qualitative research method metaphor

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Using Metaphors to Make Research Findings Meaningful

Rose steele.

1 School of Nursing, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Jennifer Baird

2 Clinical Services Education and Research, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Betty Davies

3 School of Nursing, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

4 Department of Family Health Care Nursing at the University of California, San Francisco, USA

Researchers, educators, and funding agencies frequently lament that research is seldom read or put into practice by clinicians. Clinicians, on the other hand, note that they are busy and do not have the time or even the knowledge to read research articles that may be dense and filled with jargon. Traditional ways of disseminating knowledge are often insufficient; therefore, many funding agencies encourage researchers to find innovative ways to help their funded research be applied in practice. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR; CIHR, 2012 ), for example, emphasized that varied strategies for knowledge translation, including non-academic modes of communication, are often needed to reach potential knowledge-user audiences beyond the research community. The CIHR encourage researchers to adapt their language of publication to fit target audiences and to present findings in alternative formats. In this column, we propose the use of metaphor as one innovative way to make knowledge useful for application in healthcare settings, so that, as noted by Straus et al. (2011) , findings can be easily understood and capture the attention of the intended users of the knowledge.

As researchers with many years of combined experience and multiple funded studies, we were confident in our abilities to successfully complete a recent study in which we aimed to develop an empirically-grounded and theoretical conceptualization of what makes it possible for some healthcare providers, more than others, to engage in excellent interactions with parents of children with serious illness despite having similar time and other constraints. However, during our concurrent data analysis we realized that the dynamic complexity of what we were finding could not easily be expressed through our usual approaches. Therefore, we sought creative ways to make meaningful sense of the findings so that students, clinicians, educators, and administrators could understand and then use them. As we searched for the most suitable approach, we began to learn more about metaphors and eventually we chose a prairie windmill metaphor to make sense of the findings and bundle them together in the fullness of details ( Davies et al., 2022 ). Our metaphor made the findings clearer and more manageable while also allowing various audiences to make sense of their own experiences of interactions with parents, patients, families, colleagues, and others:

The metaphor shows the whole of interaction, the movement back and forth of the many facets that are important. It captures the mystery of interaction, of the connection that really makes things happen. It's fun to play with because it really makes you think in a different way about excellence in interaction. ([study participant]; Davies et al., 2022 , p. 13)

For many centuries, metaphors have frequently been used to express understanding of complex concepts. For example, as humans we know that when we talk about building bridges between people we are talking about the connections and not actual physical structures. Metaphors are useful for inviting people into worlds that they might not otherwise have seen. They can stimulate imagination, incite feelings, help people to see new meanings, and even lead to change. In qualitative research, metaphors can help simplify complex and/or multidimensional concepts through connecting one familiar concept to another familiar one, resulting in the comparison between the two concepts opening up new possibilities and perspectives ( Schmitt, 2005 ). Metaphors provide structure to data and aid understanding of a familiar process in a new light. Thus, finding the right metaphor can help researchers describe complex findings in ways that others find meaningful.

We knew we had found the right metaphor when clinicians from many settings and disciplines, as well as parents, patients, and other family members, told us that the metaphor spoke to them and that the model made sense:

The windmill is really insightful, much more creative, dynamic, and transformational. I think what's brilliant to me about this model is that there are so many elements and to try to figure out which ones are connected at which level or layer and how they all work, the wholeness of it—I think it's really wonderful. ([study participant]; Davies et al., 2022 , pp. 24–25)

As indicated by the previous quote, metaphors can be transformational and so can effect change. Effective change typically occurs incrementally, so if metaphors are used to tap the imagination and emotions of an audience, then a more evolutionary change may result that is, in the long run, more effective in putting new knowledge into practice. However, while the right metaphor can be extremely useful, it also is important to understand that using metaphors to translate research results is not just a new way of offering information. Rather, it is the comparison process within the use of metaphor that allows the audience to experience and understand one concept in terms of another; the metaphoric structure is what helps facts become interpretable or make sense ( Richardson, 2003 ). We propose that if researchers are serious about helping practitioners and educators use research results, then they must present their findings in such a way that they touch or capture the personal experiences of practitioners and educators so they can find personal meaning in the new knowledge. Metaphors provide one intriguing approach to achieving this aim.

Author Biographies

Rose Steele , RN, PhD, has been a registered nurse for almost 45 years and is an accomplished researcher in pediatric palliative care. She is a Full Professor, York University School of Nursing, Toronto, ON, Canada

Jennifer Baird , RN, MSW, MPH, PhD, is a pediatric nurse scientist, educator, and leader with expertise in the development of interventions to improve the safety and quality of hospital care. She is Director, Clinical Services Education and Research, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Betty Davies , MSN, PhD, has devoted her career to the field of pediatric palliative care as a practicing nurse, educator, researcher, and author. She is an Adjunct Professor, University of Victoria, Victoria BC, Canada; Professor Emerita, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Funding: The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health, (grant number MOP-115009).

ORCID iD: Rose Steele https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2822-0366

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Teaching qualitative research: a metaphorical approach

Affiliation.

1 Mental Health Nursing, Middlesex University and Family and Systemic Family Therapist, London, UK. [email protected]
PMID: 15324434
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2004.03153.x

Background: In the Western tradition, drawing attention to the linguistic significance of analogy and metaphor can be traced back to the writings of the early Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle. More recently, philosophers of science have drawn attention to the role of analogy and metaphor in the development of scientific theory. Also, linguists and psychologists now suggest that, in addition to being distinctive uses of language with various rhetorical functions, metaphors constitute fundamental processes of thought with basic epistemological functions.

Aim: Drawing on numerous sources from outside the nursing literature, this paper seeks to show the implications of current theory relating to analogy and metaphor for nursing and educational practice. It also seeks to demonstrate, using a practical example, how this theory can be applied to the teaching of qualitative research.

