Table 4.

Categories and sub-categories.

Conceptualising category	Subcategory
The first pelvic examination is an indispensable rite of passage into adulthood and the life of a woman	Young women experience the pelvic examination as a transition into a new stage: from adolescence to a woman’s life.
	The first pelvic examination allows women to leave childhood behind and become adults
	The relationship between the woman and her mother (experience sharing, conflicts) can have an impact on their experience of their first pelvic examination: a good mother-daughter relationship improves this experience.
Preparation is necessary for a consultation devoted to the first pelvic examination, with a period of time that is adapted to the woman	The consultation was divided by the women into 3 distinct phases
	1st: The meeting phase between the woman and the practitioner
	2nd: The examination phase should be as quick as possible, but also gentle and painless.
	3rd: The conclusion phase of the consultation was necessary for reassuring the young women
	The discussions before and during the first pelvic examination were very important
	The women’s biographical aspects at the time of their first pelvic examination made each consultation unique
A patient-centred practitioner more important than the pelvic examination itself	Women wanted their choices to be respected
	The practitioner must take into account the woman's vulnerability during her first pelvic examination
	The quality of the relationship between the woman and the practitioner was even more important