Investigating the combined effect of pelvic floor muscle exercise and mindfulness on sexual function in women with multiple sclerosis: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objective:

To evaluate the combined effect of pelvic floor muscle exercise and mindfulness on sexual function in women with multiple sclerosis.

Design:

It was a three-arm parallel randomized clinical trial study.

Setting:

Outpatient clinic.

Subjects:

Patients with multiple sclerosis.

Interventions:

Participants in the intervention groups completed an eight-week program consisting of pelvic floor muscle exercise, mindfulness, and pelvic floor muscle exercise along with mindfulness.

Main measures:

The main measure was the Female Sexual Function Index.

Results:

In total, 70 patients completed the study. The results showed that the total mean scores of the participants’ sexual function in pelvic floor muscle exercise group before interventions (i.e. baseline), 8 weeks after the baseline, and 12 weeks after the baseline were 18.8 ± 6.3, 23.7 ± 5.1, and 22.3 ± 4.7, respectively, while total mean scores obtained for the sexual function of mindfulness group were 19.5 ± 6.4, 26.9 ± 4.8, and 25.6 ± 4.5, respectively. Moreover, mean scores obtained for pelvic floor muscle exercise along with mindfulness were 19.6 ± 5.9, 25.3 ± 5.4, and 25 ± 4.8, respectively. There was no significant difference in their effects on sexual function (P > 0.05).

Conclusion:

Mindfulness and pelvic floor muscle exercise do not have any significant impact upon sexual dysfunction of people with multiple sclerosis.