Experiences of the first pelvic examination in a random samples of Danish teenagers.
OBJECTIVE
To describe Danish teenagers' experiences and preferences concerning the first pelvic examination.


METHODS
Cross-sectional postal questionnaire study. A total of 1500 women, aged 17 years, were selected at random among all Danish women of that age. The response rate was 76%, and 551 had experienced their first examination.


RESULTS
Thirty-two percent gave a negative general evaluation of the examination, and 13% found the examination very painful. The negative evaluation was strongly associated with the experience of pain, embarrassment, perceived impossibility of interrupting the examination, not knowing what the doctor was doing, learning nothing during the examination, indications other than oral contraception, and feeling of insufficient knowledge when arriving for the first examination.


CONCLUSIONS
It is recommended that teenagers are given more information and realistic expectations prior to the first pelvic examination.
Larsen
S B
SB
Institute of General Practice, University of Aarhus, Denmark.
Kragstrup
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010388:Pelvis; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent