Pelvic floor muscle training as treatment for female sexual dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of pelvic floor muscle training in treating female sexual dysfunction. DATA SOURCES: A systematic review of databases, including PubMed, Ovid Medline, CINAHL, Embase, BVSalud, Scopus, and Cochrane Library, was performed in July 2021 and updated in May 2023. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Full-text articles of randomized controlled trials comparing pelvic floor muscle training with no intervention or another conservative treatment were included. At least 1 arm of these trials aimed to improve women's sexual function or treat sexual dysfunction. METHODS: The data for this review were extracted and analyzed by 2 independent reviewers. Data on the characteristics of each intervention were extracted using the Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template. The risk of bias and certainty of evidence were assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale and the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) criteria, respectively. A meta-analysis was conducted considering the posttreatment mean score difference in the Female Sexual Function Index between the control and treatment groups. RESULTS: A total of 21 randomized controlled trials were included in this review. The Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template revealed varying quality of the pelvic floor muscle training protocols. Four studies were included in the meta-analysis showing that pelvic floor muscle training improved arousal (1.49; 95% confidence interval, 0.13-2.85), orgasm (1.55; 95% confidence interval, 0.13-2.96), satisfaction (1.46; 95% confidence interval, 0.14-2.77), pain (0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.11-1.37), and the Female Sexual Function Index overall score (7.67; 95% confidence interval, 0.77-14.57). Very low certainty of evidence due to the data's high clinical and statistical heterogeneity was found according to the GRADE criteria. No side effects of the interventions were reported. CONCLUSION: This systematic review and meta-analysis showed that pelvic floor muscle training improved female Female Sexual Function Index total score and several subscales; however, the certainty of the evidence is low.

Mixed Study Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Sexuality and Sexual Rehabilitation in LGBTQI+ Adults Living With Chronic Disease.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review how sexuality is experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex plus (other gender identifies and sexual orientations) (LGBTQI+) persons living with chronic disease. DATA SOURCES: PsycINFO, Embase, MEDLINE, Scopus, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health, and Web of Science were searched from date of inception to November 2021 for English language publications. Reference lists of relevant publications were also searched. STUDY SELECTION: Eligible studies reported on sexuality among LGBTQI+ persons living with chronic disease. The search yielded 12,626 records; 665 full texts were assessed for eligibility and 63 documents included (59 unique studies). Study quality was rated using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. DATA EXTRACTION: Characteristics of included studies were recorded independently by 2 authors. Differences were resolved through discussion or with a third author. DATA SYNTHESIS: A sequential, exploratory mixed-studies approach was used for synthesis. Pooled analysis indicated that among gay and bisexual men living with prostate cancer, 68.3% experienced erectile dysfunction and 62.9% had insufficient quality of erection to engage in anal sex. Among gay and bisexual men living with HIV or AIDS, 29.3% experienced loss of libido and 25.3% experienced erectile dysfunction. Although sexual dysfunction was common, LGBTQI+ persons had difficulty accessing appropriate sexual counseling and identified negative attitudes and heteronormative assumptions by health care providers as significant barriers to sexual health. Interventions to address sexuality focused entirely on reduction of risky sexual behavior among men living with HIV or AIDS. Women, transgender persons, and intersex persons were largely excluded from the research studies. CONCLUSIONS: Current understandings of the effect of chronic disease on LGBTQI+ sexuality are limited and mostly focus on the male sexual response. LGBTQI+ persons who experience difficulty with sexuality struggle to identify appropriate services, and there is an absence of evidence-based interventions to promote sexual health and well-being in this population.

