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

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.