Effect of sexual counseling on stress, anxiety, and depression in women during postpartum period

Background: Sexual dysfunction can lead to anxiety and depression. Failure to have sexual counseling during postpartum period is one of the issues that could affect sexual dysfunction within this period. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effect of sexual counseling on stress, anxiety, and depression in women during postpartum period. Method: This single-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on 75 postpartum women within the age range of 18-35 years, referring to four health centers of Mashhad, Iran, in 2016. The data were collected using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21. The intervention included four 60 to 90-minute sessions of sexual counseling, performed within eight weeks. The control group received the routine care. The questionnaires were completed eight weeks after the end of the intervention. The data were analyzed by SPSS version 16 using the independent t-test and Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The mean ages of the participants were 29.5±4.3 and 29.4±4.2 years in the intervention and control groups, respectively. As the results of the Mann-Whitney U test demonstrated, the mean stress score decreased from 14.1±4.0 to 13.3±3.4 in the intervention group (P=0.04). Furthermore, based on the independent t-test, the mean anxiety and depression scores of the intervention group reduced from 10.8±2.2 to 10.3±1.8 (P=0.01) and from 10.5±3.4 to 9.8±3.0, respectively (P=0.008). Implications for Practice: Sexual counseling can be helpful to decrease stress, anxiety, and depression in the women suffering from sexual problems during postpartum period.