The Effect of Sexual Education Program on Sexual Function and Genital Self-Image, Sexual Quality of Life among Primiparous Women

Abstract

Background:: Pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period are among the events that affect sexual behaviors and interactions, which are associated with many physical and emotional changes. Objective:: This study aims to examine the effect of sex education on Genital Self-Image (GSI), Sexual Quality of Life (SQOL), and sexual function among primiparous women. Methods:: This study was a randomized controlled trial conducted on 140 primiparous women referred to the Women's Clinic of Jahrom City from February to October 2020. Participants were assigned to an intervention group (n = 70) and a control group (n = 70). The intervention group received sexual education consisting of two sessions a week (90 min each) for eight consecutive weeks; the control group received none. Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Sexual Quality of life-Female (SQOL-F) questionnaire, and Genital Self-Image were completed before and four weeks after the end of the intervention in both groups. Questionnaires were used to assess the variables' dimensions both before and after each intervention. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, independent t-test, paired t-test, analysis of covariance, and regression analysis were used to examine the collected data in SPSS 21. Results:: The total score of FSFI in the intervention group significantly increased from 24.14 ± 3.02 to 27.31 ± 2.59 (P<0.0001) .Besides, there was a significant difference among the mean scores of the FSFI domains, including desire (4.82 ± 0.84 vs. 3.42 ± 0.98), arousal (4.91 ± 0.67 vs. 3.60 ± 1.12), orgasm (5.14 ± 0.82 vs. 3.53 ± 1.49), lubrication (5.94 ± 0.83 vs. 4.47 ± 0.97), satisfaction (5.50 ± 0.67 vs. 4.62 ± 1.09), pain (3.53 ± 1.01 vs. 4.26 ± 1.42), total Score FSFI (27.86 ± 3.56 vs. 24.02 ± 4.84), genital self-image (20.44 ± 3.16 vs. 10.41 ± 2.22), and sexual quality of life (52.37 ± 3.61 vs. 30.87 ± 3.47) between the intervention, and control groups after the educational intervention (p<0.05). There was no such difference before the intervention. Conclusion:: Sexual education improves sexual function, GSI, and SQOL in primiparous women. Therefore, sexual education workshops are suggested to prevent sexual problems in the postpartum period for all women, especially primiparous women.