Ana Paula Delgado Bomtempo Batalha, Isabela Roque Marcal, Emilia Main, Gabriela Lima de Melo Ghisi
{"title":"Barriers to physical activity in women from ethnic minority groups: a systematic review.","authors":"Ana Paula Delgado Bomtempo Batalha, Isabela Roque Marcal, Emilia Main, Gabriela Lima de Melo Ghisi","doi":"10.1186/s12905-025-03877-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12905-025-03877-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Physical activity (PA) is essential for preventing chronic diseases and improving mental health, yet global PA levels remain suboptimal, with women generally engaging in less PA than men. This gender disparity is especially concerning for women from ethnic minority groups, who face a higher risk of chronic diseases and encounter unique barriers to PA participation. Understanding these obstacles is crucial for developing targeted interventions to promote PA and reduce health disparities among ethnic minority women. This systematic review aimed to identify, categorize, and synthesize existing research on the barriers to PA among these women.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Six databases were searched (from inception to December 2024) to identify primary studies of any methodological design (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods) that examined barriers to PA among adult women from ethnic minority groups, excluding African American and Indigenous populations. Studies were included regardless of country, as long as they met the eligibility criteria. Thematic analysis, guided by the social-ecological model, was used to synthesize the findings.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Sixty-four studies involving 5,555 women and conducted in 12 countries met the inclusion criteria. Thematic analysis identified 16 barriers categorized within the social-ecological framework. At the individual level, common barriers included time constraints, lack of motivation, poor physical health, and disinterest in PA. Interpersonal barriers, such as family responsibilities, cultural expectations, language barriers, and lack of social support, were prevalent. Environmental barriers included unsafe neighborhoods, limited access to PA resources, and inadequate infrastructure. Regional differences were observed, with cultural barriers and family obligations most common in the Americas, and misconceptions about PA and environmental factors more prevalent in the Eastern Mediterranean. Socioeconomic status and immigration status exacerbated these challenges.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This review highlights the complex, multi-level barriers that ethnic minority women face in engaging in PA. Addressing these challenges requires multifaceted interventions that consider individual, interpersonal, and environmental factors. Future research should explore strategies that reduce these barriers and promote equitable access to PA opportunities for women from ethnic minority groups.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"330"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12228159/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144567162","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shannon N Wood, Jessica L Dozier, Celia Karp, Funmilola M OlaOlorun, Elizabeth Omoluabi, Rosine Mosso, Pierre Z Akilimali, Simon Peter Sebina Kibira, Frederick Makumbi, Georges Guiella, Peter Gichangi, Anoop Khanna, Sani Oumarou, Caroline Moreau
{"title":"Women's and girls' sexual empowerment differs by geographical context: a population-based validation study.","authors":"Shannon N Wood, Jessica L Dozier, Celia Karp, Funmilola M OlaOlorun, Elizabeth Omoluabi, Rosine Mosso, Pierre Z Akilimali, Simon Peter Sebina Kibira, Frederick Makumbi, Georges Guiella, Peter Gichangi, Anoop Khanna, Sani Oumarou, Caroline Moreau","doi":"10.1186/s12905-025-03874-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12905-025-03874-1","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"331"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12228322/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144567168","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"#diastasisrecti: a mixed-methods analysis of Instagram posts and their influence on women's exercise and sports participation.","authors":"Silvia Giagio, Tamara Rial-Rebullido, Stefano Salvioli, Tiziano Innocenti, Paolo Pillastrini, Isabel Moore, Gráinne Donnelly","doi":"10.1186/s12905-025-03885-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12905-025-03885-y","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"332"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12229008/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144567161","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Aykut Kından, Aziz Kından, Ahmet Kurt, Volkan Özgür Akbulut, Berna Dilbaz
{"title":"Effects of benign ovarian cyst volume and laterality on AMH and CA-125 levels.","authors":"Aykut Kından, Aziz Kından, Ahmet Kurt, Volkan Özgür Akbulut, Berna Dilbaz","doi":"10.1186/s12905-025-03842-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12905-025-03842-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to investigate the effects of cyst volume and bilaterality on serum Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) and CA-125 levels in patients with benign ovarian cysts.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We retrospectively analyzed 139 patients who underwent cystectomy for benign ovarian cysts. Serum AMH and CA-125 levels were measured preoperatively and at the second post-operative month.