children Network (Australia) Limited. All rights reserved.

Warning: This website and the information it contains is not intended as a substitute for professional consultation with a qualified practitioner.

This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation (HON) and complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information.