The strength of correlation between female genital self-image and sexual function: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Fatemeh Alavi-Arjas, Michael P. Goodman, Masoumeh Simbar, Hamid Alavi Majd, Fatemeh Nahidi
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Mounting evidence indicates that female genital aesthetic complaints impact sexual relationships. AIM: The study sought to determine the strength of the correlation between genital self-image and sexual function. METHODS: Electronic databases were comprehensively searched including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from January 2000 to December 2022. After duplicate removal, 146 articles were retrieved by searching keywords in titles and abstracts. OUTCOMES: A positive correlation is noted between genital self-image and sexual function; the strength of this correlation was 0.375. RESULTS: By omitting irrelevant articles according to the eligibility criteria, 16 articles remained for a total of 13 505 participants. All but 1 of them indicated a statistically significant positive correlation between genital self-image and sexual function. For a more accurate result, a meta-analysis was conducted noting a considerable heterogeneity. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The results of this study may be used in counseling women with sexual dysfunction who are dissatisfied with their genital appearance. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: This study is the first systematic review to reveal the strength of the correlation between genital self-image and sexual function. The most important limitation of this study is the heterogeneity of the studies reported. CONCLUSION: This systematic review indicates a positive correlation between genital self-image and sexual function. The results are restricted by inconsistency of the articles considered. Using different tools in different cultural contexts without considering confounding factors leads to a wide range of correlation sizes and significant heterogeneity is evident.