1. The Effects of Sex Education on Sexual Function in Post- menopausal Women
Soheila Nazarpour, Ph.D1, Masoumeh Simbar, Ph.D 2,3, Fahimeh Ramezani Tehrani, M.D 4, Hamid Alavi Majd, Ph.D 5
1Department of Midwifery, College of Nursing and Midwifery, Islamic Azad University, Chalus Branch, Chalus, Iran.
2Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3Midwifery and Reproductive Health Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
3 Reproductive Endocrinology Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4Department of Biostatistics, School of Paramedicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Background
Given sexual dysfunction’s prevalence among post-menopausal women, sex education has the potential to enhance sexual health after menopause. This study was conducted with the aim of examining the effects of sex education on sexual function among post-menopausal women.
Method
A randomized clinical trial was carried out among 104 post-menopausal women, aged 40 to 60 years, who were residing in the cities of Chalus and Noshahr, Iran. The participants’ sexual function was assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire, and subsequently they were randomly sorted into two groups of 52: (1) intervention, where the members were educated about sexual function with weekly follow-ups; and (2) control, the members of which were provided with general educational material with regard to menopause. Both groups were re-assessed with the FSFI questionnaire after 12 weeks. The study was approved by the ethics committee of the Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (reg. no.: 4ECRIES93/10/23).
Result
The intervention and control groups had no significant differences in terms of demographic and socioeconomic traits, as well as total scores of FSFI before intervention. After intervention, however, total scores of sexual function and scores in the arousal and pain domains were significantly higher in the intervention group (24.41 vs , 3.35 vs. 2.73, and 4.50 vs. 3.98, respectively).
Conclusion
Sex-education programs improve sexual function in post-menopausal women, and thus need to be a part of health packages directed at this group of women.
Keywords
Sexual function, Menopause, Education.
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