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean preoperative AMH level was 3.96 ± 3.48 ng/mL, which significantly decreased to 3.59 ± 3.92 ng/mL postoperatively (p = 0.026), reflecting an average decline of 9.3%. CA-125 levels significantly decreased from 53.1 ± 157.2 to 21.0 ± 18.4 U/mL (p = 0.002). Patients with bilateral cysts had lower AMH levels at the second month (1.67 ± 0.6 vs. 3.80 ± 4.1 ng/mL; p = 0.003) despite similar baseline values.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Bilaterality and cyst volume may negatively affect ovarian reserve postoperatively. The decline in AMH levels, particularly following bilateral ovarian cystectomy, has a significant impact on the ovarian reserve and may have implications for future fertility. Early fertility counselling and ovarian preservation strategies should be considered during surgical planning.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"305"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12226898/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144559247","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nastaran Heydarikhayat, Saba Heydarikhayat, Tahmineh Salehian, Narges Heydarikhayat, Camelia Rohani
{"title":"Lived experiences of Iranian employed women with maintaining work-life balance: a descriptive phenomenological study.","authors":"Nastaran Heydarikhayat, Saba Heydarikhayat, Tahmineh Salehian, Narges Heydarikhayat, Camelia Rohani","doi":"10.1186/s12905-025-03857-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12905-025-03857-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Keeping the work-life balance is a situation that can improve employees' stress levels and well-being. Women need to carefully consider how to balance their career with family life. The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of employed women in maintaining work-life balance in 10 centers affiliated with one university of medical sciences.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this descriptive phenomenological study, 16 full-time employed women were selected by purposive sampling. Data collection was done through individualized semi-structured and in-depth interviews with participants. All interviews were analyzed by the seven steps of Colaizzi's method in MAXQDA version 10.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Endless work drama with a constant struggle emerged as an overarching theme of the study. Two themes (immersion in home and work challenges), six sub-themes and 30 categories were extracted from data analysis. Subthemes of the study included: A gap in parenting, self-sacrificing, the hidden costs of being employed, intensifying situations, gender shadow, and stuck in organizational issues.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The participants' experiences revealed that they were dissatisfied with their situations and faced significant pressures due to career and family challenges in the context of our society. Also, they were often ignored by their employers. These pressures threatened not only the physical and psychological well-being of women, but also the well-being of their families, especially their children. Thus, health policymakers and health managers should plan for development of supportive policies in the healthcare organizations. They can foster a culture of work-life balance for employed women. This can help women be happy and enjoy their work and family lives.</p><p><strong>Practical implications: </strong>These results can be beneficial and applied at individual, organizational and societal levels to improve the conditions of employed women. At the individual level, skill development, empowerment, and prioritization of women's well-being are recommended. At the organizational level, designing flexible human resources policies is advised. Eventually, at the societal level, supportive legislation such as universal maternity leave for all kind of employment, lactation support and anti-discrimination measures are suggested.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"311"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12231692/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144564542","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Till Neugebauer, Valeria Schellenberg, Alena Allak, Siegrun Pardon, Yüce Yilmaz-Aslan, Sven Schiermeier, Claudia Kiessling, Sven Schmiedl, Christoph Dockweiler, Patrick Brzoska
{"title":"Endometriosis- \"Either way a tragedy\"? A qualitative social media analysis of endometriosis perceptions in Germany.","authors":"Till Neugebauer, Valeria Schellenberg, Alena Allak, Siegrun Pardon, Yüce Yilmaz-Aslan, Sven Schiermeier, Claudia Kiessling, Sven Schmiedl, Christoph Dockweiler, Patrick Brzoska","doi":"10.1186/s12905-025-03865-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12905-025-03865-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Endometriosis is one of the most common diseases in women of reproductive age. Those affected suffer from a variety of symptoms that can have a challenging impact on different areas of life. Social media such as Instagram, TikTok and YouTube offer affected women a platform for sharing their condition and increasing its visibility. This study examines how endometriosis is communicated in the comment sections of such posts on social media in Germany in order to better understand the reality of the lives of those affected.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>300 comments from Instagram, TikTok and YouTube were evaluated using summarizing qualitative content analysis. Data collection took place between October and November 2024.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Four categories were identified that shaped the exchange on social media. These included psychological and physical stress, criticism of healthcare, social impact and coping with endometriosis.