Do men find female genitals attractive? Here’s what the research says

New research results published in the International Journal of Sexual Health has found that men’s perceptions of female genitalia are predominantly positive, but there are significant differences. While most men view female genitalia in a positive light and focus more on functional aspects than appearance, a sizable minority have a negative attitude.

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 is associated with 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 attitude, with even negative comments can damage her self-esteem in the long term. Yet little is known about how men actually perceive female genitals and how these perceptions may affect their partners.

“We conducted qualitative research with women about their genital self-image and found that even occasional negative comments from male partners can have a major impact on women. “There is therefore a need to examine men’s attitudes toward female genitals and the relationship between these attitudes and genital feedback to partners,” said study author E. Sandra Byers, professor emeritus at the University of New Brunswick.

For their study, researchers recruited 212 self-identified heterosexual men ages 19 to 77, mostly from the United States, who had experience with female partners. Participants completed an online survey hosted on a crowdsourcing platform to ensure anonymity and confidentiality.

The researchers found that men’s attitudes toward female genitalia were generally positive, but there were significant differences between individuals. On average, participants rated their overall perception of female genitalia as moderately positive, agreeing with statements such as “Women’s genitals are beautiful” and “Women should be proud of their genitals.”

However, this positivity was not universal. About a fifth of participants reported negative views, suggesting that a notable minority of men hold negative attitudes toward female genitalia.

Another important finding was the connection between men’s attitudes and their behavior in sexual and relationship contexts. Men with positive views were more likely to engage in behaviors that promoted their partners’ intimacy and confidence, such as giving positive verbal feedback about their genitals. Conversely, men with negative attitudes were more likely to provide critical feedback, although the overall frequency of negative feedback was low.

Men with more positive views also reported having a greater number of female sexual partners in their lifetime. Surprisingly, the researchers found no connection between attitudes and the frequency of certain 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 that number at just 62%. This gap may reflect societal messages that portray women’s dissatisfaction as the norm.

“Most, but not all, men who are attracted to women have positive (though not very positive) attitudes toward female genitalia,” Byers told PsyPost. “Negative views likely reflect societal messages about female genitalia and may influence not only men’s sexual well-being but also that of their female partners.”

When evaluating the importance of 23 specific genital characteristics, men placed less importance on appearance than on functional and sensory aspects. Key attributes included physical pleasure, smell, taste, tightness and lubrication, suggesting that men focus more on functional experiences than aesthetic considerations such as symmetry or labia size.

“Men did not consider any of the 23 aspects of female genitalia, including appearance, to be particularly important,” Byers noted.

While some men undoubtedly value appearance, the overall results suggest that functionality and sensory pleasure are more important to men’s positive perceptions. This contrasts with societal messages that emphasize “idealized” genital appearances and may reassure women concerned about aesthetic judgments.

The new findings are consistent with a 2015 study of 1,847 men ages 18 to 80 in the United States, which found that most men did not have strong preferences for specific vulvar features. Study participants rated images showing labia minora, medium labia majora and labia majora as attractive, neutral or unattractive.

While labia minora and medium-sized labia minora were generally preferred over labia majora, a significant portion of respondents (36%) remained neutral about all three sizes. When asked directly about their preferences, more than half (54%) said they had no preference when it came to labia size. Additionally, the majority (60%) said appearance had no impact on their sexual pleasure.

But the new study, like all research, comes with some caveats. The sample was predominantly young, white, and educated, which may limit the generalizability of the results to more diverse populations. Additionally, the study relied on self-reported data, which could be influenced by social desirability bias. Men may be reluctant to fully disclose negative attitudes or behaviors.

“This is part of a research program on women’s genital self-image; “A number of our results have already been published,” Byers said. “We are in the process of writing some findings on men’s genital self-image.”

The study “Men’s Perceptions of Female Genitals” was authored by E. Sandra Byers and Miranda C. Fudge.