Effect of Different Forms of Activity-Based Recovery Training on Bladder, Bowel, and Sexual Function After Spinal Cord Injury.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether the urogenital and bowel functional gains previously demonstrated post-locomotor step training after chronic spinal cord injury could have been derived due to weight-bearing alone or from exercise in general. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study; pilot trial with small sample size. SETTING: Urogenital and bowel scientific core facility at a rehabilitation institute and spinal cord injury research center in the United States. PARTICIPANTS: Men and women (N=22) with spinal cord injury (American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale grades of A-D) participated in this study. INTERVENTIONS: Approximately 80 daily 1-hour sessions of either stand training or nonweight-bearing arm crank ergometry. Comparisons were made with previously published locomotor training data (step; N=7). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Assessments at both pre- and post-training timepoints included cystometry for bladder function and International Data Set Questionnaires for bowel and sexual functions. RESULTS: Cystometry measurements revealed a significant decrease in bladder pressure and limited improvement in compliance with nonweight-bearing exercise but not with standing. Although International Data Set questionnaires revealed profound bowel dysfunction and marked deficits in sexual function pretraining, no differences were identified poststand or after nonweight-bearing exercise. CONCLUSIONS: These pilot trial results suggest that, although stand and weight-bearing alone do not benefit pelvic organ functions after spinal cord injury, exercise in general may contribute at least partially to the lowering of bladder pressure and the increase in compliance that was seen previously with locomotor training, potentially through metabolic, humoral, and/or cardiovascular mechanisms. Thus, to maximize activity-based recovery training benefits for functions related to storage and emptying, an appropriate level of sensory input to the spinal cord neural circuitries controlling bladder and bowel requires task-specific stepping.

[Influence of various rehabilitation complexes on sexual function in fertile females and women of perimenopausal and menopausal age after surgery for rectocele]. / Otsenka vliyaniya razlichnykh reabilitatsionnykh kompleksov na seksual'nuyu funktsiyu u patsientok detorodnogo i perimenopauzal'nogo i menopauzal'nogo vozrasta posle operatsii po povodu rektotsele.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of general magnetotherapy, muscle stimulation with biofeedback of pelvic floor muscles, and a special complex of physiotherapy exercises with and without fractional microablative CO2-laser therapy on sexual status in females after plastic surgery for rectocele. MATERIAL AND METHODS: There were 200 fertile females and women of perimenopausal and menopausal age with rectocele grade II-III. Various rehabilitation programs were used in delayed postoperative period in order to improve sexual function. Rehabilitation included various combinations general magnetotherapy, electrical muscle stimulation with biofeedback of pelvic floor muscles, intravaginal fractional microablative CO2-laser therapy and a special complex of exercise therapy. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Postoperative rehabilitation including general magnetotherapy, fractional microablative CO2-laser therapy, muscle stimulation with biofeedback of pelvic floor muscles and a special exercise therapy significantly improves sexual function in patients with rectocele. This is true for fertile females and women of perimenopausal and menopausal age. Significant data on PISQ-12 questionnaire (Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire) and Female Sexual Function Index of (FSFI) confirmed these results.

Experiences of a web-based psycho-educational intervention targeting sexual dysfunction and fertility distress in young adults with cancer-A self-determination theory perspective.

INTRODUCTION: Sexual and reproductive health are significant aspects of quality of life. Healthcare often fails to provide adequate support for young cancer survivors in this area, hence the need to develop more effective interventions. The present study aimed to describe experiences of participating in a web-based psycho-educational intervention focusing on sexual dysfunction and fertility distress after cancer, and to explore these experiences within the theoretical frame of the basic psychological needs for competence, relatedness and autonomy according to self-determination theory. METHODS: Individual semi-structured interviews with 24 women and 4 men, age 19-40, were abductively analyzed using the Framework approach for qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Participant experiences corresponded well with the three main deductive themes competence, relatedness and autonomy, divided into a total of nine subthemes illustrating varying degrees of basic need satisfaction with considerable nuance but not without ambiguity. While satisfaction of the need for competence could be linked to the amount of information in relation to participants' cognitive capacity, satisfaction of the need for relatedness seemed to be of special importance for these young adults with cancer experience. Invitation to the program meant a chance at alleviating loneliness and normalizing problems, symptoms and concerns. Participants' descriptions of perceived autonomy support were more challenging and ambiguous, because of the many contradictions in participants' responses to their variable situations. CONCLUSION: Basic psychological needs were confirmed as flexible positions along a continuum rather than discrete and mutually exclusive qualities. Understanding the variety of basic need satisfaction may enhance the design of future web-based interventions to be even more inclusive, tailorable and autonomy-supportive. Further research is warranted to determine the role of basic need satisfaction as a possible mediator for web-based psychoeducational interventions in cancer survivorship care.

Interventions for sexual dysfunction following stroke.

