The Effects of Cognitive-Behavioral Consultation on Sexual Satisfaction and Quality of Life in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background and Aim: Ensuring a high quality of life during menopause is a critical aspect of women's health. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of cognitive-behavioral consultation on sexual satisfaction and quality of life in postmenopausal women. Method: This randomized controlled trial included 70 postmenopausal women recruited from healthcare centers in Kermanshah, western Iran. Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 35) or a control group (n = 35) using a simple randomization method. The experimental group participated in 8 weekly sessions of group cognitive-behavioral consultation, each lasting 70-90 min. Both groups completed the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life and Women's Sexual Satisfaction Scale before and 1 month after the intervention. Recruitment took place between June and October 2018, and 70 participants completed the study. Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test, paired t-test, and independent t-test with SPSS (25), and significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Before the intervention, no significant differences were observed between the groups in mean sexual satisfaction scores (p = 0.71) or quality of life mean scores (p = 0.128). However, post-intervention, the experimental group demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in both sexual satisfaction (p = 0.001) and quality of life (p = 0.001) compared to the control group. No significant adverse events or side effects were reported. Conclusion: The findings suggest that group cognitive-behavioral consultation can effectively improve sexual satisfaction and quality of life among postmenopausal women. These results underscore its potential as a valuable therapeutic approach to address challenges associated with menopause and enhance overall well-being in this population. Trial Registration Clinical Trials: Iranian Registery of clinical trials-Beta version, https://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/trial/14006. (IRCT2017052814333N75) registered (06-04-2017).