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Endometriosis remains stigmatised as a \"women's disease\", which makes recognition and prioritization in the healthcare system difficult. The reduction to menstruation-related complaints hinders the treatment of endometriosis-related symptoms, while pejorative communication by doctors increases the burden on those affected. While social media enables open dialogue and peer support, it also has potential to spread misinformation, influencing health decisions and fostering scepticism toward medical advice. Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted public health response: destigmatising endometriosis through education, improving medical training, strengthening diagnostic pathways, and raising awareness in society.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"317"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12226911/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144564537","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Primary pelvic retroperitoneal smooth muscle tumor with cystic degeneration: a case report and review of the literature.","authors":"Min Xie, Hai-Long Huang, Xue-Mei Qing","doi":"10.1186/s12905-025-03879-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12905-025-03879-w","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"322"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12231847/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144564545","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Utilization of cervical cancer screening and its associated factors among women living with HIV in East Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Gebrie Getu Alemu, Getaneh Awoke Yismaw, Habtamu Abebe Getahun, Habtamu Wagnew Abuhay, Mekuriaw Nibret Aweke, Meron Asmamaw Alemayehu, Nebiyu Mekonnen Derseh, Tigist Kifle Tsegaw, Tilahun Yemanu Birhan, Banchlay Addis, Berhanie Addis Ayele, Emebet Birhanu Lealem, Eyob Akalewold Alemu, Fetlework Gubena Arage","doi":"10.1186/s12905-025-03880-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12905-025-03880-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Women living with HIV (WLHIV), mostly in East Africa, are six times more likely to develop cervical cancer and are a priority population for secondary prevention. Numerous primary studies report inconsistent, widely varying rates of cervical cancer screening (CCS) among WLHIV in the region. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize data from various primary studies to provide a conclusive estimate of CCS uptake among WLHIV in East Africa and to identify factors associated with screening utilization.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines and was registered with PROSPERO. Databases searched included Google Scholar, PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Hinari, ScienceDirect, and other manual sources for studies published between January 2015 and April 2025. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used for quality assessment. Data were analyzed using STATA 17, employing a random-effects model due to high heterogeneity. Cochran's Q test (χ²) and Higgins I² statistics were used to identify heterogeneity. Publication bias was assessed by funnel plots and Egger's test. Associations were reported as pooled adjusted odds ratios (aOR), with significance set at p < 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This meta-analysis pooled effect estimates from 46 studies with a total of 98,028 participants. The pooled CCS uptake among WLHIV in East Africa was 34.48% (95% CI: 30.61, 38.36) with high heterogeneity. Those who had knowledge (aOR = 2.96, 95% CI: 2.60, 3.38) and information (aOR = 3.95, 95% CI: 2.15, 7.28), with a family history of cervical cancer (aOR = 2.18, 95% CI: 1.20, 3.96), high perceived vulnerability (aOR = 2.82, 95% CI: 1.65, 4.84), and low perceived barriers (aOR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.05, 3.65) were significantly associated with CCS uptake among WLHIV in East Africa.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The percentage of WLHIV in East Africa who obtain CCS is far below the WHO's 70% target. The utilization of CCS was significantly associated with knowledge, information, family history of cervical cancer, perceived vulnerability, and barriers. Increased screening rates can be achieved by interventions that target raising awareness, providing information, reducing barriers, and focusing on women with a family history of cervical cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"326"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12231726/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144564584","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A pioneering health education strategy based on the PRECEDE-PROCEED model for women's health challenges: a systematic review and logic framework.","authors":"Khadijeh Khademi, Mohammad Hossein Kaveh","doi":"10.1186/s12905-025-03883-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12905-025-03883-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This review seeks to examine the effectiveness of PRECEDE-PROCEED model- based interventions on women's behaviors, health, quality of life and determinants during health challenges as well as associations between their constructs. Additionally, it aims to propose a logical framework for enhancing women's behaviors, health, quality of life and determinants during health challenges.