Cambaz Ulaş Seval, İldan Çalim Selda, Çetinkaya Aynur
Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Manisa Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey.
Department of Public Health Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Manisa Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey.
BMC Womens Health. 2025 Mar 4;25(1):95. doi: 10.1186/s12905-025-03621-6.
During the gynecological examination, women especially feel uncomfortable with the lithotomy position and experience shame and anxiety. This study aims to explore metaphors used by women who have experienced gynecological examinations.
This study is qualitative and phenomenological. The study group consisted of 90 women. Data were collected online using a data form in May-June 2021. It consisted of the sociodemographic characteristics of women and their metaphorical perceptions of gynecological examination. Data were analyzed and interpreted using a metaphorical analytical method inspired by Kochis and Gillespie. Metaphoric linguistic expressions, sequences, words, and sentences related to each other, were highlighted. The Consolidated criteria for Reporting Qualitative research (COREQ) checklist was used in the study report.
The average age of the women was 37.29 ± 10.14, and 73.0% were high school graduates. Three different conceptual categories were created by associating each metaphor image with a certain theme concerning women's perspective on gynecological examination. The characteristics compiled during the category development phase were used to collect 24 metaphors under a specific category. The metaphor revealed that the process, instrument (examination table), and affective aspects of the gynecological examination are in interaction. In this study was found that the main metaphor image for the gynecological table was a "fork," the gynecological examination brought to mind "the pregnancy" because of the reason for the procedure, and most of the women used the metaphors of "ache/pain" for their gynecological examination experience.
The metaphors used for the gynecological examination expressions suggested that women's experiences were negative. Such metaphors may reflect physical and emotional discomfort experienced during the examination. Health professionals' understanding of these negative perceptions and their empathy may facilitate positive experiences for women and the detection and treatment of health problems.
在妇科检查期间，女性尤其会对截石位感到不适，并体验到羞耻和焦虑。本研究旨在探究经历过妇科检查的女性所使用的隐喻。
本研究为定性的现象学研究。研究组由90名女性组成。2021年5月至6月，通过数据表单在线收集数据。数据包括女性的社会人口学特征及其对妇科检查的隐喻认知。采用受科奇斯和吉莱斯皮启发的隐喻分析方法对数据进行分析和解读。突出了相互关联的隐喻性语言表达、序列、单词和句子。研究报告中使用了定性研究报告统一标准（COREQ）清单。
女性的平均年龄为37.29±10.14岁，73.0%为高中毕业生。通过将每个隐喻形象与女性对妇科检查的特定视角主题相关联，创建了三个不同的概念类别。在类别发展阶段汇编的特征用于在特定类别下收集24个隐喻。这些隐喻表明，妇科检查的过程、器械（检查台）和情感方面相互作用。本研究发现，妇科检查台的主要隐喻形象是“叉子”，由于检查的原因，妇科检查让人联想到“怀孕”，并且大多数女性用“疼痛”的隐喻来描述她们的妇科检查经历。
用于描述妇科检查的隐喻表明女性的经历是负面的。此类隐喻可能反映了检查期间经历的身体和情感不适。卫生专业人员对这些负面认知的理解及其同理心可能有助于女性获得积极体验，并促进健康问题的发现和治疗。