BACKGROUND: Sexual dysfunction following stroke is common but often is poorly managed. As awareness of sexual dysfunction following stroke increases as an important issue, a clearer evidence base for interventions for sexual dysfunction is needed to optimise management. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to reduce sexual dysfunction following stroke, and to assess adverse events associated with interventions for sexual dysfunction following stroke. SEARCH METHODS: We conducted the search on 27 November 2019. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; from June 2014), in the Cochrane Library; MEDLINE (from 1950); Embase (from 1980); the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL; from 1982); the Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED; from 1985); PsycINFO (from 1806); the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro; from 1999); and 10 additional bibliographic databases and ongoing trial registers. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared pharmacological treatments, mechanical devices, or complementary medicine interventions versus placebo. We also included other non-pharmacological interventions (such as education or therapy), which were compared against usual care or different forms of intervention (such as different intensities) for treating sexual dysfunction in stroke survivors. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently selected eligible studies, extracted data, and assessed study quality. We determined the risk of bias for each study and performed a 'best evidence' synthesis using the GRADE approach. MAIN RESULTS: We identified three RCTs with a total of 212 participants. We noted significant heterogeneity in interventions (one pharmacological, one physiotherapy-based, and one psycho-educational), and all RCTs were small and of 'low' or 'very low' quality. Based on these RCTs, data are insufficient to provide any reliable indication of benefit or risk to guide clinical practice in terms of the use of sertraline, specific pelvic floor muscle training, or individualised sexual rehabilitation. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Use of sertraline to treat premature ejaculation needs to be tested in further RCTs. The lack of benefit with structured sexual rehabilitation and pelvic floor physiotherapy should not be interpreted as proof of ineffectiveness. Well-designed, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trials of long-term duration are needed to determine the effectiveness of various types of interventions for sexual dysfunction. It should be noted, however, that it may not be possible to double-blind trials of complex interventions.

Non-invasive neuromodulation for bowel, bladder and sexual restoration following spinal cord injury: A systematic review.

Bowel, bladder and sexual dysfunctions are widespread among people with spinal cord injury (SCI) and significantly impact their health and quality of life. Any non-invasive intervention which offers clinical benefits and safety is an advantage in restoring these functions. Despite the potential of non-invasive neuromodulation to improve the clinical outcomes in people with SCI, its characteristics are poorly defined, and reviews of efficacy are scarce in the literature. This study aimed to perform a systematic literature review of clinical studies investigating the use of non-invasive neuromodulation in restoring bowel, bladder and sexual functions following SCI. Electronic databases were searched, including the PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus and Cochrane databases, along with the reference lists of retrieved publications. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they adopted a clinical design based on participants with SCI, had main outcomes of restoration of bowel, bladder or sexual function and the intervention investigated was non-invasive neuromodulation. A total of 46 studies (combined sample of 1,801) were included in this systematic review, comprising studies of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, magnetic stimulation and vibratory stimulation. Of the 46 studies, 7 were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 36 were non-RCTs and 3 were case reports. Most studies (43/46) reported improvements in bowel (5/5), bladder (32/35) and sexual (6/6) dysfunction after SCI. However, the quality of the included studies was variable and associated with a high risk of bias. Thus, well-designed, blinded and sham-controlled RCTs with larger populations are required to establish clinical efficacy of these methods.

Lifestyle modifications and pharmacological approaches to improve sexual function and satisfaction in men with spinal cord injury: a narrative review.

STUDY DESIGN: A narrative review describing various components of sexual dysfunction in men with spinal cord injury (SCI), as well as addressing potential therapeutic approaches. OBJECTIVES: Restoration of sexual function is considered one of the most important health priorities for individuals with SCI. The purpose of this review is to provide information regarding the factors that are less appreciated when considering changes to sexual function in men with SCI. We also propose therapeutic approaches, with a focus on lifestyle modifications, which have been shown to improve sexual function. METHODS: A literature search was performed and limited evidence for therapeutic approaches in individuals with SCI was supplemented by consistent findings from the able-bodied population. RESULTS: We evaluated the less addressed factors known to contribute to sexual dysfunction in men with SCI, including hormonal influences (i.e., testosterone deficiency, thyroid hormone, and cortisol), psychological factors (i.e., pain, fatigue, depression, and body image), and secondary SCI complications (i.e., urinary tract infection, pressure sores, and autonomic dysreflexia). To address these factors beyond standard medical treatments for sexual dysfunction, options include physical activity/exercise, diet, and specific medications for symptom relief (i.e., testosterone replacement therapy and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for depression). CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity's potential application, efficacy across multiple aspects of sexuality, and the lack of side effects, suggests that long-term exercise is a viable solution to directly or indirectly improve sexual function in males with SCI. Diet and supplemental medications may further promote body composition changes, which more broadly affect sexuality.

