Evaluation of an Online Intervention for Female Sexual Dysfunction: Randomized Controlled Trial
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- Gaia AG
- Enrollment
- 252
- Locations
- 2
- Primary Endpoint
- sexual functioning
Study Overview
Brief Summary
In this randomized controlled clinical trial, 250 participants with female sexual dysfunction will be investigated regarding the effectiveness of an online intervention for improving sexual function, the unguided online intervention mylovia. Inclusion criteria are: female sex and female gender, age ≥18, diagnosed sexual dysfunction (ICD-11: HA00, HA01, HA02) or sexual pain disorder (ICD-11: HA20), low sexual functioning (<27 on the Female Sexual Function Index; FSFI), sufficient German skills, and consent to participation. Exclusion criteria are: biological, psychological or social factors that might interfere with study participation, and use of another digital intervention for sexual problems. Participants will be randomized and allocated to either an intervention group, receiving access to mylovia in addition to treatment as usual (TAU), or a control group, receiving information material about treatment and counseling options in addition to TAU. Primary endpoint will be sexual functioning assessed via FSFI, with three months post-allocation being the primary time point for assessment of effectiveness. Six months post allocation will be used as a timepoint for follow-up assessment of endpoints. Secondary endpoints will be sexual desire, sexual satisfaction, sexual pain, and general psychopathology.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- Female
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- •female sex
- •female gender
- •age ≥ 18 years
- •diagnosis of sexual dysfunction (ICD-11: HA00, HA01, HA02) or sexual pain disorder (ICD-11: HA20), diagnosed via the DISEX-F interview
- •Sexual function score (cut-off) of <27 on the FSFI
- •consent to participation
- •sufficient knowledge of the German language
Exclusion Criteria
- •Use of another digital intervention for sexual problems
- •In general, given that sexual dysfunction is a biopsychosocial phenomenon, mylovia is hypothesized to help women irrespective of the disorder's etiology (i.e., biological, psychological, or social). However, if one of the domains is extremely compromised, mylovia might not be expedient. Therefore, a clinical assessment of factors that might interfere with study assessment will be conducted, with the following additional exclusion criteria:
- •Biological factors that might interfere with study participation (e.g., cancer, multiple sclerosis)
- •Psychological factors that might interfere with study participation (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, eating disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, severe depression, suicidality, substance use disorder)
- •Social factors that might interfere with study participation (e.g. severe partnership problems)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
sexual functioning
Time Frame: 3 months
Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Total score ranging from 2-36; higher scores mean better sexual function (better outcome).
Secondary Outcomes
- Sexual desire(3 months, 6 months)
- Depressive symptoms(3 months, 6 months)
- Sexual satisfaction(3 months, 6 months)
- Sexual functioning(6 months)