(035) Feasibility and Acceptability of a Virtual Group Mindfulness-based Therapy for Women with Lifelong Anorgasmia: A Pilot Study
Authors: Marino J , Kingsberg S , Segall T , Rusnak S , Dusek J 
Published: May 2023

Introduction

For a woman to experience an orgasm she needs adequate physical, psychological, social and emotional stimulation to be highly aroused and have the ability to let go and be vulnerable. Mindfulness positively impacts attentional control, cognitive control, emotion regulation, and how one processes the perception of one’s self. Research indicates the positive influence of mindfulness training on immune function and overall brain function1, positively influencing outcomes including improved levels of performance on attentional tasks2, increased empathy3, and reduced physical symptoms and stress4, as well as positive changes in anxiety and depression.5 Group-based mindfulness cognitive behavioral therapy in women with sexual interest and arousal disorder have shown an improvement in sexual desire, distress, and function measures.6-8

Objective

We expect that we will be able to recruit, enroll and retain females living with anorgasmia into a virtual, group-based mindfulness intervention.

Methods

Subjects were recruited using social media and flyers for self-referral and physician-referral methods. The study enrolled 10 females with self-reported lifelong anorgasmia with an average age of 39 years (±10.4), 90% white, 10% black. All subjects reported being non-Hispanic or Latina, identified as straight, and in monogamous relationships. Menopause status varied among subjects. We conducted an 8-week virtual, group mindfulness series incorporating mindfulness education, writing exercises, opportunities for meditation practice, with time for discussion and sharing. Subjects received daily reminders to listen to prescribed mindfulness meditations at home. Meditation usage was tracked using REDCap including which recording was listened to, session duration, and session frequency.

Results

Of 26 women screened, 10 enrolled in the study. Two had scheduling conflicts, 2 never attended a session, and 6 attended at least four sessions. Of these, the average attendance was 75% during each session and each subject attending an average of 6 sessions. Subjects were asked to rate (0-10, where “0” is Not at all Appropriate and “10” is Very Appropriate) the degree to which group and virtual formats were appropriate (8.33 ±1.89, 8.17±2.62), and the weekly meeting schedule (7.33 ±2.56). At-home recording platform was deemed easy to use (8.83 ±1.67), however, subjects felt the recordings were moderately beneficial and convenient (6.33 ±1.11 and 5.17 ±1.86). Mindfulness meditations were listened to 173 times, with a subject mean of 28.8 (±20.7) times. When session duration was adjusted for excessive time, the mean mindfulness duration was 15.5 (±9.2) minutes. With a sample of only 8 subjects, we cautioned against reporting any pre-to-post analyses for the Female Sexual Function Index, the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale-10, PROMIS-Sexual Function, PROMIS-Depression SF or PROMIS-Anxiety SF. Completion rates at both the pre- and post- time points was 75%.

Conclusions

The virtual group-based mindfulness intervention was generally perceived to be appropriate and easy to use for females presenting with anorgasmia and enabled participation from all over the US. With this success, future research with a larger sample size and a comparison group are warranted.

Disclosure

No.