Cosmetic Use and Attitudes Toward Female Genital Cosmetic Procedures Among Women: A Single Center Cross-Sectional Study

Aim: Female genital cosmetic procedures (GCP) are becoming a trending topic as the demand for GCP and cosmetic usage has increased.This study aimed to assess women's changes/intended changes in cosmetic use parameters and their attitudes toward GCP following/in the event of pregnancy or delivery. Materials and Methods:This cross-sectional and questionnaire-based study included 98 pregnant women (PW), 82 non-PW (NPW) of reproductive age, and 96 puerperal women (PuW).Knowledge about GCP, willingness to have any GCP, and cosmetic use parameters were established, and the Female Genital Self-image scale (FGSIS) was applied.Results: Women who wanted GCP had lower FGSIS scores (p=0.015).The proportion of women with a university or higher education level was significantly higher among women who considered having GCP in the NPW (76.5%, p=0.021) and PuW (42.5%, p=0.015) groups.More NPW stated they would change their criteria and information sources related to cosmetics in the event of pregnancy/delivery compared to other groups (p<0.001).A significant proportion of NPW thought to stop using blush, powder, and concealer in the case of pregnancy, and lipstick, mascara, makeup remover, and foundation in the case of pregnancy/delivery (p<0.05). Conclusion:Healthcare professionals should be aware of and address the demand for GCP and cosmetic usage among women, including pregnant and PuW.