Investigation of the Efficacy of Different Treatment Approaches on Sexual Health in Healthy Women

Overview

Sexual health is one of the important factors affecting the quality of life and general health of individuals. Sexual life, with its personal and social aspects, is an inseparable part of the human being in general. It is one of the most important factors in human life and happiness, especially in family life. Sexuality positively integrates and enriches the somatic, emotional, intellectual and social aspects of individuals, and develops a personality, communication and love. The concepts of sexuality and sexual health have long been considered taboo. This situation negatively affects rehabilitation strategies. Studies are known to have sexual problems in women more than men.

There are many factors that affect sexual function. In the etiology of female sexual dysfunction; neurogenic, vascular, hormonal, musculogenic and psychogenic factors are included. If female sexual dysfunction causes distress, it negatively affects women's quality of life. The repetition of problems related to sexual response, pain, orgasm and desire, which cause interpersonal problems and discomfort, creates a complex problem. Pelvic floor muscles are known to play an important role in sexual function as they are responsible for involuntary rhythmic contractions during orgasm and vaginal sensation during intercourse. Studies have reported that pelvic floor disorders affect one-third of adult women and significantly reduce their quality of life. Different treatment methods applied to the pelvic floor muscles increase the level of muscle strength and muscle activation. Increasing pelvic floor muscle strength affects individuals' sexual life positively and reduces the problems encountered. Conservative treatment modalities include exercises for the pelvic floor muscles, functional electrical stimulation, and surface electromyography. Exercise practices are one of the important approaches that strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. These exercise approaches can be given in the form of home exercise applications, as well as device-assisted applications.