Effect of Sex Education on Infertile Females’ Genital Self-image

Abstract

Background and purpose: When couples understand about their fertility problems their mental image might change or experience problems in sexual activities. This research aimed at investigating the effect of sex education on genital self-image in infertile women. Materials and methods: In this clinical trial, convenient sampling was done and random allocation was conducted according to odd and even days in 108 women in Mashhad Milad Infertility Center, 2016. Fifty four infertile women were randomly placed in experimental groups (n= 5- 8 per group) and 54 women were in control group. Three 90-minute educational sessions were held whithin three weeks. After a month, post-test was taken by both groups. Data was collected using a demographic questiionnare, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and Female Genital Self-Image Scale (FGSIS). Data analysis was done in SPSS V16 applying Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test, Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon, covariance analysis, Chi-square, and Fisher test. Results: The scores for sexual self-image was not significantly different between the intervention and control groups before the intervention (P=0.715). But, a month after sex education, the score showed significant differences between the two groups (P=0.001). Conclusion: Sex education was found to have positive effects on genital self-image in infertile women, therefore, infertility centers are suggested to use such interventions to improve female genital self-image.

Keywords

• sex education
• genital self-image
• infertile women