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.

IF 1.6 Q3 OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY
International Journal of Reproductive Biomedicine Pub Date : 2025-01-31 eCollection Date: 2024-12-01 DOI:10.18502/ijrm.v22i12.18062
Maryam Afzal Dehkordi, Tahmineh Farajkhoda, Mahdi Khanabadi, Farimah Shamsi
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

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.

一项在线干预关系增强夫妻治疗计划与系统脱敏对接受定时性交治疗的不孕症妇女的性表现焦虑:一项随机对照试验。
背景:性表现焦虑在不孕不育治疗中很常见。心理干预是对不能忍受精神药物治疗或像心理治疗和药物治疗的夫妇的选择。目的:比较关系增强疗法(RECT)与系统脱敏疗法(SD)治疗性焦虑的效果。材料和方法:一项平行随机临床试验于2022年1月在伊朗Shahrekord对68名不孕症妇女进行了研究。他们被随机分配到8周在线干预RECT或SD(对照组)。主要结果变量,性表现焦虑,在基线、干预完成(第8周)和随访(第12周)时通过Davis问卷进行评估。评估次要结果变量配偶的满意度(第8周和第12周,通过视觉模拟量表)。每组分析29名女性的数据。结果:组内比较RECT和SD显示,与第12周相比,性焦虑基线显著降低(RECT和SD分别为p = 0.001和0.001)。与第12周相比,两组之间的基线无显著差异(RECT vs. SD, p = 0.149)。配偶满意度的时间-群体交互作用在RECT和SD之间有显著差异(p = 0.010)。结论:RECT和SD对减少性焦虑的效果几乎相同。RECT(以夫妻关系为中心)通过增强人际交往能力,SD(以个人为导向)通过逐步学习如何用放松反应取代战斗或逃跑反应,帮助女性在性焦虑方面表现出更多的适应性行为。与SD相比,RECT显著提高了配偶满意度,表明男性需要参与积极的关系改变。研究结果可以应用于治疗师和卫生政策制定者。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
CiteScore
2.40
自引率
7.70%
发文量
93
审稿时长
16 weeks
期刊介绍: The International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine (IJRM), formerly published as "Iranian Journal of Reproductive Medicine (ISSN: 1680-6433)", is an international monthly scientific journal for who treat and investigate problems of infertility and human reproductive disorders. This journal accepts Original Papers, Review Articles, Short Communications, Case Reports, Photo Clinics, and Letters to the Editor in the fields of fertility and infertility, ethical and social issues of assisted reproductive technologies, cellular and molecular biology of reproduction including the development of gametes and early embryos, assisted reproductive technologies in model system and in a clinical environment, reproductive endocrinology, andrology, epidemiology, pathology, genetics, oncology, surgery, psychology, and physiology. Emerging topics including cloning and stem cells are encouraged.
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