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Randomised trial, 2023

Does mindfulness counselling improve sexual function in women with premenstrual syndrome?

Yes. Mindfulness counselling significantly improved sexual desire, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. These improvements appeared right after treatment and remained at one month follow-up.

Moderate study design 112 women diagnosed with PMS in Isfahan, Iran

What they did

Randomized controlled trial with 112 Iranian women diagnosed with PMS. The intervention group received 8 online mindfulness counselling sessions lasting 60 minutes each. The control group received no intervention. Sexual function was measured before treatment, immediately after, and one month later.

What they found

Compared to control, the mindfulness group significantly improved sexual desire, orgasm, satisfaction, and sexual pain both immediately and at one month. Sexual arousal improved only at the one-month follow-up. Vaginal lubrication did not improve with mindfulness.

What it means for you

Mindfulness counselling appears to help sexual function problems in women with PMS, with benefits lasting at least one month. Main limitations: only studied in one city in Iran, so unclear if results apply to other populations; we do not know if any women were also taking hormonal birth control, which could affect results.

112

Number of women

8

Number of sessions

60 minutes

Duration of each session

About the study

Original title
Investigating the effect of mindfulness counselling on sexual functioning of women with premenstrual syndrome
Authors
Hojjati Najafabadi S, Vakilian K, Ghaemmaghami M et al.
Journal
Sexual & reproductive healthcare : official journal of the Swedish Association of Midwives
Year
2023
Study design
Randomised trial
Participants
112
What was tested
8 online mindfulness counselling sessions, 60 minutes each

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