Aggressive marketing by private clinics in the United Kingdom and United States and media coverage have led to growing numbers of women asking for cosmetic genital procedures, a new report says.

But many such procedures are being carried out without adequate evidence of either safety or psychosocial benefits, say the authors (Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, doi:10.1016/j.ogrm.2008.07.008).

“There are very significant gaps in our understanding of these types of procedures. Given the political and ethical controversy, the onus remains on the surgeons who perform such surgery …