title: [A German survey of subjective gynaecological complaints].
abstract: This report encompasses a representative survey of the German feminine population. The aim of this survey is to assess subjective gynaecological complaints. These were registered by the newly constructed "Giessen Subjective Complaints List - for women". This questionnaire measures specific gynaecological complaints of several body areas (excretion, pelvic pain, breast, vulva, menses). Participants included n = 1 093 women between the age of 14 and 77 years. The highest complaint rates of the study participants were observed in the area of menstrual symptoms. Overall, 31 % (n = 206) of the surveyed women indicated that they suffered somewhat, extensively, or highly from menstrual complaints (e. g. painful menstruation or menorrhagia). These menstrual symptoms were significantly higher in younger women (14-45 yr.). Symptoms of other complaint areas (excretion, e. g. urinary incontinence; breast, e. g. sensitivity) were slightly less dominant than menstrual symptoms with 17 % (n = 186) and 13 % (n = 128) respectively. It was shown that subjective gynaecological complaints show a typical age-dependent developmental course. They represent the major psychosocial topic of the current phase of life for each woman. This study is a contribution to the epidemiology of subjective gynaecological complaints in the German feminine population.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychotherapie und Psychosomatik, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus an der Technischen Universität Dresden, Dresden. Kerstin.Weidner@uniklinikum-dresden.de
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Weidner
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Antje
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bittner
authors.forename: Ulrike Magdalena
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.forename: Yve
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Stöbel-Richter
authors.forename: Elmar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brähler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult