While consent has been enshrined in law for more than twenty years, the results released by StopVOG depict a healthcare system in which many patients still report difficulties asserting their rights, being heard, or stopping a medical procedure they consider painful or inappropriate.
Violence and consent: numbers that raise questions
Conducted between July and December 2025, the StopVOG association’s survey is based on 10,152 completed questionnaires collected across France. While the authors note that the results do not claim to represent all gynecological consultations in the country, they nonetheless constitute one of the largest datasets ever assembled on this issue.
The main finding is striking. According to StopVOG, 80.95% of respondents report having experienced at least one instance of consent violation during a gynecological examination. At the same time, 84.6% find it difficult to refuse an exam offered by a healthcare professional. For the association, this difficulty is explained in part by the trust relationship between patient and caregiver, but also by a lack of information. More than 84% of those surveyed say they did not always receive enough explanations about the purpose of an exam proposed for the first time. More than 82% also feel they were not properly informed about how the exam would proceed.
This situation fuels a sense of powerlessness among many patients. One respondent notes in the report: “Doctors should explain at the start of the consultation what our rights are.” According to her account, information often arrives just as the examination is about to begin, while the patient is already lying on the exam table. The expectations are therefore high. Nearly 89.4% of respondents want their consent to be sought more before each gynecological procedure.
Minimizing menstrual pain, exams continued despite pain, discrimination…: a gynecological experience far from positive
Beyond consent alone, the survey highlights a high frequency of situations perceived as violent or disrespectful. Nearly 68.7% of those surveyed say they have already felt uncomfortable, shocked, or hurt by a gesture, attitude, or remark during a consultation. Even more, 45.1% report obstetric and gynecological violence. In detail, 28.7% report gynecological violence, and 24.5% obstetric violence.
The report also documents numerous situations in which exams were continued despite the patient’s pain. More than half of respondents, or 51.3%, say they have experienced at least one exam deemed too painful but continued despite their wish to stop. The most frequently cited procedures are the placement of a speculum, vaginal examination, Pap smear, insertion of an intrauterine device (IUD), and endovaginal ultrasound.
Discrimination constitutes another major aspect of the findings. Nearly 39.8% of respondents report experiencing discriminatory behaviors in their care journey. Mentioned are sexism, fatphobia, racism, disability discrimination, or discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Gynecological pain also appears to be insufficiently acknowledged. More than 55% of those surveyed say their pain or side effects related to menstruation or contraception were minimized or denied. Many women recount remarks belittling their suffering. One respondent recalled hearing: “It’s normal to hurt. Welcome to being a woman!”
Violence, trauma, and giving up care
The study does not stop at the reported facts. It also looks at their consequences. More than 70% say they have felt physically or psychologically unwell after a gynecological consultation, regardless of any health concerns. More than half, 50.59%, report developing at least one psychological manifestation after an adverse consultation. The symptoms cited include anxiety, crying spells, sleep disturbances, intrusive memories, loss of trust, or avoidance of care settings. Among those who report obstetric and gynecological violence, the proportion climbs to 73.64%.
StopVOG also developed an exploratory indicator inspired by PTSD assessment tools. According to this indicator, 5.44% of self-identified victims display a profile compatible with post-traumatic stress disorder, compared with only 0.21% among those who did not report such violence.
The repercussions also directly affect the medical journey. More than half of respondents, i.e., 53%, say their gynecological follow-up was affected after a poorly experienced consultation. Some forego exams, others postpone their appointments for several years. This rate rises to 72.75% among those who report obstetric and gynecological violence.
For StopVOG, these results demonstrate that consent violations in care are not merely a question of the doctor-patient relationship. They represent a major public health issue, likely to trigger interruptions in follow-up, diagnostic delays, and a lasting loss of trust in the health system.
