Female sexual abuse evaluation in the urological practice: results of a Dutch survey

There is a strong association between urological complaints and a history of sexual abuse, especially in females. It is not known whether urologists integrate these facts in their daily practice.

To evaluate whether Dutch urologists address the issues of sexual abuse in their female patients and to evaluate their perception of sexual abuse prevalences.

A five-item anonymous questionnaire was mailed to all 405 registered members of the Dutch Urology Association (urologists and residents).

The results of the survey.

One hundred eighty-six surveys of eligible respondents were returned (45.9% response rate). A total of 68.8% stated that they always ask their female patients about sexual abuse before doing the physical examination. Overall, 79.3% said to do so when a patient has certain urological complaints: 77.6% in case of lower abdominal pain, 62.1% in urgency or frequency, 41.4% in incontinence, 29.3% in urinary tract infections, and 3.4% in hematuria. The majority of the respondents (74.3%) estimated the frequency of sexual abuse in their urological clinic to be equal or less than 10%.

Nearly 70% of the responding Dutch urologists and residents ask their female patients about possible sexual abuse. They estimate the frequency of sexual abuse in their female patients to be equal or less than 10%.