Method: Using reflection on our experiences of using analogy and metaphor in teaching the qualitative research process on a Master's degree programme, we assess the potential for using analogy and metaphor as a teaching strategy. This experience is also used to explore and discuss the wider implications of the use of analogy and metaphor in health and educational practices.

Discussion: While analogies and metaphors can help students make creative and imaginative links between existing conceptual frameworks and those associated with new knowledge, thereby facilitating its assimilation, the use of analogy and metaphor remains an under-researched area of nursing and educational practice. The cultural specificity of a metaphor does not necessarily prevent its usefulness cross culturally. The use of metaphor and analogy can also facilitate the injection of humour to a subject students frequently find 'dry' and intimidating.

Conclusion: Analogies and metaphors are potentially powerful teaching and learning strategies. However, much is still not known about how they work at the cognitive level. Consequently, there is considerable scope for further research in this area in nurse education and clinical practice.

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Making Meaning of Academic Identities Using Metaphor as an Arts-Based Educational Research Method

First Online: 13 September 2024

Cite this chapter

Makie Kortjass ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-5605-5049 18 ,
Mandisa N. Dhlula-Moruri ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-0622-1870 19 ,
Theresa Chisanga ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-9213-6754 19 &
Wendy Rawlinson ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-0980-8113 20

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Arts-Based Educational Research ((BABER))

This chapter uses metaphor as an arts-based education research method to explore the complex nature of academic identities. Metaphor is a creative linguistic and conceptual device that uses the imagination to express what might be challenging to portray meaningfully in words. Using a sociocultural theoretical perspective as academics working across disciplines, we unpack our identities guided by the question: “How might narrative accounts of lived experiences, elicited through metaphor, make evident academic identities as complex and entangled?” We assembled our personal narratives to illustrate how metaphor enabled us to excavate the many facets of our personal and professional identities. Different metaphors (water, pattern making, a trencadís bench, and a spiritual image of Mary), offered opportunity to conceptualise distinct facets of our academic identities. Metaphors allowed us to understand how our socialisation had moulded us to think and act in specific ways in our academic spaces. They helped unearth our hidden assumptions and provided evidence of how practices modelled in our personal lives contributed to the makeup of who we are as teachers in higher education. Using metaphor as a heuristic device deepened our understanding of the potential for our shifting, multiple academic identities.

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Kortjass, M., Dhlula-Moruri, M.N., Chisanga, T., Rawlinson, W. (2024). Making Meaning of Academic Identities Using Metaphor as an Arts-Based Educational Research Method. In: Naicker, I., Pillay, D., Pithouse-Morgan, K., Masinga, L., Chisanga, T., Hiralaal, A. (eds) Arts-Based Educational Research Narratives of Academic Identities. SpringerBriefs in Arts-Based Educational Research. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-6422-8_6

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Experiences of women with symptoms of vaginal laxity – a qualitative study

Gláucia Miranda Varella Pereira ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-7364-4718 1 ,
Odette Del Risco Sánchez 1 ,
Fernanda Garanhani Surita 1 ,
Lucia Alves da Silva Lara 2 ,
Cássia Raquel Teatin Juliato 1 &
Luiz Gustavo Oliveira Brito 1

BMC Women's Health volume 24 , Article number: 518 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

Metrics details

Vaginal laxity (VL) is rarely discussed among patients and their physicians possibly due to the lack of evidence-based treatments, embarrassment, and lack of knowledge in recognizing this condition. We aimed to understand the meanings that women attribute to the sensation of VL.

This is a qualitative study using in-depth interviews and thematic analysis. Sixteen participants were intentionally selected from February 2020 to December 2021. One researcher interviewed each participant in a private room guaranteeing that rapport was established. Two independent researchers performed a complete transcript of each interview immediately after its end. The sample size was achieved according to the Information Power analysis. We followed the thematic analysis proposed by Braun and Clarke.

Of 16 patients, only one did not undergo delivery. Her complaint was not different from the rest of the group. Five major themes and subthemes were identified: the long and lonely pathway: from the identification of symptoms of VL to diagnosis (from the invisibility of VL to the perception of their symptoms; “everything will fall out!”:shame, guilt and stigma as diagnosis barriers and “but I had no idea of looking for a treatment.” Women’s strategies to begin a help-seeking process), “the label of vaginal laxity is a heavy burden to bear” meanings associated with VL complaints, effect of VL on sexual intercourse and “I know it changed everything!” relationship with the partner.

VL is a symptom that is still little understood by women, and little explored by health professionals, with repercussions on personal and marital life.

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Vaginal laxity (VL) is defined as a complaint of excessive vaginal looseness and is most commonly described as a decreased sensation during sexual activity [ 1 ]. The prevalence of VL from 24 to 38% and appears to be associated with young age, vaginal deliveries, symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse, and is therefore also somatic dysfunction [ 2 , 3 ]. Other risk factors are foetal macrosomia, history of instrumental delivery (forceps), multiparity, and connective tissue changes [ 2 ].

VL is rarely discussed between women and health care professionals possibly due to the lack of evidence-based treatments, embarrassment reported by patients, and lack of knowledge to recognizing this condition by health care practitioners [ 4 ]. Despite this, there has been an increase in demand for the treatment of VL, especially in female genital cosmetic surgery [ 5 , 6 ].

The diagnosis of VL is based on patient self-report. Although numerous instruments have been used for psychosexual assessment, to the best of our knowledge, only two instruments assess perceptions specifically for VL, which is the Vaginal Laxity Questionnaire (VLQ) and the ICIQ Vaginal Symptoms Questionnaire [ 4 , 7 ]. Careful listening, a physical examination, and a psychosexual assessment are the initial steps in identifying patients with VL [ 8 ].

