Female genital image: is there a relationship with body image?

Objective: Dissatisfaction with body image may extend to the genital region, and the most dissatisfied with their bodies are women. To analyze the relation between body image and genital image in female, and to verify demographic and/or clinical factors related to body image and genital image.

Materials and methods: This is a cross-sectional study in 421 women. The Body Shape Questionnaire-34 (BSQ-34) was used to evaluate body image perception; scores ≤110 indicate no dissatisfaction. Also, the female genital self-image scale-7 (FGSIS-7) was used to evaluate genital self-image; scores range between 7 and 28, with higher values considered to indicate a more positive genital self-image. The relation between body image and genital image was determined using the Pearson Correlation test, as well as the relation of these with body mass index (BMI) and age. The relation between these data and genital image was determined by using the ANOVA test or the independent t-test (statistical difference was accepted as p<0.05). In order to verify predictors of dissatisfaction with body image, variables with p<0.10 were inserted into the logistic regression model and checked if they remained significant (p<0.05).

Results: Three hundred eighty-nine women were analyzed. The mean age was 34.7±10.2 years. The mean BMI was 24.1±3.6 kg/m², 49% were single, and the mean BSQ-34 and FGSIS scores were 83.2±30.8 and 23.8±3.4, respectively. The correlation (r=-0.24) was found between body image and genital image (p<0.001). A total of 315 women indicated to be satisfied with their body and presented an FGSIS-7 score of 24±3.3. Participants who were dissatisfied with their body had an average FGSIS-7 score of 22.6±3.3.

Conclusion: Genital image, age, and BMI influence body image. Change in the perception of body image seems to have low correlation with genital self-image in women.