• Elodie Million, Amandine Yvon, Agnès Oude-Engberink, Pierre Mares, Philippe Serayet, Sylvain Pavageau, Bernard Clary, and Béatrice Lognos.
• Department of Family Medicine, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
• Eur J Gen Pract. 2020 Dec 1; 26 (1): 616961-69.

AbstractBackground: French general practitioners (GP) and gynaecologists can make use of recommendations when performing a patient's first pelvic examination. The indications and techniques for this examination are clear. The relational aspects and experience of the patients have been dealt with little.Objectives: To analyse and understand the experience of French women during their first pelvic examination to propose practice recommendations based on their experiences.Methods: Qualitative semi-structured interviews was conducted with 13 French women aged 18-30 years recruited from the surgery of a general practitioner using the snowball method. The data were analysed using an inductive method.Results: The first pelvic examination was considered an indispensable rite of passage into adulthood and the life of a woman. They wanted a preparation for a consultation devoted to the first pelvic examination, with a time that is adapted to each woman. A patient-centred practitioner was more important than the pelvic examination itself.Conclusion: Women requested for a general practitioner or a gynaecologist with a deeper understanding of a woman's experience to perform their first pelvic examination. We propose practical recommendations: the following 3 phases for the consultation: before the pelvic examination where the women and the practitioners may get to know one another; during the examination, which would involve the technical aspects and the associated procedures; and after the examination, where the patients and the practitioners review the experience and discuss prevention.

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