Effect of cognitive–behavioral therapy on sexual self-esteem and sexual function of reproductive-aged women suffering from urinary incontinence

INTRODUCTION: Patients with urinary incontinence may fear sexual activity due to the unpredictability of urine leakage during intercourse. Given the effective role of cognitive–behavioral therapy in correcting negative thoughts and attitudes, this study was aimed to investigate the effect of cognitive–behavioral therapy on sexual self-esteem and sexual function of reproductive-aged women suffering from urinary incontinence. METHODS: This study was a randomized controlled clinical trial conducted on 84 reproductive-aged women (18 to 45 years old) with urinary incontinence who referred to Health Centers of Dezful, Iran. After random allocation, the participants were divided into two groups of intervention and control (n = 42). The intervention group attended eight 45-min sessions of cognitive–behavioral therapy, while the control group received only routine interventions. The International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF), the Scale of Self-Esteem Index for Women-Short-form (SSEL-W-SF), and the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Function Questionnaire (PISQ-12) were completed before, immediately after, and 4 weeks after the end of the intervention by patients in both groups. RESULTS: The overall scores of sexual self-esteem and sexual function immediately and 4 weeks after the end of the intervention showed a statistically significant difference in the intervention group compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Also, the results showed that in women with urinary incontinence, an increase in the sexual self-esteem score is associated with an increase in the sexual function score (r = 0.9), p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Cognitive–behavioral therapy was found to increase sexual self-esteem and improve sexual function in reproductive-aged women suffering from urinary incontinence.