The fact that there is no consensus on a standard definition for VL, nor robust scientific evidence to explain the pathophysiology of this complaint, brings the need to search for other research tools that explore women’s reports and perceptions. Another crucial point is to recognize the impact of VL on women’s quality of life, how she correlates this complaint to herself and her partner, as well as the need to reinforce woman-centred care approaches that enable a deeper understanding of this situation. Qualitative analysis can help to fill this gap, enabling the study of future diagnostic tools. Thus, the aim of this study is to understand the meanings that women attribute to the sensation of VL and its impact on their perception of themselves, of their intimate affective relationships, and their sexuality.

We used a qualitative approach to understand the meanings that women attribute to the sensation of VL. The present study used in-depth interviews and followed the guidelines of the Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research – COREQ” as a support tool [ 9 ]. Local Institutional Review Board has approved the study (CAAE number 12919119.9.0000.5404).

Participants and settings

Women were selected before the randomization/allocation procedure from a randomized clinical trial (February 2020 – December 2021) that offered treatment to women complaining of VL [ 10 ]. Participants who agreed to participate in the study signed an informed consent form. We included women aged ≥ 18 years with a complaint of VL assessed by a direct question (yes/no) and the Vaginal Laxity Questionnaire (VLQ) [ 4 ] and excluded participants who did not consent to the conduction and recording of the interviews.

Data collection

Data were collected between August and October 2021 after the clinical trial allocation period. A physiotherapist specializing in women’s health with experience with patients complaining of VL (GMVP) contacted each participant via telephone and scheduled the interviews. Women were interviewed individually, face to face, in a private multidisciplinary office at Hospital da Mulher Professor Doutor José Aristodemo Pinotti - CAISM (University of Campinas - UNICAMP) which guaranteed all the security and privacy that the participants needed for the interview. After being comfortably accommodated, the participants answered open and semi-structured questions according to the interview guide (Additional file 1 ). The researcher (GMVP) took unstructured notes of the participants’ behaviour during the interview, as well as non-verbal/facial expressions, and emotional responses to a given topic during the interview, and silences or pauses. The researcher could make adaptations whenever necessary, ensuring that the participants spoke freely about their life experiences and their perceptions about the sensation of VL. The researcher built a bond with the participants during the recruitment process of the clinical trial from which they were recruited; thus, we believe that rapport was established.

Two independent researchers (GMVP; ODRS, a psychologist with expertise in conducting qualitative studies) transcribed each interview verbatim immediately after the interview ended to ensure that no observations were lost while maintaining their original form. Files (full audio transcription and digital files) were stored in a database. The sample size of 16 interviews was appropriate for the present study as analysed by the Information Power Model [ 11 ]. No participant was excluded or withdrew their consent. Software to support the research of qualitative methods was used to assist organize the material, coding, and analysing the data (NVivo 11 - QSR International 2021).

Data analysis

We followed the thematic analysis proposed by Braun and Clarke [ 12 ]. This method characterized by its flexibility allows for identifying, analysing, and reporting patterns from a data set. Firstly, the transcript interviews were read several times to allow familiarization with the data. Subsequently, an initial code generation phase was carried out by two independent authors (GMVP and ODRS) after the identification of ideas and relevant information from the data set. The initial codes were revised through a systematic and exhaustive reading of the material to reflect on the participant’s perceptions of the object of study. The NVivo 11 software was useful to organize, identify patterns through the data set and validate researchers’ analysis. Through this software, a word cloud was created based on the frequency of words.

Next, we initiated the phase that allows searching for themes and sub-themes based on a process to group codes. These themes were supported by quotes to appropriately reflect the participants’ meanings and perceptions. To ensure the validity of the data, all processes were discussed with two senior researchers (LGOB, FGS), which allowed a collaborative discussion on the categorization process based on a situated and reflexive interpretation.

Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected to better understand the characteristics of the participants. All interviews were conducted in Brazilian Portuguese language and the quotes supporting each theme and sub-theme were translated into English by a fluent translator in both languages. The translation was performed immediately after the transcription to capture elements that could help during the equivalence translation.

Sixteen women were interviewed for a total of seven hours and 25 min; Table 1 shows their sociodemographic and clinical-related characteristics. The participants’ age ranged from 31 to 50 years. Most of women were married, premenopausal, multiparous, with previous vaginal delivery. The participants declared themselves to be of Asian background ( n = 1), Black background ( n = 8) and White Background ( n = 7).

We presented the main themes and sub-themes that were defined during the thematic analysis (Additional file 2 - presents the transcript for each theme and subtheme). As a result of this process, we constructed three major themes and their respective sub-themes represented in Fig. 1 . Figure 2 contains the words that most frequently emerged from the women´s transcripts.

The five major themes

Word frequency based on NVivo (NVivo 11 – QSR International MA, USA) analysis

Theme 1. The long and lonely pathway: from the identification of symptoms of VL to diagnosis

The pathway taken by women with VL symptoms until reaching the definition of the diagnosis and, consequently, access to treatments for the management of this condition, becomes a long and lonely process. VL symptoms are imbricated with the identification of a series of other pelvic floor symptoms that cause discomfort in women´s daily lives.

This pathway to obtaining the diagnosis could be represented as a process where women face several barriers. In this theme, we cover the initial moments beginning with the VL social invisibility until perceiving the symptoms as a moment of encounter with themselves, the feelings that emerged, and the first steps that show the mobilization of behaviour in favour of seeking information in an attempt to find strategies to deal with the perceived symptoms. Thus, they became the first aspects experienced by the interviewees in this complex process.

