The Effect of Sexual Health Promotion Package on Sexual Life in Women with Multiple Sclerosis: Designed Based on the Results of a Mixed Method Study

Sexual dysfunction (SD) is one of the most prevalent problems in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) that can have a negative impact on their sexual quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of sexual health promotion package on SD and quality of sexual life in women with MS. This randomized clinical trial, was performed on 72 married women aged between 18 and 50-years-old with MS and SD presenting to the Iranian MS Society in Tehran. Participants were randomly divided into two groups of intervention (n = 36) and control (n = 36). The content of the sexual health promotion package was designed and prepared based on the results of an explanatory sequential mixed method study and review of literature and was performed in six sessions for the intervention group, while the control group received its routine care. For evaluating the effect of the intervention on SD and quality of sexual life, Multiple Sclerosis Intimacy and Sexuality Questionnaire19 (MSISQ-19) and Sexual Quality Of Life-Female (SQOL-F) were respectively completed before, immediately, one month and two months after the intervention. Based on the type of information, Mann–Whitney, Chi-square, independent t-test and repeated measures ANOVA test were performed using SPSS version 25. The results of repeated measures ANOVA test between the two groups during the four periods of time, showed that a significant decrease in the total MSISQ-19 score as well as primary, secondary and tertiary SD score and a significant increase in the quality of sexual life score in the intervention group (p < 0.001). By contrast, no significant difference was observed in the control group in terms of the total SD score (p = 0.336), primary SD (P = 0.058), secondary SD (P = 0.075), tertiary SD (P = 0.554) and quality of sexual life (P = 0.105). The results of this study showed the effectiveness of a need-based and evidence-based sexual health promotion package designed based on the results of a mixed method study on SD and quality of sexual life of Iranian women with MS. Given the significant role of sexual life in MS patients, it is strongly recommended to consider and implement training and counseling sessions based on a comprehensive, complete and multidimensional content which includes all the factors affecting the sexual health of these patients.