Aims: Improving sexual function in women with disability such as multiple sclerosis was aimed. Background: Sexual dysfunction and the consequent low satisfaction is very common in females with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Relationship Enhancement Therapy (REP) on sexual function and satisfaction of females with MS. Methods: the present study was an educational design with two groups, in which 44 females with MS participated and their spouses (N= 88) participated and randomly divided in two groups of intervention (N= 22 couples) and control (N= 22 couples). They signed written consent forms and were included in the project. The intervention group received the REP in six 90-minute sessions. The groups completed standard questionnaires of sexual dysfunction and sexual satisfaction in three stages of pretest-posttest and 3 months later. The Descriptive and inferential statistics (Two- way repeated measures ANOVA, chi-square, t-test and Mann-Whitney U test) were used to analyze data. Results: The results of analysis showed that there was a clinically significant difference between the scores of sexual dysfunction in different phases of the assessment between two groups (p <0.05). Also sexual satisfaction was higher in the intervention group vs. in the control (p <0.05). Conclusion: according to the findings, marital enrichment program was effective in improvement of sexual function and sexual satisfaction of females with multiple sclerosis. It is recommended to healthcare providers to use enrichment alongside medical services to improve patients' sexual life.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the world’s most common neurologic disorders and the leading cause of neurologic disability in young adults. This study aimed to investigate skill-based sexual enhancement counseling on Quality of Life (QLI) of women with Multiple Sclerosis.Methods: the present study is a quasi-experimental design with two groups. Forty-two patients with multiple sclerosis and their spouses (N=88) voluntarily participated in this study based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. After obtaining the written consent forms, the couples were randomly assigned in two groups. The subjects in the intervention group (N=22 couples) received the skill-based sexual enhancement counseling program in six sessions (each for 90 minutes). The control group just received routine medical procedure during this period. Both groups completed three stages of pretest-posttest, and the standard MSQOL54 questionnaire 3 months later. Data were analyzed by SPSS-20 using descriptive and inferential statistics (repeated measures ANOVA, chi-square, Friedman and t-test).Results: The results showed that the participants' overall quality of life in the intervention group in pretest was 55.32±9.140 which increased to 73.89± 13.39 in posttest and to 92.59±20.45, 3 months later. Also, the physical quality of life showed a significant difference between the two groups 3 months after the intervention (P <0.05). There was a significant difference between the two groups in psychological quality of life, too. The subscales of physical and mental QLI such as sexual satisfaction, sexual function, emotional wellbeing, social function and energy in post-test and follow-up were significantly different (P<0.05).Conclusions: According to the findings, skill-based sexual enhancement counseling program is effective in quality of life enhancement. Therefore, it is recommended to health care providers to use enhancement program alongside the other rehabilitation and medical services to improve the patients' quality of life.

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