Subtheme 1.1: from the invisibility of VL to the perception of their symptoms

VL is an unknown and little-spoken topic, which demonstrates the low visibility and discussion of this topic either among patients or among health professionals. In this sense, they highlight the importance of addressing this issue and the need for greater dissemination.

Is it a bit of a myth that is said? It’s a little veiled … it’s a little talked about… it’s unknown. (Participant 1).

Women reported that talking about VL with a person who does not complain about it is difficult and embarrassing.

I was always kind of withdrawn in that sense… sexually , because I thought… oh , who am I going to talk to? … Sometimes colleagues don’t know much … and there’s the issue of prejudice too … you can’t go around saying that to others … right? … And so , gynaecologists , professionals … did not have this knowledge … I had no one to talk to … and so I had the opportunity to meet C. (nurse). (Participant 4).

Moreover, the difficulty in naming the complaint also becomes a barrier to seeking specialized help. Thus, diagnosis of VL can be delayed, and consequently, access to treatment options. In this process, denial of the symptoms or thinking that “it’s all in my head” is a mechanism that women use to deal with the symptoms.

Ah , I don’t know… I think that , as always , we always let it go , … saying , “no , … it will pass!” … this is something that will pass … it’s something in my head … it’s something that I have in my head because the other person is not complaining about anything , so … then we leave it as it is , and it stays as it is… right? Because , sometimes you don’t talk to the gynaecologist , you don’t talk… and… you just let it go… right? (Participant 5) .

On the other hand, the identification of other pelvic floor symptoms such as stress urinary incontinence, flatus vaginalis, dyspareunia and anorgasmia made the diagnosis of VL difficult. These symptoms are commonly present in other conditions and their overlap contributed to complicating the diagnosis process.

Subtheme 1.2: “Everything will fall out!”: shame, guilt and stigma as diagnosis barriers

Women experienced fear, fright, sadness, tension, shame, frustration, and concern when identifying VL symptoms. “Everything will fall out” would be interpreted as a metaphor for all the intense feelings that women have to deal with for a long time and that affect them and impact their perspectives for the future.

We observed that when these symptoms occur on a daily basis, the suffering seems to be enhanced and persist for a long time.

I got frustrated! … (pause) … and the frustration has been coming for a long time! … Because … I have a 26-year-old son … do the math … more than 25 years with this frustration! … like … it’s … for me , it’s frustrating , because … my husband , he enjoys it! Sure! (emphatic) … any man has pleasure! … but I … I’m missing something! (Participant 3).

Fear, stigma and shame usually prevent women from seeking immediate help. Moreover, it is possible to observe a certain guilt for having this complaint, as women consider that they may have had some responsibility in the past as they might have “damaged” their vagina during vaginal delivery, thus confronting its consequences today.

It wasn’t like that , from one day to the next… we always put the blame on ourselves , right… always on the woman , right… (smiled)… something with us is wrong , but we I don’t know why… but (pause)… I don’t know … I already had two children. (Participant 5).

Subtheme 1.3: “But I had no idea of looking for a treatment.” Women’s strategies to begin a help-seeking process

Finally, in this subtheme, as part of the women’s journeys, we point out that, as a continuation of the interviewees’ moments of encounter with the symptoms of VL and the feelings that emerged, there is a behavioural mobilization to seek help or information, either through professional help and especially through other less reliable sources, in an attempt to continue to understand what is happening to them and how to alleviate these symptoms.

Some women reported seeking information about home treatments and exercises as alternatives to relieve symptoms.

I researched a lot on the internet… so the internet helped me a lot! … it helped a lot … with information … and reading about … more like that. (Participant 9).

The possibility of performing surgeries as an alternative treatment was a recurring theme among the various interviewees. Another way used by the women was to seek friends with the same symptom, as of having the need to build a network support.

I talked to a friend who spoke… about vaginal looseness… because I didn’t even know what it was… I imagined… I don’t know… that I had to do some plastic surgery… surgery or something. (Participant 11).

Regarding the contact with health professionals, women reported that the first contact to address the topic was mediated by the gynaecologist; however, they recognize that this is a topic that is still little addressed in the consultations and feel that there is poor knowledge from physicians to deal with their complaints.

A doctor even told me that this was a prolapsed bladder , she didn’t tell me that I was wide! She said: “you can’t lift weight because of your bladder”… but the bladder goes down , but not so much! … I thought she was already here at the door! … Each one said something , you know? … One said that I wasn’t wide… he treated the hormones and said that I needed surgery… so I was kind of lost! … I only found myself here (at the university) when I was called to participate in the research … Because then I knew exactly what I had. Because each one said the same thing! (Participant 7).

The demand for specialized help intensifies when they observe that the symptoms worsen, especially those that interfere with sexual intercourse and the bond with the partner.

During sex , I realized , oddly enough , after I got to know the program (research project). Because then I started to pay more attention to it… if I was… I saw Vaginal Laxity on the internet , on the Research Program profile and… I said “wow! ” It’s about vaginal laxity then! And then I started to pay more attention to it and then I came up with this idea. I observed more like this… then I noticed this feeling of looseness during sex. It was just after signing up. (Participant 1).

The expectations around the cure and the gradual improvement of the symptoms were seen with a positive perspective, and a moment of personal overcoming.

My expectations are that I will get better… that everything will be perfect… and that from the treatment I will get to know myself much better… and that I will… ah that it will be 100%… wonderful! (Participant 9).

Theme 2. “The label of vaginal laxity is a heavy burden to bear” meanings associated with VL complaints

VL allows the surge of several meanings associated with the looseness of the vagina and weakness of the vaginal musculature. Thus, perceptions and explanations that women elaborate on the main causes of VL are reinforced, and these actions result in negative qualifiers that are linked to their own experiences.

