Effect of childhood sexual abuse on gynecologic care as an adult

Psychosomatics. 2007 Sep-Oct;48(5):385-93. doi: 10.1176/appi.psy.48.5.385.

Abstract

The study sought to evaluate whether childhood sexual abuse (CSA) experiences significantly affect the gynecologic care received as an adult. A self-administered questionnaire including eight questions on CSA was completed by 85 women exposed to CSA and 170 matched-control women. Women exposed to CSA experienced gynecologic examinations as anxiety-provoking significantly more often and sought more treatment for acute gynecologic problems; 43.5% of these women experienced memories of the original abuse situation during gynecologic consultations. Gynecologic care is particularly distressing for women exposed to CSA.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anxiety / epidemiology
  • Anxiety / etiology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Child Abuse, Sexual / psychology*
  • Child Abuse, Sexual / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Gynecology / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Mental Recall
  • Prevalence
  • Referral and Consultation / statistics & numerical data
  • Switzerland / epidemiology
  • Women's Health Services / statistics & numerical data*