Article type
Abstract
Background: Sexual dysfunction during pregnancy is a prevalent issue, often stemming from the physical, hormonal, and emotional changes experienced by women during this period. Despite its significance, discussions around this topic remain taboo for many pregnant women, leading to compromised sexual satisfaction and desire. Non-pharmacological treatments offer promising avenues for addressing this condition.
Objective: To provide a comprehensive summary of evidence regarding non-pharmacological interventions for treating sexual dysfunction during pregnancy.
Methods: We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Searches were conducted on databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, PsycINFO, PEDro, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov up to October 30, 2023. Randomized controlled trials comparing interventions for sexual dysfunction during pregnancy were retrieved. Study selection and data extraction were independently performed by two authors.
Results: The search across databases yielded 6,624 articles. Upon reviewing titles and abstracts, 4,102 were excluded. Twenty-one articles met the eligibility criteria for inclusion in the systematic review, encompassing a total of 1,437 participants. Ten studies were included in the subsequent meta-analysis (Figure 1). The meta-analysis findings indicated a positive effect favoring the treated groups. For Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), the mean difference was 10.60 [1.20 to 20.00], with a p-value of 0.03 and an I-squared value of 99%. The Permission, Limited Information, Specific Suggestions, and Intensive Therapy (PLISSIT) model demonstrated a mean difference of 4.23 [2.02 to 6.45], with a p-value of 0.0002 and an I-squared value of 81%. Lastly, sexual education interventions showed a mean difference of 5.86 [2.06 to 9.65], with a p-value of 0.002 and an I-squared value of 81% (Figure 1).
Conclusion: Our comprehensive meta-analysis underscores the efficacy of CBT, PLISSIT, and sexuality education in enhancing sexual function during pregnancy. This review highlights the importance of non-pharmacological treatments as viable therapeutic options for managing sexual dysfunction in pregnant women. It also emphasizes the role of these interventions in promoting a better quality of life, debunking taboos and paradigms, while also pointing to the necessity for further studies utilizing rigorous methodologies.
The authors declare no public involvement in this work.
Objective: To provide a comprehensive summary of evidence regarding non-pharmacological interventions for treating sexual dysfunction during pregnancy.
Methods: We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Searches were conducted on databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, PsycINFO, PEDro, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov up to October 30, 2023. Randomized controlled trials comparing interventions for sexual dysfunction during pregnancy were retrieved. Study selection and data extraction were independently performed by two authors.
Results: The search across databases yielded 6,624 articles. Upon reviewing titles and abstracts, 4,102 were excluded. Twenty-one articles met the eligibility criteria for inclusion in the systematic review, encompassing a total of 1,437 participants. Ten studies were included in the subsequent meta-analysis (Figure 1). The meta-analysis findings indicated a positive effect favoring the treated groups. For Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), the mean difference was 10.60 [1.20 to 20.00], with a p-value of 0.03 and an I-squared value of 99%. The Permission, Limited Information, Specific Suggestions, and Intensive Therapy (PLISSIT) model demonstrated a mean difference of 4.23 [2.02 to 6.45], with a p-value of 0.0002 and an I-squared value of 81%. Lastly, sexual education interventions showed a mean difference of 5.86 [2.06 to 9.65], with a p-value of 0.002 and an I-squared value of 81% (Figure 1).
Conclusion: Our comprehensive meta-analysis underscores the efficacy of CBT, PLISSIT, and sexuality education in enhancing sexual function during pregnancy. This review highlights the importance of non-pharmacological treatments as viable therapeutic options for managing sexual dysfunction in pregnant women. It also emphasizes the role of these interventions in promoting a better quality of life, debunking taboos and paradigms, while also pointing to the necessity for further studies utilizing rigorous methodologies.
The authors declare no public involvement in this work.