SYDNEY - AUSTRALIAN doctors have raised concerns about clinics offering vaginal cosmetic surgery, warning the trend towards so-called 'designer vaginas' may be exploiting vulnerable women.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said procedures being offered included 'vaginal rejuvenation, revirgination, designer vaginoplasty and G-spot amplification'.

'What is involved in these procedures is often unclear since recognised clinical nomenclature is not being used,' it said in a position paper released this week.

The college labelled the procedures dangerous, expensive and unwarranted, and said it strongly discouraged surgery that was not backed by scientific evidence or clinical trials.

'The real risks of potential complications such as scarring, permanent disfigurement, infection, dyspareunia and altered sexual sensations should be discussed in detail with women seeking such treatments,' it said.

The college said women should understand that there were a large number of variations in the appearance of normal female genitalia.

'The college is particularly concerned that such surgery may exploit vulnerable women,' it said.

Dr Ted Weaver, chairman of the college's women's health committee, said most of the operations cost at least A$10,000 dollars (S$12,821), which he described as an 'extraordinary amount of money'.

'We feel these operations might prey on people with insecurities and fears who actually need psychological help,' he said.

'They are also not very anatomically-based and have the potential to cause serious harm.' Doctors in the United States and Britain have raised similar concerns about the surgery. -- AFP