Sexuality Lifestyle Re-design for Couples with Infertility Concerns

Abstract Description

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Authors (including presenting author) :

Wong J (1), Ho H (1), Chin A (1)

Affiliation :

(1) Community Rehabilitation Service Support Centre, Hospital Authority

Introduction :

This presentation shares the clinical findings and the key foci of therapeutic impacts on sexual functioning of those Hong Kong Chinese couples who have been referred from the reproductive medicine departments of public hospitals to attend psychosexual counselling at the Community Rehabilitation Service Support Centre, Hospital Authority. Those husbands and wives suffered from sexual dysfunctions, unconsummated marriage, previous pregnancy loss, or failed fertility treatment. Referrals are usually made when the medical practitioners judged that nothing warrants the use of medication or surgery for overcoming those sexual difficulties. The couples experienced high levels of personal and interpersonal distress about sex to the point that they did not engage in sexual activity frequently enough to have a realistic chance of becoming pregnant.

Objectives :

1) Identification of diagnostic profile and the key foci of therapeutic impacts on sexual functioning; 2) Development of a new service model of psychosexual counselling for couples with infertility concerns.

Methodology :

30 husbands and 30 wives referred from Assisted Reproductive Technology Units to manage their male/female psychogenic sexual dysfunctions, received the following assessment: 1) Being diagnosed on sexual dysfunctions according to DSM-5, the new edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; 2) Sexual Interaction System Scale (SISS) on personal sexual functioning, and the couple's interactions before, during and after their sexual encounter; 3) Fertility Quality of Life (FertQoL) tool on the influences of fertility problems on general health, self-perceptions, emotions, partnership, family and social relationships, work life and future life plans. 4) Semi-structural interview on lifestyle elements that are essential for sexual interaction and satisfaction.

Result & Outcome :

Introduction on the new service model of sexuality lifestyle redesign for improving sexual functioning and chance of pregnancy 1) Prevalence level of sexual dysfunctions in husbands and wives: male hypoactive sexual desire disorder, delayed ejaculation, and erectile disorder, in descending order for husbands; genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder, sexual interest/arousal disorder, and orgasmic disorder, in descending order for wives; 2) Correlation profile between FertQoL scores and SISS couple scores; 3) Essential lifestyle elements in biological, cognitive, emotional and behavioural health domains identified as the key foci of therapeutic impacts on sexual functioning.