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Background & Aim: Sexual function is an important part of the health of women, and the satisfaction of basic psychological needs is among the variables related to sexual dysfunction. The self-determination theory is one of the most important motivational theories, which considers one’s internal motive the main cause of behavior, and also views three psychological needs (autonomy, relatedness, and competence) as the basis of human behavior. This study was to determine the effect of sexual consulting based on the self-determination theory on women’s sexual function.
Methods & Materials: This clinical trial was conducted on 104 married women aged 18 to 49 years referred to Mashhad health centers in two groups of intervention and control in 2019. The intervention group received five sessions of two-hour group counseling based on the constructs of self-determination theory, with intervals of one week. The data was collected using the sexual performance questionnaire and the constructs of self-determination theory (basic psychological needs) before and after the intervention. Data was analyzed using the SPSS software version 16 through independent t-test, paired t-test, Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests.
Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the average score of sexual function before the intervention. However, after the intervention, the difference in the average score of sexual function between before and after the intervention was 2.76±3.02 for the intervention group and -0.25±0.73 for the control group, which showed a significant increase in the sexual function score of the intervention group compared to the control (P<0.001). Moreover, after the intervention between the intervention and control groups, a statistically significant difference was observed in the average scores of autonomy, competence and relatedness (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Providing group sexual counseling based on the self-determination theory can satisfy the basic needs relating to sexuality and improve women's sexual performance.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20180726040602N1
 

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Background & Aim: Following hypoactive sexual desire disorder, orgasmic disorder is the most commonly reported sexual dysfunction in women. Consultation based on an integrated approach is one of the suitable methods for treating this problem. Considering the prevalence, importance and impact of orgasmic disorder on the quality of individual, family and social life in women, the study aimed at investigating the effect of integrated consultation based on the Ex-PLISSIT model on women's orgasmic disorder.
Methods & Materials: This randomized clinical trial was performed on 60 women with orgasmic disorder referred to the women's clinic of Arash Women's Comprehensive Hospital in Tehran in 2019. Samples were randomly assigned either to intervention or control group. The intervention was done in the form of individual counseling sessions using an integrated approach based on the Ex-PLISSIT model. Data collection tool included the Female Orgasm Scale. Orgasm rate, satisfaction with the number of orgasms, and satisfaction with orgasm quality were assessed before the intervention, 4 and 8 weeks after the intervention. Data were analyzed by Chi-square test, Fisher exact test, independent t-test, repeated measures analysis of variance and analysis of covariance using the SPSS software version 21.
Results: The two groups were homogeneous in the demographic variables (P>0.05). The mean scores of the number of orgasms, satisfaction with the number of orgasms and satisfaction with orgasm quality were not significantly different between the two groups before the intervention (P>0.05). However, 4 and 8 weeks after the intervention, mean scores of the number of orgasms, satisfaction with the number of orgasms, and satisfaction with orgasm quality showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05), and in both times the mean scores in the intervention group was significantly higher than those of in the control group.
Conclusion: The results of the present study showed the positive effect of integrated consultation based on Ex-PLISSIT model on orgasm rate, satisfaction with the number of orgasms and satisfaction with orgasm quality in women.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20160808029255N

 

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Background & Aim: Considering that a decline in sexual satisfaction after assisted reproductive treatment failure can cause a decrease in the overall quality and satisfaction of life, the present study was conducted to compare the effect of sexual counseling based on EX-PLISSIT and BETTER models on the sexual satisfaction of infertile women following the failure of assisted reproductive technologies.
Methods & Materials: This randomized clinical trial, conducted in 2022, involved 66 infertile women who had experienced unsuccessful assisted reproductive treatments and were referred to the Milad Infertility Center of Imam Reza (AS) Hospital in Mashhad, Iran. The participants were divided into two intervention groups – EX-PLISSIT and BETTER – and received individual sexual counseling across four weekly sessions, comprising two face-to-face and two virtual sessions. Data were collected using the Sexual Satisfaction Scale for Women (SSSW) and subsequently analyzed using SPSS software version 25, through chi-square, independent t-tests, Mann-Whitney, and Wilcoxon tests.
Results: After the intervention, there were no statistically significant differences in the total scores of sexual satisfaction and its components between the two groups (P>0.05), with the exception of relational anxiety (P=0.021). Intra-group comparisons revealed a significant increase in the total scores of sexual satisfaction and its components within each group after the intervention, as compared to before the intervention (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Sexual counseling utilizing the EX-PLISSIT and BETTER models was found to be an effective, affordable, and side-effect-free method in enhancing sexual satisfaction among infertile women after the failure of assisted reproductive methods, particularly by addressing relational anxiety.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20210211050324N1