NEGATIVE GENITAL SELF-IMAGE AS A PREDICTOR OF SEXUAL DISORDERS IN WOMEN

PHYSIOTHERAPEUTIC POSSIBILITIES

Authors

  • Pollyanna Pricila de Santana Vasconcelos Centro Universitário Brasileiro
  • Raquel Rayane dos Santos Souza Centro Universitário Brasileiro
  • Wagner Henrique dos Santos Centro Universitário Brasileiro
  • Josepha Karinne de Oliveira Ferro Centro Universitário Brasileiro
  • Renê Ribeiro Soares Centro Universitário Brasileiro
  • Sarah de Souza Mendonça Centro Universitário Brasileiro

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35919/rbsh.v32i2.976

Keywords:

Self-concept, Sexual health, Genitalia female

Abstract

It is increasingly common for women to express insecurity and dissatisfaction with the appearance of their genitals, a fact that can negatively influence their physical and psychological health, often triggering sexual dysfunctions. The objective of this work was to describe how negative genital self-image (NGSI) can cause changes in women’s sexual function and satisfaction and list the physiotherapeutic resources aimed at repairing genital dysfunctions and intimate aesthetics to improve self-image, self-esteem and sexual health. This is an integrative review, whose searches were carried out in the Lilacs, PubMed, Scopus, PEDRo and Web of Science databases, adding up to 501 studies. After reading the titles and abstracts, the articles were submitted to qualitative and methodological analysis. At the end, the sample of the present review comprised 4 articles with levels of evidence ranging from 4A to 6B. Studies suggest that NGSI is a predictor of sexual dysfunction, with younger women, who report dissatisfaction with their own bodies and with little or no sexual activity, the most likely to have impaired sexual function and satisfaction. Among the physiotherapeutic resources, described as promising therapies in the treatment of pelvic floor dysfunctions are pelvic muscle contraction exercises, electrostimulation and biofeedback, for NGSI, microneedling and radiofrequency. It is recommended that professionals involved in women’s health care investigate the presence of complaints regarding sexual function and satisfaction as well as their association with genital self-perception, in order to identify and intervene early in these situations, avoiding greater damage to self-esteem and mental health.

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Author Biographies

Pollyanna Pricila de Santana Vasconcelos, Centro Universitário Brasileiro

Fisioterapeuta graduada pelo Centro Universitário Brasileiro (UNIBRA), Departamento de Fisioterapia, Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil.

Raquel Rayane dos Santos Souza, Centro Universitário Brasileiro

Fisioterapeuta graduada pelo Centro Universitário Brasileiro (UNIBRA), Departamento de Fisioterapia, Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil.

Wagner Henrique dos Santos, Centro Universitário Brasileiro

Fisioterapeuta graduado pelo Centro Universitário Brasileiro (UNIBRA), Departamento de Fisioterapia, Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil.

Josepha Karinne de Oliveira Ferro, Centro Universitário Brasileiro

Fisioterapeuta, docente, mestra em Fisioterapia. Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Departamento de Fisioterapia, Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil. 

Renê Ribeiro Soares, Centro Universitário Brasileiro

Fisioterapeuta, docente, especialista em Fisioterapia Pélvica. Centro Universitário Brasileiro (UNIBRA), Departamento de Fisioterapia, Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil. 

Sarah de Souza Mendonça, Centro Universitário Brasileiro

Fisioterapeuta graduada pela Faculdade Integrada do Recife (FIR), com especialização em Saúde Pública na Atenção Básica pela Universidade Católica de Pernambuco (Unicap), mestra em Saúde Coletiva pela Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE). Docente do curso de fisioterapia do Centro Universitário Boa Viagem (UNIFBV) e do Centro Universitário Brasileiro (Unibra).

Published

2021-12-16

How to Cite

Vasconcelos, P. P. de S., Souza, R. R. dos S., Santos, W. H. dos, Ferro, J. K. de O., Soares, R. R., & de Souza Mendonça, S. (2021). NEGATIVE GENITAL SELF-IMAGE AS A PREDICTOR OF SEXUAL DISORDERS IN WOMEN: PHYSIOTHERAPEUTIC POSSIBILITIES. Revista Brasileira De Sexualidade Humana, 32(2). https://doi.org/10.35919/rbsh.v32i2.976

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Section

Opinativos e de Revisão

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