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Effect of Childhood Sexual Abuse on Gynecologic Care as an Adult

Received August 10, 2006; revised September 29, 2006; accepted October 3, 2006. From the Dept. of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland; the Dept. of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital, Aachen, Germany; and the Support Center for Women Exposed to Sexual Abuse (Frauennotruf Aachen, Germany). Send correspondence and reprint requests to Brigitte Leeners, M.D., Dept. of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Clinic for Endocrinology, Frauenklinikstr. 10, CH 8091 Zürich, Switzerland. e-mail: Brigitte.Leeners{at}usz.ch
© 2007 The Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine

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.

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