Download PDF
CC BY 4.0 · Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet 2020; 42(06): 333-339
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1712483
Original Article
Sexuality
Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Effectiveness of Psycho-Educational and Cognitive-Behavioral Counseling on Female Sexual Dysfunction

Firoozeh Mirzaee 
1   Razi Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
,
Atefeh Ahmadi 
1   Razi Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
,
Zahra Zangiabadi 
1   Razi Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
,
Moghaddameh Mirzaee 
2   Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

28 December 2019

31 March 2020

Publication Date:
30 June 2020 (online)

   Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Introduction Sexual function is a multidimensional phenomenon that is affected by many biological and psychological factors. Cognitive-behavioral sex therapies are among the most common nonpharmacological approaches to psychosexual problems. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of psychoeducational and cognitive-behavioral counseling on female sexual dysfunction.

Methods The present study was a clinical trial with intervention and control groups. The study population consisted of women referring to the general clinic of a governmental hospital in Iran. After completing the demographic questionnaire and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), those who obtained the cutoff score ≤ 28 were contacted and invited to participate in the study. Convenience sampling method was used and 35 subjects were randomly allocated for each group. Eight counseling sessions were held for the intervention group (two/week/1.5 hour). Post-test was taken from both groups after 1 month, and the results were statistically analyzed by PASW Statistics for Windows, Version 18 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

Results The total mean scores of FSFI and the subscales of sexual desire, arousal, orgasm, and satisfaction were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group after the intervention. In addition, postintervention pain mean scores in the intervention group were significantly lower than in the control group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion The results of the present study indicate that psychoeducational cognitive-behavioral counseling is effective in improving female sexual function. It is recommended to compare the effects of psychoeducational cognitive-behavioral counseling on sexual dysfunctions of couples and with a larger sample size in future research.

Keywords

cognitive-behavioral counseling - psychoeducational counseling - female sexual function index
 