[Stress Urinary Incontinence and Female Sexual Dysfunction: The Role of Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation]. / Incontinência Urinária de Esforço e Disfunção Sexual Feminina: O Papel da Reabilitação do Pavimento Pélvico.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of urinary incontinence in Portuguese women is 21.4% and has a very negative impact on quality of life including women's sexual activity. Pelvic floor rehabilitation is the first line treatment used in stress urinary incontinence and may be a tool in the treatment of sexual dysfunction in women with urinary incontinence. The aim of this review is to ascertain whether pelvic floor rehabilitation can improve sexual function in women with stress urinary incontinence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reviewed 12 articles in PubMed using the keywords: 'urinary incontinence', 'female sexual dysfunction' and 'pelvic floor physical therapy'. RESULTS: Pelvic floor rehabilitation is linked to a decrease in frequency of urinary leakage episodes as well as an improvement of coital incontinence. Furthermore, sexual function evaluation scores post-treatment revealed a positive change. Higher parity, higher adherence to treatment, improvement in the strength of pelvic floor muscles, and a decrease in the frequency of urine leakage were associated with higher improvement in sexual function. DISCUSSION: Sexual function should be considered in the approach of urinary incontinence and standard tools of evaluation are essential tools for clinical assessment and follow-up. More evidence is required to identify the role of pelvic floor rehabilitation in sexual dysfunction of Portuguese women with urinary incontinence. CONCLUSION: Pelvic floor rehabilitation improves sexual function of women with stress urinary incontinence not only because it decreases the episodes of urine leakage but also because it strengthens pelvic floor muscles.

Introdução: A incontinência urinária afeta 21,4% das mulheres portuguesas e tem impacto negativo na qualidade de vida e na esfera sexual. A reabilitação do pavimento pélvico é a primeira linha de tratamento na incontinência urinária de esforço e pode ser uma opção terapêutica na disfunção sexual. O objetivo desta revisão é esclarecer se o tratamento com reabilitação do pavimento pélvico apresenta efeitos benéficos na função sexual em mulheres com incontinência urinária de esforço.Material e Métodos: Realizou-se uma revisão, recorrendo à base de dados PubMed, usando os termos: 'urinary incontinence', 'female sexual dysfunction' e 'pelvic floor physical therapy', recolhendo informação de 12 artigos relevantes.Resultados: A reabilitação do pavimento pélvico está associada à redução dos episódios de perda de urina e à melhoria da incontinência coital. Verifica-se uma melhoria nos scores de avaliação da função sexual após tratamento. Multiparidade, maior adesão ao tratamento, melhoria na força de contração muscular do pavimento pélvico e diminuição da perda de urina são fatores associados a uma melhoria da função sexual.Discussão: A função sexual deve ser avaliada na abordagem desta patologia e a sua estandardização é fundamental na caraterização do quadro clínico e na avaliação do follow-up. São necessários estudos para avaliar o papel da reabilitação do pavimento pélvico na disfunção sexual de mulheres com incontinência urinária na população portuguesa.Conclusão: A reabilitação do pavimento pélvico melhora a função sexual nas mulheres com incontinência urinária de esforço, pela diminuição de episódios de perda de urina e pelo fortalecimento dos músculos do pavimento pélvico.

Sexual Health Recovery For Prostate Cancer Survivors: The Proposed Role Of Acceptance And Mindfulness-Based Interventions.

INTRODUCTION: 1 in every 7 Canadian men is affected by prostate cancer. Given impressive advances in detection, treatment, and survival rates, there is a considerable focus on survivors' supportive care needs. Among the top unmet supportive care needs for prostate cancer survivors are concerns related to sexual health and intimacy. AIM: To provide a rationale for introducing mindfulness- and acceptance-based approaches into the role of psychosexual interventions aimed at improving sexual satisfaction among prostate cancer survivors (and their partners). METHODS: A literature review was performed to examine the prevalence of sexual difficulties after prostate cancer treatment and the efficacy of current pharmacologic and psychological treatment approaches. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The main outcome measure was focused on sexual satisfaction in prostate cancer survivors. RESULTS: Current pharmacologic interventions for sexual difficulties after prostate cancer treatment are not fully meeting the needs of prostate cancer survivors and their partners. Conclusions cannot be drawn from existing psychological interventions because of methodologic inconsistencies. Additionally, the focus on erectile function as a measure of treatment effectiveness is likely to instill a greater sense of hopelessness and loss for prostate cancer survivors, which may exacerbate issues around sexual intimacy and satisfaction. An impressive body of evidence supports the role of mindfulness in improving women's sexual functioning and there is preliminary evidence suggesting the efficacy of this approach for improving men's sexual functioning. CONCLUSION: We propose that psychosexual interventions that prioritize mindfulness and acceptance-based frameworks may help men to tune into sensations while challenging the foci on performance and erections, thereby increasing the potential for improvement to sexual satisfaction among prostate cancer survivors. Bossio JA, Miller F, O'Loughlin JI, et al. Sexual Health Recovery for Prostate Cancer Survivors: The Proposed Role of Acceptance and Mindfulness-Based Interventions. Sex Med Rev 2019;7:627-635.