The term itself causes embarrassment in the interviewees. Participants identify it as a shocking term that generates shame and results in stigmas that emerge in interaction with others. Some of the qualifiers reveal VL as “weakness in the vagina muscles” ,“flabbiness or flaccid underneath”, “open”, “vacuum”, “withering”, “as if it were hollow inside” and “laxity”. The interviewees generally associate the complaint with the terms “loose thing”, “loose” or “wide”, “enlargement” of the vagina. Others describe having identified it as “something strange”, different or missing compared to other women, as well as changes in the appearance of the external genitalia.

Who wants to be recognized as a vaginal laxity? Imagine if this is diagnosed as a disease! And what is the name of your problem? … It’s vaginal laxity… it doesn’t work! (Participant 13).

Women reported that VL could have been caused because their vagina had been excessively used or that they had badly behaved in the past that could have interfered with their current condition, blaming themselves for this. Others blamed health professionals and practices during childbirth with procedures such as episiotomy. They also reported that pregnancy and childbirth, genital prolapse, age and the ageing process would also be explanations.

A wide thing! … (pause) … a wide thing that … can’t be filled … you know … it’s been used! … and … it widened … as if we had … it’s … like , for example … stuck something in there for a long time … and it took that shape … understand? (Participant 3).

Theme 3: Self-relationship: “I don’t feel like a complete woman”

Women reported difficulties looking at themselves and identifying the signs and symptoms associated with VL. Feeling uncomfortable or not liking their vaginas or vulvas, insecurity, incapability, powerlessness, guilt, or anger are the emotions women reported during the interview.

… I can’t even look anymore… I can’t even look at myself in front of the mirror… because then I cry! (Participant 7).

For some of them, self-care practices are not so frequent, and women may refer themselves as less feminine, with statements that denote the perception of feeling “less of a woman” or incomplete. Some of them reinforce the expectation of wanting to “be normal” and mention that these transformations make them feel that they are not the same person.

(….)I look in the mirror and say “it’s not me! (emphatic) … I feel less of a woman! (Participant 10).

Moreover, for another group of women, they feel the need to generate pleasure for their partners in sexual intercourse and VL impacted their self-esteem and their femininity.

… my self-esteem is down there in that part (floor) … I don’t feel like a complete woman! (emphatic) … right… I don’t feel pleasure , right… it’s like I’m hollow inside! (emphatic) … that’s not what I wanted to feel! … I wish I could feel pleasure! … I wanted to (emphatic) give pleasure , you know? … and currently I’m not feeling anything anymore in this relationship between me and him … I look in the mirror and say “it’s not me! (emphatic) … I feel less of a woman! (Participant 10).

Theme 4: Effect of VL on sexual intercourse

Decreased sexual desire, decreased lubrication and anorgasmia during sexual intercourse were recurrent reports, qualifying sexual intercourse as an “absence of sensation”, “an empty thing” or “empty”. One of the interviewees described the sensation during penetration as “a finger floating in space”. We observed the use of some terms that denote dissatisfaction regarding their own pleasure and sexual experience. As well as an objectification of themselves.

I noticed in these leaks (urine) and in sexual relations in which I could not feel my partner … my partner’s penis … (pause) …and in the vaginal area. (Participant 6). I don’t feel the penis… I don’t feel like I have the strength to grab it… even when I try to force it to work the muscles… even when I try hard I can’t! (Participant 13). It’s like I… have nothing , doctor (emphatic)… like I’m a huge hole , and… (she thought)… and without any sensation! (Participant 6).

Women reported that the duration and frequency of sexual penetration became shorter and with longer intervals between one and other. They have also mentioned the use of pillows and supports as an attempt to contract the vaginal musculature during penetration, as well as changes in the sexual position and simulation of orgasm to satisfy the partner.

Sexual practice without penetration (foreplay activities to longer periods), reduction of the duration of sexual penetration and maintaining relations with the lights off in the bedroom were used as strategies to deal with uncomfortable situations VL would cause.

In reality (pause) … the foreplay was the best part , because … penetration was the worst part for me … (pause) … a lot of times I even avoided it … I accepted the foreplay but the penetration , no! … Uncomfortable. (Participant 2).

Women have the perception that narrowing the vagina is directly associated with pleasure. The feeling that it is not tight, the “lack of fit in the intercourse”, being “tight” or “loose” have a direct impact on sexual pleasure and satisfaction, especially with the partners, being the object of constant concern by them. More interestingly, some women even think about having pain during sexual penetration as means of having achieved a narrower vagina as part of some expectations.

You have no desire to do it… and when you try it’s horrible! (emphatic) … because you feel lax , loose! It’s the same thing as having nothing inside you! (Participant 7).

Theme 5: “I know it changed everything!”: relationship with the partner

Communicating about symptoms, especially those that interfere with sex-erotic relationships, is a reason for shame and embarrassment, which is why it is often an issue that is avoided. Evading this theme also intends to avoid any possibility of offending, hurting the partner or receiving any kind of questioning.

It’s because I think I end up pulling away… I think I’m not enough… that I’m not pleasing… and then he ends up pulling away… and there’s no conversation , right… because you don’t want to be exposed. Then when I expose myself , he says it’s all in my head… that everything is normal for him. Then I think… “is it really true?” Is it okay for him? … here come the doubts … come the questions. (Participant 11).

VL symptoms also interfere with some dimensions of intimate partner relationships, such as communication, impacting their perceptions regarding the affective bond or even influencing some relevant decisions such as the possibility of getting divorced.

I didn’t like that he didn’t even come near me! … I don’t know if it’s in my head or what it was … I know it changed everything! I even thought about getting divorced! (…) I didn’t want any more contact with my husband… I distanced myself from him… so , it affected a lot my relationship with my husband … so , I cooled down! (Participant 7).

