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 ۴۴ women suffering from infertility referred to the Yazd Reproductive Science Institute, Yazd, Iran. Women were randomly divided into ۲ groups. The intervention group (n = ۲۲) received ۸ sessions of sexual counseling, while control group (n = ۲۲) received routine care. The data collection tool was the sexual satisfaction questionnaire. Results: The mean age of women was ۳۰.۰۵ ± ۴.۹ yr, infertility duration was ۶.۸۳ ± ۴.۲۷ yr, and the mean duration of marriage was ۸.۳ ± ۴.۰۱ yr. The mean score of sexual satisfaction of women suffering from infertility in the intervention group was ۶۲.۹ ± ۷.۳۲, ۷۱.۶ ± ۵.۹۵, and ۷۰.۹ ± ۶.۲۶, before the intervention (baseline), after intervention (۸th wk), and follow-up (۱۲th wk) respectively. The mean score of sexual satisfaction of women suffering from infertility in the control group was ۶۳.۳ ± ۶.۸۲, ۶۴.۲ ± ۷.۹۳, and ۶۲.۲۵ ± ۷.۹۹, at baseline, ۸th wk later, and after follow-up (۱۲th wk), respectively. Sexual satisfaction scores increased before and one month after the intervention in the counseling group, and this difference was statistically significant (p < ۰.۰۰۱). Conclusion: Mindfulness-based sexual health counseling programs may improve sexual satisfaction in women suffering from infertility in the intervention group.

Keywords:

Infertility , Women , Sexual satisfaction , Mindfulness , Psychology. , ناباروری , زنان , رضایت جنسی , ذهن آگاهی , روان شناسی.