Sexual Rehabilitation After Prostate Cancer Through Assistive Aids: A Comparison of Gay/Bisexual and Heterosexual Men.

The use of assistive aids in sexual rehabilitation after prostate cancer (PCa) was examined in 124 gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) and 225 heterosexual men. GBM were significantly more likely to use assistive aids (79% versus 56%), to try multiple assistive aids (M = 1.65 versus M = 0.83) including medication, penile injection, penile implant, vacuum pump, and nonmedical sex aids, and to seek information about sexual rehabilitation on the Internet, through counseling, or in a support group. There were no differences between the groups in satisfaction with the use of assistive aids. However, use of aids was a significant negative predictor of sexual functioning for GBM and a significant positive predictor for heterosexual men. Interview accounts described satisfaction with assistive aids in terms of maintaining erectile functioning and relationships. The majority of men in the study also described hindrances, both physical and social, resulting in discontinuation of assistive aids, including perceived artificiality, loss of sexual spontaneity, side effects, failure to achieve erectile response, cost, and lack of access to information and support. It is concluded that the specific needs and concerns of GBM and heterosexual men regarding sexual rehabilitation after PCa need to be addressed by clinicians.

The effects of fractional microablative CO2 laser therapy on sexual function in postmenopausal women and women with a history of breast cancer treated with endocrine therapy.

PURPOSE: To examine the outcomes of sexual function in postmenopausal women and women with a history of breast cancer treated with endocrine therapy who were experiencing the symptoms of GSM for which they were treated with fractional microablative CO2 laser. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 2015 to October 2016, a retrospective chart review of women who underwent fractional microablative CO2 laser therapy (MonaLisa Touch, DEKA) for GSM was conducted. Several validated questionnaires were used to assess changes in symptoms and sexual function including the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the Wong-Baker Faces Scale (WBFS), and the Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised (FSDSR). Comparisons of mean symptom scores were described at baseline and six weeks after each treatment. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant improvement in every domain of FSFI, WBFS, and FSDS-R when comparing baseline symptom scores to after treatment three symptom scores for all patients. The secondary outcome was to evaluate the differences, if any, in outcomes of sexual function between postmenopausal women and women with a history of breast cancer treated with endocrine therapy. Both groups had statistically significant improvements in many domains studied. CONCLUSIONS: Fractional microablative CO2 laser therapy (MonaLisa Touch, DEKA) is an effective modality in treating the symptoms of GSM in postmenopausal women and women with a history of breast cancer treated with endocrine therapy.