  • References

  • 1 Yıldız H. The relation between prepregnancy sexuality and sexual function during pregnancy and the postpartum period: a prospective study. J Sex Marital Ther 2015; 41 (01) 49-59 . Doi: 10.1080/0092623X.2013.811452
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Torkzahrani S, Banaei M, Ozgoli G, Azad M, Emamhadi MA. Postpartum sexual function; conflict in marriage stability: a systematic review. Int J Med Toxicol Forensic Med. 2016; 6 (02) 88-98 . Doi: 10.22037/ijmtfm.v6i2(Spring).10351
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 World Health Organization. Defining sexual health: report of a technical consultation on sexual health, 28–31 January 2002. Geneva: WHO; 2006
    Google Scholar
  • 4 Chang JH, Shin DW, Jeon MJ, Hong H, Kim SM, An A. , et al. Uterine leiomyoma is associated with female sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women. Yonsei Med J 2019; 60 (08) 791-795 . Doi: 10.3349/ymj.2019.60.8.791
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Fond G, Godin O, Dumontaud M, Faget C, Schürhoff F, Berna F. , et al; FACE-SZ (FondaMental Academic Centers of Expertise for Schizophrenia) group. Sexual dysfunctions are associated with major depression, chronic inflammation and anticholinergic consumption in the real-world schizophrenia FACE-SZ national cohort. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019; 94: 109654 . Doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2019.109654
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Cunningham SD, Smith A, Kershaw T, Lewis JB, Cassells A, Tobin JN, Ickovics JR. Prenatal depressive symptoms and postpartum sexual risk among young urban women of color. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol 2016; 29 (01) 11-17 . Doi: 10.1016/j.jpag.2015.04.011
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Wright JJ, O'Connor KM. Female sexual dysfunction. Med Clin North Am 2015; 99 (03) 607-628 . Doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2015.01.011
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 ter Kuile MM, Both S, van Lankveld JJ. Cognitive behavioral therapy for sexual dysfunctions in women. Psychiatr Clin North Am 2010; 33 (03) 595-610 . Doi: 10.1016/j.psc.2010.04.010
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Jayasena CN, Alkaabi FM, Liebers CS, Handley T, Franks S, Dhillo WS. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials investigating the efficacy and safety of testosterone therapy for female sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2019; 90 (03) 391-414 . Doi: 10.1111/cen.13906
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Rahimi E, Shafiabadi A, Yunesi F. The effect of sexual cognitive-behavioral therapy on females' sexual knowledge, sexual attitude, and sexual self-confidence. A case study in Shiraz, Iran. Armaghane Danesh. 2009; 14 (03) 103-111
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Mofid V, Ahmadi A, Etemadi O. The comparison of cognitive-behavioral counseling and solution-oriented counseling on women's sexual satisfaction in Isfahan. Sociol Women J Women Soc. 2015; 5 (03) 67-83
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Mahmodi G, Hassanzadeh R, Heidari G. The effect of sex education on family health on Mazandran medical university students. Horizon Med Sci. 2007; 13 (02) 64-70
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 ter Kuile MM, van Lankveld JJ, de Groot E, Melles R, Neffs J, Zandbergen M. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for women with lifelong vaginismus: process and prognostic factors. Behav Res Ther 2007; 45 (02) 359-373 . Doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2006.03.013
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Salehzadeh M, Kajbaf MB, Moulavi H, Zolfaghari M. Effectiveness of cognitive - behavior therapy on sexual dysfunction in women. Psychol Stud (Mysore) 2011; 7 (01) 11-31
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Hoyer J, Uhmann S, Rambow J, Jacobi F. Reduction of sexual dysfunction: a by-product of cognitive-behavioral therapy for psychological disorders?. Sex Relationship Ther 2009; 24 (01) 64-73 . Doi: 10.1080/14681990802649938
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Moradi M, Geranmaye M, Mirmohamadali M, Mehran A. The effect of counseling on the sexual function of women with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Hayat (Tihran) 2016; 22 (02) 148-158
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Mohammadi K, Heydari M, Faghihzadeh S. The female sexual function index (FSFI): validation of the Iranian version. Payesh 2008; 7 (03) 269-278
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Rosen R, Brown C, Heiman J, Leiblum S, Meston C, Shabsigh R. , et al. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI): a multidimensional self-report instrument for the assessment of female sexual function. J Sex Marital Ther 2000; 26 (02) 191-208 . Doi: 10.1080/009262300278597
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Wiegel M, Meston C, Rosen R. The female sexual function index (FSFI): cross-validation and development of clinical cutoff scores. J Sex Marital Ther 2005; 31 (01) 1-20 . Doi: 10.1080/00926230590475206
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Ziaee P, Shamlou ZS, Mashhadi A. The effectiveness of sexual education focused on cognitive schemas, on the Improvement of sexual functioning among female married students. Evid Based Care J. 2014; 4 (02) 73-82 . Doi: 10.22038/ebcj.2014.2921
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Babakhani N, Taravati M, Masoumi Z, Garousian M, Faradmal J, Shayan A. The effect of cognitive-behavioral consultation on sexual function among women: a randomized clinical trial. J Caring Sci 2018; 7 (02) 83-88 . Doi: 10.15171/jcs.2018.013
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Brotto LA, Heiman JR, Goff B, Greer B, Lentz GM, Swisher E. , et al. A psychoeducational intervention for sexual dysfunction in women with gynecologic cancer. Arch Sex Behav 2008; 37 (02) 317-329 . Doi: 10.1007/s10508-007-9196-x
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Jalilian N, Mokari Z. The effectiveness of sexual skills training with a cognitive-behavioral approach on sexual dysfunction among infertile women. World Fam Med J Middle East J Fam Med. 2018; 15 (07) 126-132
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Jaafarpour M, Khani A, Khajavikhan J, Suhrabi Z. Female sexual dysfunction: prevalence and risk factors. J Clin Diagn Res 2013; 7 (12) 2877-2880 . Doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2013/6813.3822
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Jafarzadeh Esfehani R, Fazel N, Dashti S, Moshkani S, Hasanamab FH, Foji S, Kamalimanesh B. Female sexual dysfunction and its associated risk factors: an epidemiological study in the North-East of Iran. J Midwifery Reprod Health. 2016; 4 (01) 498-505 . Doi: 10.22038/jmrh.2016.6041
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Weinberger JM, Houman J, Caron AT, Anger J. Female sexual dysfunction: a systematic review of outcomes across various treatment modalities. Sex Med Rev 2019; 7 (02) 223-250 . Doi: 10.1016/j.sxmr.2017.12.004
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Okomo U, Ogugbue M, Inyang E, Meremikwu MM. Sexual counselling for treating or preventing sexual dysfunction in women living with female genital mutilation: A systematic review. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2017; 136 (Suppl. 01) 38-42 . Doi: 10.1002/ijgo.12049
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Soltani F, Azizi R, Sourinegad H, Shayan A, Mohammadi Y, Khodakarami B. Sexual knowledge and attitude as predictors of female sexual satisfaction. Biomed Res Ther 2017; 4 (12) 1874-1884 . Doi: 10.15419/bmrat.v4i12.398
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar