title: Qualitative Analysis of Sexually Experienced Female Adolescents: Attitudes about Vaginal Health.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore adolescent's perceptions of vaginal health, practices, and vaginally-placed products.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semistructured interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed until theoretical saturation was achieved.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adolescent medicine clinics in New York City.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female adolescents (N = 22) who were sexually experienced, predominately Hispanic (73%, n = 16) with a mean age of 17.7 years (range, 15-20 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interviews were used to assess perspectives on vaginal health, specific vaginal hygiene practices, and attitudes about vaginally-placed products (contraceptive rings, intrauterine devices), and proposed multipurpose technologies administered as ring or gel). The interviews were transcribed and coded for relevant themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overlapping themes included young women's view of their vagina as a space that needed to be healthy for sexual partners and future fertility. The vagina could not be presumed to be healthy and conversations about vaginal health were limited to include only specific individuals. All reported a variety of practices to maintain their vaginal health, including showering 1-5 times a day and using soaps specifically for the vagina. Attitudes about vaginally-placed products revealed concerns about the sensory experience of having a product in the vagina, safety concerns and interest in the product's objective (prevention of pregnancy or infection).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adolescents have very specific views and practices about their vaginas. Clinicians should initiate conversations about vaginal health and hygiene with adolescents and focus on the normalcy of the vagina. Development of vaginally-placed products should focus on the sensory experience, safety, and purpose of the product.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center - College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York; New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York. Electronic address: jf2815@cumc.columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Jenny K R
authors.initials: JKR
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center - College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Lauren Dapena
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Fraiz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center - College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York; New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York; Heilbrunn Department of Population & Family Health, Columbia University Medical Center - Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Catallozzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center - College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York; New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center - College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D007434:Intrauterine Devices; D009519:New York City; D011247:Pregnancy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D014621:Vagina / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Attitudes and perceptions; Contraception; Multipurpose technology; Qualitative; Reproductive health; Vaginal health; Vaginal practices