Effect of Whatsapp Based Good Enough Sex Consultation on Infertility Stress and Sexual Satisfaction in Iranian Women Who Applied for Infertility Treatment: A Randomized Control Trial

Abstract

Background Infertility is associated with the reduction of sexual activity and always there is a relationship between infertility and sexual dysfunction. Infertility stress refers to a group of symptoms that appear following infertility diagnosis; these symptoms are similar to those of post-traumatic stress disorder and are specifically evident in the beliefs and feelings associated with infertility. The present study aimed to determine the effect of whatsapp based good enough sex consultation on infertility stress and sexual satisfaction in infertile women who applied for infertility treatment in a randomized control trial. Methods This is a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial in which a total of 100 infertile women were recruited using convenience sampling and then randomly assigned to two groups of whatsapp based GES model consultation and routine care. Data collection tools consisted of a demographic, the Larson's Sexual Satisfaction and Newton Infertility Stress questionnairs. In the pretest stage, participants in both groups completed the above questionnaires before the intervention. Participants in the intervention group were given access to the 6-week GES model consultation program. The program consisted of six consultation and assignments packages, regarding all 12 dimensions of GES model. Then participants re-completed questionnaires immediately and one month after the intervention. Data were analyzed with SPSS software version 20 using chi-squared test, independent-samples t-test, and repeated measures Analysis of Variance. The significance level (p-value) was considered to be less than 0.05. Results The results of rANOVA indicated that there was a significant difference in the mean scores of sexual satisfaction (with its all dimensions: desire to have sex, sexual adjustment, quality of sexual life, sexual attitude) and infertility stress (and it's all dimensions: social concern, sexual concern, relationship concern, need for parenthood, life without children) between the two groups from pre- to post-intervention, and then over the one month follow-up period in the intervention group, while scores of control participants did not show this pattern during the study (p ˂ 0.001). Considering the partial Eta squared, the effect of intervention had the highest interaction effect on both variables of sexual satisfaction (η2 = 0.52) and infertility stress (η2 = 0.82). Conclusions Since whatsapp based GES sex model intervention had significant effect on infertility stress and sexual satisfaction. Therefore, it is recommended to be considered as one of the practical plans in the process of treatment and counseling of infertility. Trial registration number: IRCT20210926052593N1, The date of registration: 13-10-2021.