E-Posters-What is "Vaginal Rejuvenation"? A Survey of Medical Professionals and Lay Persons

What is "Vaginal Rejuvenation"? A Survey of Medical Professionals and Lay Persons - Paige K Kuhlmann, MD

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The term "vaginal rejuvenation" is widely used but lacks a clear definition. Healthcare professionals and lay persons interpret the term differently, with varying indications for receiving the treatment. There is no widely accepted definition of what procedures fall under the label of vaginal rejuvenation, and there are no specific billing codes for this treatment. The FDA has recently warned against devices marketed for vaginal rejuvenation. In order to investigate how healthcare professionals and the general population interpret this term, a pilot questionnaire was conducted. The results of the questionnaire were used to create a multiple-choice survey, which revealed differences in the most commonly chosen indications for vaginal rejuvenation, how it is performed, and who performs it between different groups (physicians who perform vaginal rejuvenation, physicians from other specialties, non-physician healthcare providers, and lay persons). The survey results showed that vaginal rejuvenation encompasses multiple procedural and surgical treatments. Medical professionals emphasized the results of the treatment over the method, while half of lay persons had no idea how it is done. The treatment was described as "strengthening muscles," "plumping tissue," and "restoring shape." Adjunct treatments such as vaginal estrogen and pelvic physical therapy were also mentioned. The main indications for medical professionals were anatomic alteration, symptomatic effect, and placebo/psychological effect, while lay persons focused on cosmesis, increased sexual sensation, and "tightening" the vagina. Overall, the study found a lack of consensus on the definition and indications of vaginal rejuvenation, highlighting the need for better education and understanding among healthcare professionals and the general population.

Keywords

vaginal rejuvenation

definition

healthcare professionals

lay persons

indications

treatment

billing codes

FDA warning

questionnaire

survey results