Exploring the experiences of people with urogynaecology conditions in the UK: a reflexive thematic analysis and conceptual model

Journal article

Pelvic health is an understudied area for female military personnel. This study aimed to explore the pelvic health concerns, prevalence rates, and co-existence of a wide range of pelvic health issues in Australian servicewomen. An online questionnaire was offered to adult females (sex-assigned at birth) who had completed a minimum of 6-month active-duty service in the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Data analyses were focused on calculating prevalence for the included female pelvic health issues and identifying trends within the data (frequencies, 95% CI). Of the 987 survey responses, 496 were excluded, leaving 491 responses (49.7%) to inform this study. Over two-thirds of servicewomen reported pelvic health concerns (n = 350, 71%, 95% CI 67–75%), including sexual dysfunction (41%), gynecological surgery (34%), menstrual cycle manipulation (32%), frequent pelvic pain (20%), endometriosis (18%), irregular menstrual cycles (17%), pelvic organ prolapse (12%), pelvic injury (10%), and frequent episodes of fecal incontinence (2%). Coexistence of pelvic health issues were also reported by 24%. Pelvic health concerns, beyond lower urinary tract symptoms, are common and can co-exist in Australian servicewomen. Consideration of sex-responsive health services within military organizations may help to mitigate potential risks, enhancing wellbeing, operational readiness, and mission outcomes

Authors: Toye, F; Dixon, S; Izett-Kay, M; Keating, S; McNiven, A

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: BioMed Central
• Journal: BMC Women's Health
• Volume: 23
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 431
• Publication date: 2023-08-14
• DOI: 10.1186/s12905-023-02592-w
• EISSN: 1472-6874
• ISSN: 1472-6874
• Language: English
• Keywords: Silence; Shame; Reflexivity; Thematic Analysis