Genital Hygiene Practices among Postmenopausal Women: A Descriptive Study

Authors : Menekşe Nazlı Aker, Funda Özdemir, Rabia Erkan Kırmızıgül
Pages : 889-898
Doi:10.54005/geneltip.1653555
View : 200 | Download : 414
Publication Date : 2025-10-28
Article Type : Research Paper
Abstract :Abstract Objective: This study aimed to determine the genital hygiene practices of postmenopausal women. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted with 250 postmenopausal women who visited a district state hospital in Kastamonu between January and April 2023. Data were collected using the Demographic Information and the Genital Hygiene Practices forms. Results: The mean age of the participants was 63.46±9.67 years. Of the participants, 81.2% had not received any information about genital hygiene, although 68.8% considered their knowledge of genital hygiene sufficient. Additionally, 61.6% of them used only water for external genital cleansing and 74.8% did not use deodorizing products for the external genital area. Also, 54.4% of the participants performed vaginal lavage after sexual intercourse, while 61.6% practiced vaginal lavage as part of their genital hygiene routine. Furthermore, 83.6% wore cotton underwear, 87.2% preferred loose and comfortable underwear, and 54.8% changed their underwear once or several times per week. Incorrect perineal cleaning practices were reported by 59.2% of the participants, and 64% did not wash their hands before using the toilet. The rate of seeking medical consultation in cases of foul-smelling vaginal discharge and/or itching was 72%. Logistic regression analysis revealed that perceiving one’s knowledge as sufficient influenced the choice of cleansing products for the external genital area, the practice of vaginal lavage, the type of underwear worn, and the frequency of underwear changes (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study indicated that the majority of participants had not received information about genital hygiene. Approximately two-thirds considered their knowledge sufficient; however, incorrect practices were widely documented among them. Although the participants perceiving their knowledge as sufficient was a factor in performing some genital hygiene practices correctly, they still practiced some incorrect behaviors. It is crucial that nurses inform postmenopausal women about correct genital hygiene practices.
Keywords : postmenopoz, genital, hijyen, kadınlar

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