Comparison of the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy and schema therapy on sexual dysfunction in infertile women

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy and schema therapy on sexual dysfunction in infertile women.

The research method was quasi-experimental with pre-test, post-test design and follow-up with experimental and control groups. The study population was all infertile women referred to infertility centers in Sari in the first 6 months of 2019. The sample consisted of 60 people who were selected by purposive sampling method and randomly assigned to three groups of cognitive-behavioral therapy (20 people), schema therapy (20 people) and control (20 people). The first experimental group received cognitive-behavioral therapy (Becky, Owen and Wright, 2019) and the second experimental group received Young Schematic Therapy (2006) in 8 sessions of 90 minutes. The research instruments were Rosen et al.'s (2000) Sexual Performance Index Questionnaire. Data were analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance using SPSS-22 software.

The results showed that cognitive-behavioral therapy and schema therapy improved sexual dysfunction and subscales of sexual desire (F=12.86, P<0.001), psychological stimulation (F=22.65, P<0.001), moisture (F= 24.84, P<0.001), orgasm (F=16.14, P<0.001), satisfaction (F= 21.23, P<0.001) and sexual pain (F=78.35, P<0.001) has been infertile in women. But there was no significant difference between the effects of these two methods on sexual dysfunction in infertile women (P>0.05).

It can be concluded that cognitive-behavioral therapy and schema therapy are effective in improving sexual dysfunction in infertile women.