Comfort and privacy protection during the gynecological examiation

Introduction: The gynecological examination produces the feeling of strong discomfort and invasion of privacy in many patients. We analyzed how women experience the gynecologic examination and whether protection of privacy can be achieved by offering a cloth to cover the pelvis.

Methods: Patients attending our outpatients clinic were offered a cloth, which can be wrapped around the hip, before the pelvic examination. After the consultation these patients were asked to fill in an anonymous questionnaire about their discomfort during gynecological examinations and whether the protective cloth could improve their comfort. Patients placed the questionnaire into a box in the waiting room.

Results: 424 questionnaires were returned. 46% of questioned women experienced the way from the changing room to the examination chair with medium or strong discomfort. Women <20 years and >50y most frequently experienced discomfort (67% and 58%, respectively). Moslems and other religions expressed markedly more discomfort than christians (59% and 73% vs. 45%). 82% of the women experienced a significant improvement of their comfort when using the offered cloth. 64% of all patients desired a protecting cloth in case of a male examinator, 54% in case of a female examinator. 67% of all patients would like to be offered the cloth at the next examination despite that 30% of these initially did not indicate discomfort.

Conclusion: The gynecological examination produces a strong discomfort and invasion of privacy for a large proportion of patients. In these women, comfort can noticeably be improved by offering a simple cloth to cover the pelvis for privacy protection.

gynecological examination - privacy