There are several factors that lead to pelvic floor discomfort (PAD); these dysfunctions do not directly affect the lives of affected women but end up affecting female genital self-image.

The aim of the study is to relate the PAD and genital self-image in women assisted in primary health care in the city of Criciúma/SC.

This is a cross-sectional study with 212 adult women, aged 18 years or older, with self-reports of being sexually active in the last four weeks, registered in the health network of the city of Criciúma/SC. DAP were verified using the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20) and genital self-image was assessed using the Female Genital Self-Image Scale (FGSIS). The instruments were applied through individual interviews. A comparison of self-image between women with and without PAD was performed using the Spearman test for independent samples, according to data normality.

Genital self-image correlated with all PAD (14.6%), with 12.5% ​​of the variation in anorectal symptoms being explained by genital self-image.

Women with PAD worsen their genital self-image. The main results found were that the increase in DAP and the increase in anorectal symptoms decrease genital self-image.

The lack of national studies on this theme is highlighted, evidencing the importance of its realization.