[How do Cameroonian women experience their first gynecological examination? How can the procedure be modified to...

The gynecological examination is a key element in the diagnosis of the most genitourinary disorders. Improving how women experience the first gynecological examination (FGE) should have a significant impact on their perception of this examination and on their general feeling about it afterwards.

The aim of our study was to describe the general feeling of Cameroonian women towards the FGE and to identify the factors associated with negative feelings.

In this one-month survey study, we asked patients to complete a questionnaire about how they had experienced the FGE. The answers have been analyzed and the factors influencing the way they experience this examination determined.

At the end of the FGE, 41.5% of the women had negative feelings, and 38.6% reported that the examination had been painful. The average age of women who experienced pain was younger than that of those who did not [19.4 vs 20.39 years, P = 0.029], as was that of women with negative feelings lower [19.41 vs 20.43 years, P = 0.024]. A negative experience was significantly associated with a painful examination [P≤0.001], an examiner not specialized in gynecology [P = 0.04], lack of information [P = 0.001], and lack of a separate room to undress [P = 0.038]. The rate of subsequent refusals of a gynecological examination was higher among women with a negative first experience [56.2% vs. 35.9%, P = 0.008].

The FGE is experienced by Cameroonian women as very difficult. Their feelings at the end of this examination significantly influences their behavior towards gynecological examinations in general.