[Yun's optimized pelvic floor training therapy for idiopathic moderate overactive bladder with sexual dysfunction in young and middle-aged women].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy and safety of Yun's optimized pelvic floor training (OPFT) therapy for idiopathic moderate overactive bladder (OAB) with female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in young and middle-aged women. METHODS: Eighty 25－45 years old women with idiopathic moderate OAB companied by FSD were randomized into an experimental and a control group of equal number, the former treated by 6 weeks of Yun's OPFT therapy, followed by a 2-week washout period and then another 6 weeks of traditional pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFME), while the latter by 6 weeks of traditional PFME, followed by a 2-week washout period also and then another 6 weeks of Yun's OPFT. At 0, 6 and 14 weeks, we recorded the scores on overactive bladder symptoms (OABS), patient perception of bladder condition (PPBC), Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6) and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-7 (IIQ-7), pelvic floor muscle strength, voided volume (VV), average urinary flow rate (Qavg), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) and postvoid residual urine volume (PVR), female sexual function index (FSFI), sexual satisfaction of the male partners and adverse events, and compared the parameters obtained between the two groups of patients. RESULTS: Thirty-eight of the patients in the experimental group and 29 controls completed the experiment. There were no statistically significant differences in the baseline data between the two groups (P > 0.05). After 6 and 14 weeks of treatment, the effectiveness rate was decreased from 71% to 58% in the experimental group, but increased from 45% to 72% in the control. Significant improvement was achieved in the experimental group in the OABS, PPBC, UDI-6 and IIQ-7 scores, pelvic floor muscle strength, VV, Qavg, Qmax, FSFI and sexual satisfaction of the male partners at 6 weeks as compared with the baseline (P < 0.05), and even more significant at 14 weeks than at 6 (P < 0.05), and so was it in the control group in the PPBC and IIQ-7 scores, VV, Qmax and sexual satisfaction of the male partners at 6 weeks (P < 0.05), and more significant in the OABS, PPBC, UDI-6 and IIQ-7 scores, pelvic floor muscle strength, FSFI and sexual satisfaction of the male partners at 14 than at 6 weeks (P < 0.05). The patients of the experimental group showed remarkably more improvement than the controls in the OABS, PPBC, UDI-6 and IIQ-7 scores, pelvic floor muscle strength, FSFI and sexual satisfaction of the male partners at 6 weeks (P < 0.05), while the control group exhibited significantly better improved OABS, PPBC, UDI-6 and IIQ-7 scores, pelvic floor muscle strength, VV, Qmax, PVR and FSFI than the experimental group at 14 weeks (P < 0.05). No serious adverse reactions were observed during the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Yun's OPFT therapy can improve the symptoms of moderate OAB with FSD in young and middle-aged women, with significantly better effects than traditional pelvic floor muscle exercises.

Beneficial effects of pelvic floor muscle exercises on sexual function among postmenopausal women: a randomised clinical trial.

Background The adverse effects of menopause on sexual function could be mitigated by pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training. This study aimed to investigate the effects of PFM exercises on sexual function in postmenopausal women. METHODS: A randomised clinical trial was conducted among 97 Iranian postmenopausal women, aged 40 to 60 years. The participants' baseline sexual functions were assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire. They were then randomly designated to two groups: (1) the intervention group, which received specific instructions on PFM exercises and was followed up on a weekly basis; and (2) the control group, which received general information on menopause. After 12 weeks, the sexual functions of the participants were reassessed. RESULTS: No significant difference was initially observed between the two groups in terms of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and total scores of FSFI. After the intervention, however, the scores of arousal, orgasm and satisfaction were significantly higher in the intervention group (3.10, 4.36, and 4.84 vs 2.75, 3.89, and 4.36 respectively; P<0.05). CONCLUSION: PFM exercises have the potential to improve the sexual function of postmenopausal women and are thus suggested to be included in healthcare packages designed for postmenopausal women.

Investigating the combined effect of pelvic floor muscle exercise and mindfulness on sexual function in women with multiple sclerosis: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the combined effect of pelvic floor muscle exercise and mindfulness on sexual function in women with multiple sclerosis. DESIGN: It was a three-arm parallel randomized clinical trial study. SETTING: Outpatient clinic. SUBJECTS: Patients with multiple sclerosis. INTERVENTIONS: Participants in the intervention groups completed an eight-week program consisting of pelvic floor muscle exercise, mindfulness, and pelvic floor muscle exercise along with mindfulness. MAIN MEASURES: The main measure was the Female Sexual Function Index. RESULTS: In total, 70 patients completed the study. The results showed that the total mean scores of the participants' sexual function in pelvic floor muscle exercise group before interventions (i.e. baseline), 8 weeks after the baseline, and 12 weeks after the baseline were 18.8 ± 6.3, 23.7 ± 5.1, and 22.3 ± 4.7, respectively, while total mean scores obtained for the sexual function of mindfulness group were 19.5 ± 6.4, 26.9 ± 4.8, and 25.6 ± 4.5, respectively. Moreover, mean scores obtained for pelvic floor muscle exercise along with mindfulness were 19.6 ± 5.9, 25.3 ± 5.4, and 25 ± 4.8, respectively. There was no significant difference in their effects on sexual function ( P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Mindfulness and pelvic floor muscle exercise do not have any significant impact upon sexual dysfunction of people with multiple sclerosis.

