Volume 22, Issue 12 (December 2024)                   IJRM 2024, 22(12): 963-974 | Back to browse issues page

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Afzal Dehkordi M, Farajkhoda T, Khanabadi M, Shamsi F. An online intervention relationship enhancement couple therapy program versus systematic desensitization on sexual performance anxiety in women undergoing infertility treatment with timed intercourse: An RCT. IJRM 2024; 22 (12) :963-974
URL: http://ijrm.ir/article-1-3389-en.html
An online intervention relationship enhancement couple therapy program versus systematic desensitization on sexual performance anxiety in women undergoing infertility treatment with timed intercourse: An RCT
Maryam Afzal Dehkordi1 , Tahmineh Farajkhoda * 2, Mahdi Khanabadi3 , Farimah Shamsi4
1- Student Research Committee of Nursing and Midwifery School, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
2- Research Center for Nursing and Midwifery Care, Non-Communicable Diseases Research Institute, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran. , farajkhoda_t@yahoo.com
3- Department of Counseling, School of Education Sciences and Psychology, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran.
4- Center for Healthcare Data Modeling, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Abstract:   (332 Views)
Background: Sexual performance anxiety is common among infertility treatments. Psychological interventions are options for couples who do not tolerate psychiatric medications or like psychotherapy with pharmacotherapy.
Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of relationship enhancement couple therapy program (RECT) vs. systematic desensitization (SD) on sexual anxiety.
Materials and Methods: A parallel randomized clinical trial was conducted on 68 women with infertility in Shahrekord, Iran, in January 2022. They were randomly allocated to 8 weekly online interventions RECT or SD (control). The main outcome variable, sexual performance anxiety, was assessed via Davis's questionnaire at baseline, completion of the intervention (week 8), and follow-up (week 12). The secondary outcome variable spouse's satisfaction was assessed (weeks 8 and 12, via visual analog scale). Data from 29 women were analyzed in each group.
Results: Intra-group comparison RECT and SD showed a significant decrease of sexual anxiety baseline compared to week 12 (p = 0.001, 0.001 for RECT and SD, respectively). No significant difference was observed between the 2 groups in baseline compared to week 12 (RECT vs. SD, p = 0.149). Time-group interaction of spouse's satisfaction showed a significant difference between RECT and SD (p = 0.010).
Conclusion: Both RECT and SD were almost equally effective in decreasing sexual anxiety. RECT (couple relationship-centered) by empowering 10 interpersonal skills, and SD (personal-oriented) by learning step-by-step how fight-or-flight response is replaced by relaxation response, helping women perform more adaptive behaviors regarding sexual anxiety. RECT increased spouse satisfaction significantly compared to SD, indicating that males need to participate in positive relationship changes. The results may be applied by therapists and health policymakers.
 
This article has been extracted from M.Sc. Thesis. (Maryam Afzal Dehkordi)

Registration ID in IRCT: IRCT20211127053188N1
Keywords: Psychological interventions, Sexual health, Infertility, Women, Randomized clinical trial.
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Type of Study: Original Article | Subject: Reproductive Psycology
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