Women's experiences of the gynecologic examination: factors associated with discomfort.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to evaluate how women experience the gynecologic examination and to assess possible factors associated with experiencing discomfort during the gynecologic examination.


METHODS
Consecutive patients visiting the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Glostrup County Hospital, Denmark, were invited to participate in the study, and received a postal questionnaire that included questions about the index visit, obstetric and gynecologic history and sexual abuse history. The response rate was 80% (n = 798). The degree of discomfort during the gynecologic examination was indicated on a scale from 0 to 10. Experiencing discomfort was defined as a score of 6 or more, based on the 75th percentile.


RESULTS
Discomfort during the gynecologic examination was strongly associated with a negative emotional contact with the examiner and young age. Additionally, dissatisfaction with present sexual life, a history of sexual abuse and mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and insomnia were significantly associated with discomfort.


CONCLUSIONS
The emotional contact between patient and examiner seemed to have great importance when focusing on discomfort during the gynecologic examination. Furthermore, we found that discomfort was associated with a number of factors that are seldom known to the gynecologists, such as sexual abuse history, mental health problems and patients' sexual life. Gynecologists need to focus on the emotional contact and to reevaluate issues for communication before the examination.
Hilden
Malene
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Glostrup University Hospital, Copenhagen/Center for Victims of Sexual Assault, H:S Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark. mahi@rh.dk
Sidenius
Katrine
K
Langhoff-Roos
Jens
J
Wijma
Barbro
B
Schei
Berit
B
D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*