The Development and Validation of a Scale to Measure Attitudes Toward Women's Genitals

ABSTRACT

Sexual behaviors may be related to or influenced by a range of factors including individuals' attitudes toward women's genitals. To date, however, no reliable and valid measure exists with which researchers or clinicians can assess individuals' attitudes toward women's genitals. The purpose of this study was to develop a reliable and valid scale to measure attitudes toward women's genitals and to test its predictive capacity.

The process of developing the Attitudes Toward Women's Genitals Scale (ATWGS) was conducted in three phases: (1) elicitation, which involved a comprehensive literature review and surveys completed by 370 men and women; (2) development, review, and revision of an initial item pool; and (3) survey administration and psychometric analysis, which involved an initial survey administration to 604 men and women and a second administration, for the purposes of establishing temporal stability of the scale, to 16 individuals. The final ATWGS resulted in a 10-item scale that exhibited sufficient internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.848) and convergent validity, as it was correlated at 0.429 with the five-item Sexual Opinion Survey. The ATWGS also showed evidence of predictive capacity in that women's scale scores differed significantly based on their history of cunnilingus, gynecological care, vibrator use, and orgasm. For men, there were significant ATWGS score differences based on their experience with cunnilingus. Also, men scored significantly higher on the ATWGS than did women (p < .001), indicating more positive attitudes. The ATWGS was found to exhibit evidence of sufficient reliability, validity, and predictive capacity.     

Achieving the Optimal Vaginal State: Using Vaginal Products and Study Gels in Uganda,Zimbabwe, and South Africa

Preferences and practices related to the vaginal condition have implications for the use of vaginal HIV prevention products. The authors used qualitative methods to explore narratives relating to the vaginal state amongst women in South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe who had previously participated in a biomedical HIV prevention trial. They investigated women's behaviors related to optimizing the vaginal state, experiences and perceptions of the gel's effect on the vaginal state and on penile-vaginal intercourse, women's narratives on male partner perceptions, and how preferences relating to the vaginal state may have interfered with gel use.     

美蓝输卵管通液并阴道后穹隆穿刺术在输卵管通畅性诊断中的对比性研究

目的对比美蓝通液并阴道后穹隆穿刺术在输卵管通畅性检查中的诊断符合率及优缺点。方法用美蓝通液并阴道后穹隆穿刺术(DHPV)和单纯输卵管通液(MHB)对180例不孕患者行输卵管通畅性检查,其中50例行子宫输卵管碘油造影(HSG)和腹腔镜下美蓝通液(LSH)对照检查。用LSH评价MHB、DHPV、HSG的诊断符合率。结果 180例MHB诊断的总符合率60.00%、灵敏度55.56%、特异度61.90%、假阴性率44.44%、假阳性率37.50%、约登指数0.16;DHPV诊断的总符合率82.00%、灵敏度88.89%、特异度82.60%、假阴性率11.11%、假阳性率17.39%、约登指数0.71;HSG诊断的总符合率84.00%、灵敏度80.00%、特异度85.00%、假阴性率20.00%、假阳性率15.00%、约登指数0.65。DHPV与HSG比较差异无明显性(P>0.01),MHB与DHPV比较有显著性差异(P<0.01)。结论 DHPV在诊断输卵管性不孕中客观安全、诊断符合率高;不失为输卵管通畅性检查的一种新方法。