Effectiveness of sexual health counseling based on mindfulness approach on sexual satisfaction in women suffering from infertility: An RCT.

BACKGROUND

The infertility phenomenon affects physiological and psychosocial aspects. Sexual counseling can improve sexual and marital satisfaction.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of sexual health counseling based on the mindfulness approach on sexual satisfaction of women suffering from infertility.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This randomized clinical trial study was conducted on 44 women suffering from infertility referred to the Yazd Reproductive Science Institute, Yazd, Iran. Women were randomly divided into 2 groups. The intervention group (n = 22) received 8 sessions of sexual counseling, while control group (n = 22) received routine care. The data collection tool was the sexual satisfaction questionnaire.

RESULTS

The mean age of women was 30.05 4.9 yr, infertility duration was 6.83 4.27 yr, and the mean duration of marriage was 8.3 4.01 yr. The mean score of sexual satisfaction of women suffering from infertility in the intervention group was 62.9 7.32, 71.6 5.95, and 70.9 6.26, before the intervention (baseline), after intervention (8 wk), and follow-up (12 wk) respectively. The mean score of sexual satisfaction of women suffering from infertility in the control group was 63.3 6.82, 64.2 7.93, and 62.25 7.99, at baseline, 8 wk later, and after follow-up (12 wk), respectively. Sexual satisfaction scores increased before and one month after the intervention in the counseling group, and this difference was statistically significant (p 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Mindfulness-based sexual health counseling programs may improve sexual satisfaction in women suffering from infertility in the intervention group.