The effect of ear acupressure on sexual functioning among lactating women: A randomized sham controlled trial

IF 1.9 4区医学 Q3 INTEGRATIVE & COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE European Journal of Integrative Medicine Pub Date : 2023-10-01 DOI:10.1016/j.eujim.2023.102285

Zainab Alimoardi , Sanaz Barghamadi , Terry Oleson , Mohammad Hossein Ayati , Mark D. Griffiths , Nasim Bahrami

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Abstract

Introduction

Women often experience more problems in sexual functioning after childbirth. Due to the high prevalence of sexual problems during the lactation period, the World Health Organization suggested measures are needed to improve women's sexual functioning during breastfeeding. The present study investigated the effect of auricular acupressure on sexual functioning among lactating women.

Methods

A randomized, sham-controlled trial was conducted between October 2019 to March 2020 in urban comprehensive health centers of Qazvin, Iran. Seventy-six women who had been lactating between six months and one year postpartum were randomly assigned to auricular acupressure group (n = 38) or sham control group (n = 38) using a balanced block randomization method. The intervention group received ear acupressure in 10 sessions (at four-day intervals) and control group also received the sham intervention at the same intervals. Sexual functioning was the primary outcome of the study (assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index) before and at three time points post-intervention (immediately after, one month after, and two months after). The secondary outcome was sexual quality of life assessed using Sexual Quality of Life-Female Version.

Results

Auricular acupressure had a large effect size on female sexual functioning at all three post-intervention time points: immediately after the intervention (adjusted mean difference [95% CI]: 8.37 [6.27; 10.46] with Cohen's d [95% CI]: 1.81[1.28; 2.34]), one month after the intervention (adjusted mean difference [95% CI]: 8.44 [6.41; 10.48] with Cohen's d [95% CI]: 2.01 [1.46; 2.56]), and two months after the intervention (adjusted mean difference [95% CI]: 7.43 [5.12; 9.71] with Cohen's d [95% CI]: 1.57 [1.06; 2.08]). The intervention significantly increased participants’ sexual quality of life on the Sexual Quality of Life-Female scale by 13.73 points in the intervention group compared to the control group (p<0.001). The effect size of intervention for female sexual quality was large (adjusted Cohen's d [95% CI]: 1.09 [0.58; 1.59]). Weekly frequency of sexual intercourse in the intervention group significantly increased compared to sham control group (p<0.001). These changes were clinically significant for sexual functioning and sexual quality of life.

Conclusion

Auricular acupressure appears to be an effective intervention for improving sexual functioning and sexual quality life of lactating women.

Clinical trial registration

Registered with the code of IRCT20190626044028N1 in the Clinical Trial Registration Center of Iran.

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耳穴按压对哺乳期妇女性功能的影响：一项随机假对照试验

女性在分娩后往往会遇到更多的性功能问题。由于哺乳期间性问题的高发，世界卫生组织建议采取措施改善妇女在哺乳期间的性功能。本研究探讨了耳穴按压对哺乳期妇女性功能的影响。方法于2019年10月至2020年3月在伊朗加兹温市城市综合卫生中心进行随机、假对照试验。采用平衡区随机法，将76例产后6个月至1年哺乳期妇女随机分为耳穴按压组(n = 38)和假对照组(n = 38)。干预组接受10次耳指压治疗(间隔4天)，对照组也接受相同间隔的假干预。性功能是研究的主要结果(使用女性性功能指数评估)，在干预前和干预后的三个时间点(干预后立即，干预后一个月和干预后两个月)。次要结果是使用女性版性生活质量评估性生活质量。结果穴位按摩在干预后三个时间点对女性性功能的影响均较大:干预后立即(调整平均差值[95% CI]: 8.37 [6.27;10.46] Cohen’s d [95% CI]: 1.81[1.28;2.34])，干预后1个月(调整后平均差异[95% CI]: 8.44 [6.41;10.48] Cohen’s d [95% CI]: 2.01 [1.46;2.56])，干预后2个月(调整后平均差异[95% CI]: 7.43 [5.12;9.71] Cohen's d [95% CI]: 1.57 [1.06;2.08])。干预显著提高了参与者的性生活质量(女性性生活质量量表)，干预组比对照组提高了13.73分(p<0.001)。干预对女性性质量的效应量很大(调整后的Cohen's d [95% CI]: 1.09 [0.58;1.59])。干预组每周性交次数明显高于假对照组(p < 0.001)。这些变化对性功能和性生活质量具有临床意义。结论耳穴按摩是改善哺乳期妇女性功能和性生活质量的有效干预手段。临床试验注册在伊朗临床试验注册中心注册，注册代码为IRCT20190626044028N1。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

European Journal of Integrative Medicine INTEGRATIVE & COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE-

CiteScore

4.70

自引率

4.00%

发文量

102

审稿时长

33 days

期刊介绍： The European Journal of Integrative Medicine (EuJIM) considers manuscripts from a wide range of complementary and integrative health care disciplines, with a particular focus on whole systems approaches, public health, self management and traditional medical systems. The journal strives to connect conventional medicine and evidence based complementary medicine. We encourage submissions reporting research with relevance for integrative clinical practice and interprofessional education. EuJIM aims to be of interest to both conventional and integrative audiences, including healthcare practitioners, researchers, health care organisations, educationalists, and all those who seek objective and critical information on integrative medicine. To achieve this aim EuJIM provides an innovative international and interdisciplinary platform linking researchers and clinicians. The journal focuses primarily on original research articles including systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, other clinical studies, qualitative, observational and epidemiological studies. In addition we welcome short reviews, opinion articles and contributions relating to health services and policy, health economics and psychology.