What do portuguese women prefer regarding vaginal products? Results from a cross-sectional web-based survey

Abstract

Therapeutic outcomes of vaginal products depend not only on their ability to deliver drugs to or through the vagina but also on acceptability and correct use. Women's preferences, in turn, may vary according to age and cultural backgrounds. In this work, an anonymous online survey was completed by 2529 Portuguese women to assess their preferences for physical characteristics and mode of application of vaginal products, according to age. Additionally, intention to use and misconceptions about these issues were assessed. The majority of women of all age groups would use vaginal products to treat or prevent diseases, upon medical prescription. Women preferred vaginal products to be odorless and colorless gels, creams and ointments composed by natural origin drugs/excipients and applied by means of an applicator. Although the majority of women would prefer not to insert any product in the vagina, intention to use for self and recommendation to use for others was associated with previous experiences with vaginal products. General concerns and misconceptions related to use of vaginal products were rare. These data may contribute to the development of products that women are more prone to use.

Figure 1

Women’s preferences on (a) color, (b) odor and flavor, (c) origin of ingredients and mode of insertion of idealized vaginal products according to age groups. Data are expressed as the mean value for each age group based on the five-point Likert scale ranging from 1-{I would definitely NOT use the product} to 5-{I would definitely use the product}. The number of respondents for this specific question, in each age group, was: 422 (18–24); 853 (25–34); 675 (35–44); 290 (45–54); 118 (55–65).

Figure 2

Women’s fears, misconceptions and personal perspectives on vaginal products. Bars represent the proportion of women that disagree, neither agree nor disagree, or agree with each sentence (n = 2529).