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In April 2025, three databases- PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct- were searched. The search included words in the Title, Abstract, and Keywords without any time limitations. The search was filtered by Clinical Trial or Randomized Clinical Trial for PubMed, Article for Scopus, and Research articles for Science Direct. Studies conducted among women that utilized an educational intervention based on the PRECEDE-PROCEED model, were written in full-text English, and used validated quantitative health questionnaires were included in the analysis. Descriptive, cross-sectional designs as well as qualitative, longitudinal, or non-original studies were excluded from the review. The risk of bias in the included interventional studies was assessed using the Revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2) and the Risk Of Bias In Nonrandomized Studies - of Interventions (ROBINS-I tool) which were specifically adapted for these study designs. The main objective of the interventional studies was to investigate the effectiveness of PRECEDE-PROCEED model-based interventions on women's behaviors, health, quality of life and determinants during health challenges. A review was conducted based on the AMSTAR checklist, PRISMA checklist and PRISMA flow diagram. Data extraction was performed with the consensus of two authors, and a narrative synthesis approach was chosen for data synthesis, following the guidelines provided by the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Seven interventional studies were included in the final analysis. Our findings revealed that all reviewed studies provided evidence of the effectiveness of a PRECEDE-PROCEED- based intervention for improving women's behaviors, health, quality of life and determinants during health challenges. However, due to the absence of standardized measurement indicators to identify and compare the outcomes of various studies, there is a need to develop a conceptual framework that could enhance our understanding of women's health challenges including childbirth, postpartum, menopause and genital infections. This framework aims to incorporate knowledge and positive attitudes towards healthy behaviors and health-related challenging conditions, as well as self-efficacy as important \"predisposing factors.\" It also considers social support and supportive policies as crucial \"reinforcing factors.\" Furthermore, it acknowledges resources, skills, services and their cost as necessary \"enabling factors.\" Lastly, it recognizes healthy beh","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"324"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12226866/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144564577","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cornelia Betschart, Tharani Thillainathan, Vera Berger, Isabel Kolm, Brigitte Leeners
{"title":"Diagnostic gaps in vulvar diseases from referral to final diagnosis in a specialized center: analysis of pathways and recommendations for enhancing future diagnostic accuracy.","authors":"Cornelia Betschart, Tharani Thillainathan, Vera Berger, Isabel Kolm, Brigitte Leeners","doi":"10.1186/s12905-025-03855-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12905-025-03855-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Vulvar diseases have a serious impact on women's quality of life and can be challenging to diagnose. Correct diagnosis is, however, mandatory for appropriate treatment. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate diagnostic quality regarding the classification of disease symptoms, the suspected diagnosis of referring doctors, the agreement of suspected diagnosis with final diagnosis and the latencies from onset of symptoms to final diagnosis, thereby identifying potential resources for improvement.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Retrospective data from the electronic medical charts of 325 patients attending the interdisciplinary vulva clinic at the University Hospital Zurich between January 2016 and December 2020 were analyzed. The consistency between suspected diagnosis at referral and the definitive diagnosis was investigated against the background of vulvar pathology, disease symptoms, specialization of the referring physicians involved, diagnostic steps and time until diagnosis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Referral diagnoses were inconsistent with final diagnoses in 96 (43.8%) cases. The time between symptom onset and final diagnosis ranged from 15.9 ± 10.6 to 71.1 ± 92.9 months, depending on the vulvar pathology. In cases of dysplasia, eczema, lichen sclerosus and lichen planus, diagnosis at referral and final diagnosis matched best, while other inflammatory diseases, vulvodynia, and chronic infectious diseases (bacterial/fungal/viral) represented the greatest diagnostic challenges. Suspected diagnosis from gynecologists matched in 36.1% of cases, compared to 83.3% for dermatologists. No standardized pattern for the use of any specific diagnostic technique by referring physicians could be identified.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>There is significant diagnostic latency and variability in accuracy across vulvar disorders and referring specialists. A systematic diagnostic approach, including symptom evaluation, clinical inspection and appropriate diagnostic testing, is lacking. Standardized methods for symptom documentation, clinical assessment, diagnostic testing, and collaboration with specialized vulvar centers are essential to streamline the precision and efficiency of diagnosis as a basis for optimized treatment strategies.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>BASEC 2019 - 00976.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"309"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12226884/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144564580","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}