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Do Genital Cosmetic Procedures Improve Women's Self-Esteem? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Gemma Sharp1, Pascale Maynard1, Abdul-Rahman Hudaib1
1Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre at Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Aesthetic Surgery Journal
|February 6, 2020
Summary
Genital cosmetic surgery in women appears to boost self-esteem, but more research is needed. Standardized measures are crucial for accurately assessing the psychological impact of these popular procedures.
Area of Science:
- Gynecology
- Psychology
- Medical Ethics
Background:
- Genital cosmetic procedures for women are increasingly popular.
- These procedures are often marketed for improving psychological well-being and self-esteem.
- Empirical evidence supporting these claims is currently limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and perform a meta-analysis on the impact of female genital cosmetic procedures on self-esteem.
- To synthesize existing research on the psychological outcomes of these interventions.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, PubMed, etc.).
- Eligible studies measuring self-esteem in women post-procedure were included.
- A meta-analysis was performed to determine the pooled effect on self-esteem.
Main Results:
- Five studies (2 prospective, 3 retrospective) were included in the meta-analysis.
- Labiaplasty was the most frequently studied procedure.
- The meta-analysis indicated a positive pooled effect of surgery on self-esteem (logit rate estimate of 1.230), but with substantial heterogeneity.
- A significant limitation was the use of varied self-esteem measures across studies, with only one using a validated psychometric tool consistently.
Conclusions:
- Female genital cosmetic procedures, especially labiaplasty, seem to positively influence women's self-esteem.
- Inconsistencies in study methodologies and outcome measures restrict definitive conclusions.
- Future research necessitates standardized outcome measures to accurately evaluate the psychological impact of these procedures.
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