An education program about pelvic floor muscles improved women's knowledge but not pelvic floor muscle function, urinary incontinence or sexual function: a randomised trial.

QUESTION: Does an educational program with instructions for performing 'the Knack' improve voluntary contraction of the pelvic floor muscles, reduce reports of urinary incontinence, improve sexual function, and promote women's knowledge of the pelvic floor muscles? DESIGN: Randomised, controlled trial with concealed allocation, intention-to-treat analysis and blinded assessors. PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-nine women from the local community. INTERVENTION: The experimental group (n=50) received one lecture per week for 4 weeks, and instructions for performing 'the Knack'. The control group (n=49) received no intervention. OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was maximum voluntary contraction of the pelvic floor muscles measured using manometry. Secondary outcomes were: ability to contract the pelvic floor muscles measured using vaginal palpation; severity of urinary incontinence measured by the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF) scored from 0 to 21; self-reported sexual function; and knowledge related to the pelvic floor. Outcomes were measured at baseline and after 4 weeks. RESULTS: The intervention did not significantly improve: maximum voluntary contraction (MD 2.7 cmH2O higher in the experimental group, 95% CI -0.5 to 5.9); ability to contract the pelvic floor muscles (RR 2.18, 95% CI 0.49 to 9.65); or self-reported severity of urinary incontinence (MD 1 point greater reduction in the experimental group, 95% CI -3 to 1). Sexual function did not significantly differ between groups, but very few of the women engaged in sexual activity during the study period. The educational program did, however, significantly increase women's knowledge related to the location, functions and dysfunctions of the pelvic floor muscles, and treatment options. CONCLUSION: Education and teaching women to perform 'the Knack' had no significant effect on voluntary contraction of the pelvic floor muscles, urinary incontinence or sexual function, but it promoted women's knowledge about the pelvic floor. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials, RBR-95sxqv. [de Andrade RL, Bø K, Antonio FI, Driusso P, Mateus-Vasconcelos ECL, Ramos S, Julio MP, Ferreira CHJ (2018) An education program about pelvic floor muscles improved women's knowledge but not pelvic floor muscle function, urinary incontinence or sexual function: a randomised trial. Journal of Physiotherapy 64: 91-96].

Pilot study of a multimodal intervention to enhance sexual function in survivors of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Although sexual dysfunction is common after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT), interventions to address sexual function are lacking. METHODS: We conducted a pilot study to assess the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a multimodal intervention to address sexual dysfunction in allogeneic HCT survivors. Transplant clinicians screened HCT survivors ≥3 months post-HCT for sexual dysfunction causing distress. Those who screened positive attended monthly visits with a trained transplant clinician who: 1) performed an assessment of the causes of sexual dysfunction; 2) educated and empowered the patient to address his or her sexual concerns; and 3) implemented therapeutic interventions targeting the patient's needs. Feasibility was defined as having approximately 75% of patients who screened positive agreeing to participate and 80% attending at least 2 intervention visits. We administered the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) sexual function and satisfaction measure, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplant (FACT-BMT), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to evaluate sexual function, quality of life (QOL), and mood, respectively, at baseline and 6 months postintervention. RESULTS: Approximately 33.1% of patients (50 of 151 patients) screened positive for sexual dysfunction causing distress and 94.0% (47 of 50 patients) agreed to participate, with 100% attending 2 intervention visits. Participants reported improvements in satisfaction (P<.0001) and interest in sex (P<.0001), as well as orgasm (P<.0001), erectile function (P<.0001), vaginal lubrication (P = .0001), and vaginal discomfort (P = .0005). At baseline, approximately 32.6% of participants were not sexually active, compared with 6.5% after the intervention (P = .0005). Participants reported improvement in their QOL (P<.0001), depression (P = .0002), and anxiety (P = .0019). CONCLUSIONS: A multimodal intervention to address sexual dysfunction integrated within the transplant clinic is feasible with encouraging preliminary efficacy for improving sexual function, QOL, and mood in HCT survivors. Cancer 2018;124:2438-46. © 2018 American Cancer Society.

The Prostate Cancer Rehabilitation Clinic: a biopsychosocial clinic for sexual dysfunction after radical prostatectomy.

