Autoimagem, função sexual e aspectos qualitativos da plástica genital feminina

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Female genital plastic surgery is one of the most performed cosmetic surgeries in Brazil. The genital self-image is closely related to sexual function. In this study, our objective was to investigate the relationship between self-image, sexual function and body dilemmas/motivations of women who undergo female genital plastic surgery. METHODS: This is a quantitative-qualitative longitudinal study. The first stage involved a retrospective analysis of forty-eight medical records, from June 2017 to July 2021. The Sexual Function Questionnaire (SFQ-28) and Genital Self-image Questionnaire (FGSIS) were answered by patients in the preoperative and postoperative period of 6 months. The second stage consisted of semi-structured interviews for qualitative analysis. Nine patients were interviewed individually with a script to better explore the motivations, experiences, and results of the procedure. RESULTS: The mean age of the operated patients was 36.25 years (range 18-59). The median of the FGSIS questionnaire score ranged from 13 preoperatively to 27.5 at 6 months postoperatively with a significant positive difference in all seven items of the genital self-image questionnaire. There was a significant positive difference in the following domains of the SFQ-28 questionnaire: desire, arousal (cognitive), orgasm, pleasure and partner (P<0.05). Terms such as “surgery” and “feel” and “disturb” were the most cited by patients in the interviews. There were also references to improved orgasm information about labial surgery came from both the popular media, friends, and the health services. CONCLUSIONS: It was observed that female genital plastic surgery aroused a positive relationship between genital self-image and sexual function, providing women with feelings of happiness and sexual satisfaction after the surgery.