Effect of childhood sexual abuse on gynecologic care as an adult.
The study sought to evaluate whether childhood sexual abuse (CSA) experiences significantly affect the gynecologic care received as an adult. A self-administered questionnaire including eight questions on CSA was completed by 85 women exposed to CSA and 170 matched-control women. Women exposed to CSA experienced gynecologic examinations as anxiety-provoking significantly more often and sought more treatment for acute gynecologic problems; 43.5% of these women experienced memories of the original abuse situation during gynecologic consultations. Gynecologic care is particularly distressing for women exposed to CSA.
Leeners
Brigitte
B
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital, Clinic for Endocrinology, Frauenklinikstr. 10, CH 8091 Zürich, Switzerland. Brigitte.Leeners@usz.ch
Stiller
Ruth
R
Block
Emina
E
Görres
Gisela
G
Imthurn
Bruno
B
Rath
Werner
W
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D011939:Mental Recall; D015995:Prevalence; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*