Women reported that they are recurrently concerned with the partner’s pleasure during sexual intercourse, thus nullifying their own pleasure. Having sexual activities with the partner becomes an obligation even when some practices may cause discomfort, shame, and insecurities. Interestingly, they report situations where partners may avoid them and causes for that are elaborated such as possible betrayal, lack of affection or not feeling desired. All these points make their own sexual pleasure to not be their main priority.

. man always complains! … thinks the woman doesn’t want to! … that the woman has a headache … because of this or that! … and sometimes we don’t talk … the real thing … and even if we tell them … it always has to be the way they want it … right? … then … it changed! (emphatic) … it changed … even if I didn’t say it , even if I didn’t talk … it changed … I didn’t say it at all … I kept it to myself … (Participant 5).

Our study reveals how women deal with VL throughout their lives and the impact it causes on intrapersonal and interpersonal relationships, as well as the barriers they face in accessing early diagnosis and treatment. Obtaining a diagnosis of VL is a long and difficult process. Several factors collaborate to reinforce these barriers, among them: the delay in recognizing the problem; waiting for the condition to improve spontaneously; if the partner doesn’t complain, it’s not so bad; links to other nonspecific symptoms (for example, urinary leakage) considered to be related to VL. The lack of knowledge about the body and its physiology becomes evident, as well as the subordinate and passive women´s position in the affective-sexual relationship. Feelings of shame and embarrassment by women reinforces the barriers for treatment and subsequent notification.

The invisibility of VL reinforces the need for discussion and research on the topic. A survey carried out among physicians of the International Urogynaecological Association (IUGA) revealed that 83% of respondents consider VL to be an underreported condition [ 13 ].

The scarcity of evidence on the pathophysiology of VL and the lack of objective diagnostic tools contribute to this underreported condition. Diagnosis of VL is based on women’s self-report. The lack of clarity in the exposition of the theme by health professionals was some of the problems pointed out by the study participants. These findings support previous studies that identified that health professionals do not routinely address questions about sexuality with their patients; reasons would be lack of time, resources, health policies and training [ 14 ].

Given that, the Internet becomes one of the main alternatives for women to seek information. However, it does not guarantee reliable information. This source is used by them to build their opinions about VL and their expectations about treatment, bringing reflection about the role of social media on educating lay people. About treatment options for VL, for some participants, surgery appears as an alternative for immediate resolution of the symptom. Interestingly, surgical treatment of VL was perceived by IUGA member physicians as the most effective intervention when compared with Kegel exercises or physiotherapy [ 13 ].

As reasons for developing VL, blaming themselves for attitudes of the past, and attributing the aetiology of VL to it, are some of the behaviours observed in the interviewees. The ageing process, pregnancy and childbirth are understood as elements that impact in the current condition. In this sense, although the aetiology of VL has not yet been clearly identified, studies point out to hypotheses that pregnancy and vaginal delivery affect the sensation of VL [ 2 , 15 ].

In the construction of the female identity, women identify the ability to give pleasure to their partner as a central condition, which affects their self-image. We noticed that, for women, the improvements in the symptoms associated with VL are understood as to recover their femininity. Studies suggest that negative changes in female sexual function are common, the main reasons for which are biological, psychological, interpersonal and sociocultural changes [ 16 , 17 ]. In this context, many women experience changes in their bodies [ 17 , 18 ], with potential changes in their sexual organs [ 19 ]. All these changes impact the way these women perceive themselves and, consequently, their body image. Body image is defined as the perception of the aesthetics or attractiveness of one’s own body [ 20 ] and, thus, of sexual function and satisfaction [ 21 ]. Similar to our study, Thomas et al. [ 21 ] found that feeling attractive was an important aspect of women’s sexual activity and the way in which they responded to perceived changes in their bodies also affected their sexual activities and sexual satisfaction.

A previous study revealed that couple communication was considered a priority for the women surveyed. The highest rates of emotional and partner relationship satisfaction were reported by women who rated their sexual relationships as active and satisfying [ 22 ]. In our study, symptoms such as decreased lubrication, anorgasmia, and the VL affect their perception of their partner’s sexual satisfaction. Sexual relations are perceived as an obligation in their role as wives, and therefore, submitting to practices that they attribute as uncomfortable is a way of maintaining the bond with the partner. For Hinchliff et al., placing the sexual needs of partners above their own needs implies the passivity of female sexuality. The feeling of duty, the uncertainty of not knowing what else to do, the attempt to prevent the partners from seeking sex with another woman and the collapsed marriage were some of the reasons that made women engage in sexual relations when they had no desire [ 23 ].

Heterosexual women are less likely to endorse communication with their partners on topics other than sex as relevant to their sexual satisfaction than bisexual women [ 24 ]. According to the participants’ reports, reporting VL interferes with intimacy with the partner, generating a distance between the couple. By avoiding contact and communication with the partner, the interviewees experience feelings of worthlessness and the need not to be exposed. Lack of communication is also seen as the possibility of extramarital sexual activities. When there is an attempt at communication, dissatisfaction with the dialogue with the partners is notorious when the interviewees reveal that the partners do not understand the complaint, stating to them that it is “things in your head”.

VL symptoms are perceived as a barrier to having pleasurable penetrative sex. The study by Holt et al. [ 24 ], found that heterosexual women valued orgasm frequency more than other groups of women. Vaginal intercourse is avoided or postponed until the final moments of sexual activity. Frustrated attempts to keep the vagina tighter are revealed during the participants’ speech. According to the interviewees, a tight vagina is considered ideal for both female and male orgasms. In this context, as they are unable to offer a tight vagina to their partners, anal intercourse is allowed to guarantee pleasure for the partner.

