Experience of Pelvic Examination and Uptake of Gynecological Care Following Domestic or Sexual Violence: a Systematic Review.

Pelvic examination, a routine practice for gynecological care, can cause anxiety and be considered traumatic. This study aimed to define the association between domestic or sexual violence and the experience of pelvic examination, as well as the uptake of gynecological care following domestic or sexual violence. Pubmed, Cochrane Library, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar were searched, up to April 30, 2023. Cohort, cross-sectional, case-control studies and controlled trials assessing perception of pelvic examination or the use of gynecological care for women with a history of violence were selected and analyzed. Each study underwent a descriptive analysis and was assessed for bias using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale and the RoB2 tool. Twenty-three articles met the inclusion criteria. Eleven studies, including 7,329 women, investigated the experience of pelvic examination following lifetime or childhood sexual violence. Most reported an association between violence and adverse experiences of pelvic examination, such as discomfort, anxiety, distress, and pain perceptions. Ten studies, including 9,248 women, investigated the uptake of gynecological care following domestic or sexual violence and reported mixed results, such as a decreased or an increased uptake, particularly for acute symptoms. Two studies, including 1,304 women, examined both outcomes. The present study highlights the association between violence and adverse experiences of pelvic examination, as well as mixed results on the uptake of gynecological care. It argues for the necessity to screen for violence in consultations, particularly when considering a pelvic examination, to guarantee the utility of pelvic examinations, and to consider the traumatic impact of sexual violence in care.

Gynecological health and uptake of gynecological care after domestic or sexual violence: a qualitative study in an emergency shelter.

BACKGROUND: Domestic and sexual violence have been linked to adverse gynecological and obstetric outcomes. Survivors often find it difficult to verbalize such violence due to feelings of shame and guilt. Vulnerable or socially excluded women are frequently excluded from research, particularly qualitative studies on violence. This study aimed to characterize the perceived impact of domestic or sexual violence on the gynecological health and follow-up among women with complex social situations. METHODS: We analyzed the data following inductive thematic analysis methods. RESULTS: Between April 2022 and January 2023, we conducted 25 semi-structured interviews, lasting on average 90 min (range: 45-180), with women aged between 19 and 52, recruited in an emergency shelter in the Paris area. The women described physical and psychological violence mainly in the domestic sphere, their altered gynecological and mental health and their perception of gynecological care. The levels of uptake of gynecological care were related to the characteristics of the violence and their consequences. The description of gynecological examination was close to the description of coerced marital sexuality which was not considered to be sexual violence. Gynecological examination, likely to trigger embarrassment and discomfort, was always perceived to be necessary and justified, and consent was implied. CONCLUSION: This study can help question the appropriateness of professional practices related to the prevention of violence against women and gynecological examination practices. Any gynecological examination should be carried out within the framework of an equal relationship between caregiver and patient, for the general population and for women with a history of violence. It participates in preventing violence in the context of care, and more widely, in preventing violence against women.

Low uptake of gynecological consultation following domestic or sexual violence: A case-control study during pregnancy follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the association between exposure to domestic and sexual violence and low uptake of gynecological consultation. STUDY DESIGN: Between October 2021 and October 2022, a case-control studywas conducted in mother andchild centers and sexual health centers in the Paris, France area. The case group included pregnant women who did not have a scheduled gynecological consultation in the past two years. The control group included pregnant women who had a scheduled gynecological consultation in the past two years. Pregnant women were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire about a history of domestic and sexual violence, the date of their last gynecological consultation and the gynecological health. RESULTS: A total of 405 pregnant women were included in the case group (n = 129) or in the control group (n = 276). After adjustment for age, couple, social security, supplementary health insurance, dyspareunia, abnormal vaginal discharge, dysmenorrhea, regular pelvic pain, mastodynia, vulvodynia and history of difficult delivery, a history of intimate partner violence was associated with the absence of a gynecological consultation in the past two years (OR 2.13; CI95% 1.21-3.73, p = 0.008). A history of sexual violence, regardless of age, was associated with the absence a gynecological consultation in the past two years (OR 1.92; CI95% 1.05-3.49, p = 0.03). The absence of a gynecological consultation was associated with dyspareunia and domestic or sexual violence (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlighted the association between domestic and sexual violence and the absence of gynecological consultations in the past two years. It underlines the importance of screening for domestic and sexual violence during gynecological consultations and its impacts on mental health, in particular psychotraumatic symptoms, and on gynecological health, in particular dyspareunia.