Evaluation of knowledge and practice of hymenoplasty among Egyptian gynaecologists: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives

The aims of the study were to evaluate the knowledge and practice of hymenoplasty among gynaecologists in Egypt.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in January 2020, in which a self-administered questionnaire was completed by 120 gynaecologists at private clinics and hospitals in Ismailia, Egypt. The questionnaire consisted of 19 items relating to participants' sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge and practice of hymenoplasty.

Results

Eighty-eight (73.3%) participants were not able to give an accurate definition of the hymen; furthermore, 65 (54.2%) were not aware of the different types of hymen. Forty-nine (40.8%) participants were able to define hymenoplasty and 39 (32.5%) knew the different hymenoplasty procedures. Hymenoplasty had been performed by 35 (29.2%) participants. Of these, 26 (74.3%) had carried out the procedure in a private clinic; the median annual number of procedures performed was four. Only two (5.7%) participants reported the occurrence of complications during the procedure. There were no sociodemographic differences between gynaecologists who had and had not performed hymenoplasty.

Conclusion

There is a lack of sufficient knowledge about hymenoplasty among Egyptian gynaecologists; nevertheless, it continues to be practised in private clinics.

摘要

目的：本研究目的是评估埃及妇科医生对处女膜成形术的认识和实践。

方法：2020年1月进行了一项横断面研究, 其中埃及伊斯梅利亚的私人诊所和医院的120名妇科医生填写了一份自填问卷。问卷由19个部分组成, 涉及受试者的社会人口学特征、处女膜成形术的知识和实践。

结果：88名受试者（73.3%）无法给出处女膜的准确定义；此外, 65人（54.2%）不知道处女膜的不同类型。49名（40.8%）受试者能够定义处女膜成形术, 39名（32.5%）知道不同的处女膜成形术程序。35名（29.2%）受试者进行了处女膜成形术。其中26人（74.3%）在私人诊所进行手术；每年进行手术的中位数为4次。只有两名（5.7%）受试者报告了手术过程中出现并发症。有无进行过处女膜成形术的妇科医生之间没有社会人口统计学差异。

结论：埃及妇科医生对处女膜成形术缺乏足够的认识；尽管如此, 私人诊所仍在继续进行这项手术。

Keywords:

• Hymen
• hymenoplasty
• knowledge
• practice
• virginity

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the help of the director of the non-governmental sector of health in the regional office of the Medical Council of Ismailia for providing a list of gynaecologists with private practices in Ismailia, Egypt.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).