Data from: Female genital cosmetic surgery: a cross sectional survey exploring knowledge, attitude and practice of general practitioners.

To explore general practitioner’s (GP) knowledge, attitudes and practice regarding Female Genital Cosmetic Surgery (FGCS) in Australia.
Sample: GPs who attended a Women’s Health seminar and GPs who subscribed to a non-governmental health professional organization database that provides education to primary care professionals.
Method:A national online survey of GPs was conducted one week prior and for 2 months after a Women’s Health seminar held in Perth on 8th August 2015. Thirty-one questions prompted GPs’ knowledge, attitudes and practice in managing patients asking about FGCS.
Results: A cross-sectional survey was completed by 443 GPs; 54% had seen patients requesting FGCS and. Overall, 75% (95% CI:71-79) of GPs rated their knowledge of FGCS as inadequate and 97% (95% CI: 94-99) had been asked by women of all ages about genital normality. Of those who had seen patients requesting FGCS, nearly half (44%, 95% CI: 38-51) reported they had insufficient knowledge of risks of FGCS procedures and 35% (95% CI: 29-41) reported being consulted by females younger than 18 years of age requesting FGCS. Just over half (56%, 95% CI: 51-60) of the GPs felt that women should be counselled before making a referral for FGCS and more than half the GPs (53%,95% CI: 48-57). suspected psychological disturbances in their patients requesting FGCS such as depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties and body dysmorphic disorder.
Conclusion: GPs see women of all ages presenting with genital anatomy concerns and in those who request FGCS, GPs often suspected a range of mental health difficulties. GPs require greater education to support their patients who request FGCS.