Table 1 Interview guide

Opening

Presentation of participants

What is your first name, age and how long have you been suffering from GWs?

Introductory question

The participants' reaction to the diagnosis of GWs

1. How did you react when you heard that you had GWs?

Transitional question

Perception of illness

2. What are your views on this disease (in comparison to other STDs, for instance)?

Cues: Cause, consequences, treatment options, time to cure and knowledge about HPV

Key questions

The effect of GWs on their quality of life

3. How has your lives been affected by having GWs?

a. Physical effects

b. The course of treatment

   Cues: Pain, embarrassment, worries about treatment effectiveness and duration of treatment, information and knowledge, doctor-patient communication, practical aspects

c. Effects on work and studies

   Cues: Concerns about stigma, effect on ability to work or study, sick leave, contagion, social avoidance

d. Social relations

   Cues: Concerns about stigma, contagion, avoidance, social isolation

e. Love life

   Cues: worries about present or future partners, infidelity, contagion, conflicts about infidelity or disrupted sex life, fear of rejection and condemnation/disapproval

f. Sex life

   Cues: Desire/lust, initiative, pleasure, spontaneity, avoidance, low self-esteem, negative body-perception, fear of rejection, lack of sexual ability

g. Psychological effects

   Cues: Guilt, shame, anger, worries about the future, depression, fear, negative self-perception, identity, disease phobia

4. Has your quality of life changed since you were first diagnosed with GWs, and if yes, how?

Closing questions

5. In conclusion, I would like each of you to tell me which of the areas that we have discussed has been most affected by having GWs?

6. Is there anything you think we ought to have discussed but did not?