The effectiveness of the Permission, Limited Information, Specific suggestions, Intensive Therapy (PLISSIT) model based sexual counseling on the sexual function of women with Multiple Sclerosis who are sexually active

•Four sessions of sexual counseling based on PLISSIT model were used for women in experimental group.•Data was collected at 3 points during the study: before the intervention, 2 months and 3 months after the intervention.•The intervention could improve mean scores of total FSFI and it's 6 domains in experimental group.•There was no difference between mean total FSFI score in control group through 3 evaluations of the study.

ObjectiveThis study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of sexual counseling based on the Permission, Limited Information, Specific Suggestion, Intensive Therapy (PLISSIT) model on the Sexual Dysfunction (SD) of married sexually active women who suffer from Multiple Sclerosis (MS). This is the first sexual intervention applied by a midwife as a health professional on MS patients in Iran where the cultural and religious limitations are important challenging issues.Study designThis randomized clinical trial was carried out in Iranian Community of Support for MS Patients in Tehran, Iran. The participating women who had a definite diagnosis of MS and SD, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores <7, and aged 18-55 years were randomly assigned to experimental (EG, n=43) and control group (CG, n=45). Participants in the EG group received 4 weekly sexual counseling sessions based on the PLISSIT model (90-120 min per session).Main outcome measuresSexual function was assessed three times (before the intervention, and 2 months and 3 months after the intervention) using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and Repeated Measures ANOVA were employed to analyze the data.ResultsThe mean total FSFI score of the women in EG improved at 2 and 3 months after the intervention when it was compared with the FSFI score before the intervention (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the total FSFI score when the data of 3 evaluations was compared in CG. A significant increase in the mean score of 6 subgroups was seen in EG (p<0.05) but not in CG.ConclusionAccording to this study, utilizing the PLISSIT model as a framework for sexual counseling can improve sexual function in women who are sexually active and suffer from SD due to MS.