Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2022 Mar 8. doi: 10.1002/ijgo.14169. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To explore whether patient characteristics were associated with gender expression, and to further determine impact of gender expression on selection of hysterectomy or uterine-preservation in pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery.
METHODS: Within a prospective cohort, a self-reported gender expression tool classified patients as expressing gender polar (i.e., reporting only feminine traits) or non-polar gender scores (i.e., reporting feminine and masculine traits). Multivariate modelling explored associations of gender expression with traditional socio-demographic variables, and with selection of hysterectomy or uterine-preserving surgery. Descriptive statistics of socio-demographic variables were reported by frequency, proportion and mean (SD).
RESULTS: 177 participants completed the gender score questionnaire. Overall the sample had a more feminine gender expression with the majority of respondents classified as gender polar (67.23%, n=119). Participants with non-polar gender scores were 2.53 times (95% 1.05 – 6.09) more likely to choose uterine preservation vs hysterectomy-based surgery. Gender polarity was weakly associated with age, but no other sociodemographic variables.
CONCLUSION: Gender expression is not tightly associated with socio-demographic variables, and is thus a novel measurement in gynecologic research. Gender polarity appears to be associated with choice to undergo hysterectomy. Further research is required to understand this relationship and implications in clinical outcomes.
PMID:35262193 | DOI:10.1002/ijgo.14169
