Comparative Investigation of Genital Self-image and Sexual Function in Women with and Without a History of Female Genital Cosmetic Procedures: A Cross-sectional Study.
Tayebeh Sasanfar, Raziyeh Maasoumi, Mina Ataei and 2 others
PMID 38650960WHAT IT FOUND
Women who had female genital cosmetic procedures reported similar genital self-image and sexual function to women who had not.
The procedures were not associated with better outcomes, and most participants in both groups reported sexual dysfunction.
Key findings
01There was no significant difference in genital self-image scores between women with a history of female genital cosmetic procedures and those without.
02There was no significant difference in total sexual function scores between the two groups.
03A majority of women in both groups met the criteria for sexual dysfunction based on the Female Sexual Function Index.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study did not measure genital self-image or sexual function before the procedures, so it cannot determine if the procedures improved these outcomes for individuals. The groups were not comparable at baseline, differing significantly in age, education, income, exercise, and obstetric history, which may confound the results. The study used convenience and snowball sampling, which may introduce selection bias. The findings are from a specific cultural context (Iran) and may not generalize to other populations.
Declared interests
The study was supported by non-U.S. government funds. No specific commercial conflicts of interest were reported in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these results as proof that female genital cosmetic procedures are ineffective for all women. The study compared women with and without a history of procedures, but did not measure outcomes before and after surgery, so it cannot assess individual improvement. Additionally, the groups differed significantly in baseline characteristics.