The present study has limitations that need to be elucidated. Our findings need to be interpreted considering that the study was carried out in a single centre, in a tertiary hospital, which reflects the perceptions of women who attend a specialized service. Future studies could include a population that comprehensively assesses aspects of VL from the LGBTQIAP + group, such as homo and/or bisexual women. On the other hand, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that qualitatively assesses the perception of women with VL. Based on our findings, new hypotheses can be developed for a better understanding of the pathophysiology of VL, as well as the need to develop specific assessment instruments for such complaints.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Sao Paulo Research Agency (FAPESP) for all the support for this study.

The first author received a scholarship grant from Sao Paulo Research Agency (FAPESP) number 2019/26723-5.

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Gláucia Miranda Varella Pereira, Odette Del Risco Sánchez, Fernanda Garanhani Surita, Cássia Raquel Teatin Juliato & Luiz Gustavo Oliveira Brito

Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900 - Campus Universitário, Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900, São Paulo, Brazil

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GMVP: conception and design of the study, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data, drafting and revising the article, final version approval. ODRS: acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data, drafting and revising the article, final version approval. FGS: analysis and interpretation of data, drafting and revising the article, final version approval. LASL: drafting and revising the article, final version approval. CRTJ: conception and design of the study, drafting and revising the article, final version approval. LGOB: conception and design of the study, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data, drafting and revising the article, final version approval.

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Pereira, G.M.V., Sánchez, O.D.R., Surita, F.G. et al. Experiences of women with symptoms of vaginal laxity – a qualitative study. BMC Women's Health 24 , 518 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-024-03366-8

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Doorways of Understanding: A Generative Metaphor Analysis

Katie Haus Indiana University
Jaclyn Hadfield Louisiana State University
Kathryn LaRoche Purdue University
Barbara Dennis Indiana University
Ronna Turner University of Arkansas
Brandon Crawford Indiana University
Wen-Juo Lo University of Arkansas
Kristen Jozkowski Indiana University

In this paper, we explore the use of a generative metaphor for analyzing qualitative interviews on abortion attitudes. U.S. abortion attitudes are notably complex and multidimensional, thus, requiring subtle, complex, and multidimensional tools of study. We used the generative metaphor of a "doorway" as an analytic tool to enable new understandings of abortion attitudes as expressed across 24 one-on-one semi-structured qualitative interviews with U.S. adults. The doorway metaphor gave us an understanding of the ways in which participants thought of their abortion attitudes as open to revision or change to some degree while also being closed to revision in other ways. This spectrum of openness and closedness does not come into view when examining abortion attitudes through the dichotomous framings. In this methodological paper, we thoroughly describe how we used the metaphor to explicate the complexities and multi-dimensionalities of a person's abortion attitudes.

Author Biographies

Katie haus, indiana university.

Katie HAUS is an advanced doctoral student working on a dual PhD in health behavior (School of Public Health) and qualitative and quantitative research methodology (School of Education) at Indiana University. She is currently integrating her interests in sexual health with her interests in creative epistemologies and critical methodologies to center human experience and outcomes in reproductive health.

Jaclyn Hadfield, Louisiana State University

Dr. Jaclyn HADFIELD is a multilingual cross-cultural behavioral scientist who specializes in mixed-methods, cross-cultural, and multilingual research (English/Spanish/Italian). Although in her research she explores various domains of public health, she predominantly focuses on social and behavioral determinants of health beliefs and behaviors among women within the domain of physical activity using theory-based methods with a translational and community-based approach. In her research, she aims to identify salient factors to inclusively influence intervention designs and improve women's physical activity behavioral engagement while reducing health disparities domestically and globally.

Kathryn LaRoche, Purdue University

Dr. Kathryn J. LaROCHE is an assistant professor in the Department of Public Health at Purdue University. As a public health social scientist and applied anthropologist, she carries out community-engaged, action- and intervention-oriented research about sexual and reproductive health with a focus on abortion and pregnancy.

Barbara Dennis, Indiana University

Dr. Barbara DENNIS is a professor in the Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methodology program at Indiana University. She studies methodological concepts such as validity and ethics in the context of critical qualitative research with a particular interest in methodological equity and justice. In her 2020 book, "Walking with strangers. Critical Ethnography and Educational Promise," nominated for several awards, she detailed the methodological inner workings of a long-term critical ethnography. In her most recent book, co-authored with Pengfei HAO, Karen ROSS, and Peiwei LI (2021), she advanced a practitioner/student centered approach to social science methodology.

Ronna Turner, University of Arkansas

Dr. Ronna C. TURNER is a professor in educational statistics and research methods and coordinator for the educational statistics and psychometrics concentration of the interdisciplinary Statistics and Analytics program at the University of Arkansas. She received her PhD in educational psychology from the University of Illinois, specializing in quantitative and evaluative research methodologies.

Brandon Crawford, Indiana University

Dr. Brandon CRAWFORD is a principal investigator on the Indiana University Abortion Attitudes Project (IUAPP) and an assistant professor in the Department of Applied Health Science in the School of Public Health at Indiana University Bloomington. His main areas of research include the measurement of attitudes regarding controversial social issues and examining the relationship between child maltreatment, child welfare experiences, and adverse life events throughout the life-course. He has expertise in the analysis of secondary data (including data with complex survey designs), survey development, and quantitative analyses.

Wen-Juo Lo, University of Arkansas

Dr. Wen-Juo LO is an associate professor and program co-coordinator in the Educational Statistics and Research Methodology (ESRM) program at the University of Arkansas. Before coming to the USA, he worked in a general hospital in Taiwan for five years and conducted inpatient and outpatient psychotherapy as well as psychological assessments. His research interests involve methodological issues related to latent factor modeling with a focus on psychometric methods in examining the validity and reliability of the psychological inventory.