Purpose: The most prevalent intervention for localized prostate cancer (pca) is radical prostatectomy (rp), which has a 10-year relative survival rate of more than 90%. The improved survival rate has led to a focus on reducing the burden of treatment-related morbidity and improving the patient and partner survivorship experience. Post-rp sexual dysfunction (sdf) has received significant attention, given its substantial effect on patient and partner health-related quality of life. Accordingly, there is a need for sdf treatment to be a fundamental component of pca survivorship programming. Methods: Most research about the treatment of post-rp sdf involves biomedical interventions for erectile dysfunction (ed). Although findings support the effectiveness of pro-erectile agents and devices, most patients discontinue use of such aids within 1 year after their rp. Because side effects of pro-erectile treatment have proved to be inadequate in explaining the gap between efficacy and ongoing use, current research focuses on a biopsychosocial perspective of ed. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of literature describing the components of a biopsychosocial program designed for the post-rp population and their partners. Results: In this paper, we detail the development of the Prostate Cancer Rehabilitation Clinic (pcrc), which emphasizes multidisciplinary intervention teams, active participation by the partner, and a broad-spectrum medical, psychological, and interpersonal approach. Conclusions: The goal of the pcrc is to help patients and their partners achieve optimal sexual health and couple intimacy after rp, and to help design cost-effective and beneficial rehabilitation programs.

Randomized Trial of Clitoral Vacuum Suction Versus Vibratory Stimulation in Neurogenic Female Orgasmic Dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the safety and efficacy of using a clitoral vacuum suction device (CVSD) versus vibratory stimulation (V) to treat orgasmic dysfunction in women with multiple sclerosis (MS) or spinal cord injury (SCI). DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. SETTING: Two academic medical centers. PARTICIPANTS: Women (N=31) including 20 with MS and 11 with SCI. INTERVENTION: A 12-week trial of the use of a CVSD versus V. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Female Sexual Function Inventory (FSFI) and Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS). RESULTS: Twenty-three women (18 MS, 5 SCI) completed the study including 13 of 16 randomized to CVSD and 10 of 15 randomized to V. There was a statistically significant increase in total FSFI score (P=.011), desire (P=.009), arousal (P=.009), lubrication (P=.008), orgasm (P=.012), and satisfaction (P=.049), and a significant decrease in distress as measured by FSDS (P=.020) in subjects using the CVSD. In subjects who used V, there was a statistically significant increase in the orgasm subscale of the FSFI (P=.028). Subjects using the CVSD maintained improvements 4 weeks after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: CVSD is safe and overall efficacious to treat female neurogenic sexual dysfunction related to MS and SCI. V is also safe and efficacious for female neurogenic orgasmic dysfunction; however, results were limited to the active treatment period. Because of ease of access and cost, clinicians can consider use of V for women with MS or SCI with orgasmic dysfunction. CVSD is recommended for women with multiple sexual dysfunctions or for whom V is ineffective.

Improvement in sexual function after ovarian cancer: Effects of sexual therapy and rehabilitation after treatment for ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: Sexual dysfunction is a distressing long-term effect after gynecological cancer and affects the majority of survivors for years after the completion of therapy. Despite its prevalence, treatment-related sexual dysfunction is underrecognized and undertreated for survivors. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop and test a brief psychoeducational intervention for managing sexual dysfunction for women who have undergone treatment for ovarian cancer (OC). METHODS: Forty-six OC survivors with documented, treatment-related sexual dysfunction received a single half-day group intervention that included sexual health education and rehabilitation training, relaxation and cognitive behavioral therapy skills to address sexual symptoms, and a single tailored booster telephone call 4 weeks after the group. Assessment measures were completed at the baseline (baseline 1), after an 8-week no-treatment run-in period (baseline 2), and then again 2 and 6 months after the intervention. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) was used to assess sexual functioning, and the Brief Symptom Inventory 18 (BSI-18) was used to capture psychological distress. RESULTS: Between baseline 1 and baseline 2, there were no significant changes in the study measures, and this indicated no natural improvement during the run-in period. In contrast, the total FSFI scores improved significantly from baseline 1 to the 2- (n = 45; P < .0005) and 6-month time points (n = 42; P < .05). The BSI-18 scores were also significantly improved at the 2- (P < .005) and 6-month time points (P < .01) in comparison with baseline 1. CONCLUSIONS: This brief behavioral intervention led to significant improvements in overall sexual functioning and psychological distress that were maintained at the 6-month follow-up. The results demonstrate the feasibility of this brief, low-intensity behavioral intervention and support the development of a larger randomized controlled trial. Cancer 2018;124:176-82. © 2017 American Cancer Society.