Kristen Jozkowski, Indiana University

Dr. Kristen N. JOZKOWSKI is a principal investigator for the Indiana University Abortion Attitudes Project (IUAPP). She is the William L. Yarber Endowed Professor in Sexual Health in the Department of Applied Health Science in the School of Public Health, a senior scientist with the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, and affiliate faculty in gender studies at Indiana University. In her research, she focuses on sexual consent and refusal communication and abortion attitudes. She has expertise and training in mixed-methods and sexuality.

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Using Metaphors to Make Research Findings Meaningful
In qualitative research, metaphors can help simplify complex and/or multidimensional concepts through connecting one familiar concept to another familiar one, resulting in the comparison between the two concepts opening up new possibilities and perspectives (Schmitt, 2005). Metaphors provide structure to data and aid understanding of a familiar ...
Systematic Metaphor Analysis as a Method of Qualitative Research
Qualitative research need s an approach that allows a systematic. reflection of the metaphors in which, and th rough which, we perceive, speak, think, and. act. The systematic analysis of ...
Metaphor Analysis
The purpose of metaphor analysis for qualitative research is to develop a better understanding of complex structures and lexical units. "Systematic metaphor analysis attempts to reconstruct models of thought, language and action" (Schmitt, 2005, p. 386) to make language more accessible.Furthermore, metaphor analysis outlines metaphorical patterns and can shed light into the frame of ...
Metaphors in qualitative research: shedding light or casting ...
The use of metaphors in qualitative research provides an opportunity to examine phenomena from a unique and creative perspective. Metaphors can be used to provide structure to the data; to understand a familiar process in a new light; to identify situation-specific interventions; and to evoke emotion. Misuse of metaphors may detract from the ...
Using Metaphors to Make Research Findings Meaningful
However, while the right metaphor can be extremely useful, it also is important to understand that using metaphors to translate research results is not just a new way of offering information. ... Systematic metaphor analysis as a method of qualitative research. The Qualitative Report, 10 (2), 358-394. 10.46743/2160-3715/2005.1854 ...
(PDF) Metaphor Analysis
Methods of conducting metaphor analysis ere are a number of wa ys to conduct metaphor analyses, including in conj unction. ... The type of research used is descriptive qualitative research.
Using Metaphors to Make Research Findings Meaningful
Metaphors are useful for invit-ing people into worlds that they might not otherwise have seen. They can stimulate imagination, incite feelings, help people to see new meanings, and even lead to change. In qualitative research, metaphors can help simplify complex and/or multidimensional concepts through connecting one familiar concept to another ...
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The metaphor research, a method, an approach, or a strategy? ... qualitative or mixed methods. The fifth layer shows that the study of the phenomenon at issue has been done in a specific section of time or in a longer period of time. Finally, in the sixth layer, the researcher uses different methods to collect and analyze research data ...
(PDF) Metaphor Analysis in Psychology—Method, Theory ...
Method It is a qualitative, exploratory, documentary research, based on the Conceptual Metaphor, the Cognitive-Behavioral Theory, and on the Methodology of Teaching with Analogies.
Metaphors as a Bridge to Understanding Educational and Social Contexts
This is how metaphors begin to have epistemological and ontological validity as an educational research method. One of the underlying assumptions of any research endeavor, whether qualitative or quantitative, is that there is an attempt to understand better the environment being studied.
Systematic Metaphor Analysis as a Method of Qualitative Research
George Lakoff and Mark Johnsons theory of metaphor (1980, 1999) provides a basis for describing everyday cognitive structures using linguistic models and thus, making it possible to uncover both individual and collective patterns of thought and action. Lakoff and Johnson have not, however, developed a workable system for carrying out qualitative research. This paper outlines the fundamentals ...
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Teaching qualitative research: a metaphorical approach
It also seeks to demonstrate, using a practical example, how this theory can be applied to the teaching of qualitative research. Method: Using reflection on our experiences of using analogy and metaphor in teaching the qualitative research process on a Master's degree programme, we assess the potential for using analogy and metaphor as a ...
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We chose the self-study methodology because it lends itself to personal studies such as ours. Self-study allows for the use and application of a variety of methods that are mainly qualitative in nature (Samaras & Freese, 2006), and of which the arts-based metaphor is one (Tidwell & Jónsdóttir, 2020).Amongst its qualities, self-study is critically collaborative in that it needs critical ...
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Coding Metaphors in Interaction: A Study Protocol and Reflection on
The team work is particularly needed in metaphor research aiming for discovering all used source domains instead of starting with a predetermined set of concepts, because of the wide variety of metaphor-related words that need to be categorised consistently. ... Schmitt R. (2005). Systematic metaphor analysis as a method of qualitative research ...
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Using Metaphors to Make Research Findings Meaningful

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Experiences of women with symptoms of vaginal laxity – a qualitative study

Participants and settings

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Data analysis

Theme 1. The long and lonely pathway: from the identification of symptoms of VL to diagnosis

Subtheme 1.1: from the invisibility of VL to the perception of their symptoms

Subtheme 1.2: “Everything will fall out!”: shame, guilt and stigma as diagnosis barriers

Subtheme 1.3: “But I had no idea of looking for a treatment.” Women’s strategies to begin a help-seeking process

Theme 2. “The label of vaginal laxity is a heavy burden to bear” meanings associated with VL complaints

Theme 3: Self-relationship: “I don’t feel like a complete woman”

Theme 4: Effect of VL on sexual intercourse

Theme 5: “I know it changed everything!”: relationship with the partner

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Doorways of Understanding: A Generative Metaphor Analysis

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Jaclyn Hadfield, Louisiana State University

Kathryn LaRoche, Purdue University

Barbara Dennis, Indiana University

Ronna Turner, University of Arkansas

Brandon Crawford, Indiana University

Wen-Juo Lo, University of Arkansas

Kristen Jozkowski, Indiana University

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