Investigation of the effect of counseling given to postpartum women with the ex-plissit model on sexual problems

Aim: This study is a longitudinal type study with experimental control group, conducted to examine the effect of counseling given to postpartum women with EX-PLISSIT model on sexual problems. Material and Method: The population of the study consisted of 1062 women who gave birth in Manisa Celal Bayar University Hafsa Sultan Hospital in 2017. The first phase of the research was completed with 189 women and the second phase with 150 women. Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale-Female and Golombok Rust Sexual Satisfaction Scale-Woman were used in the study. Sexual counseling based on the EX-PLISSIT model was provided to women in the intervention group. Results:No statistically significant difference was found between the age, income status, year of marriage, type of marriage, marital harmony, parity and mode of delivery in the intervention and control groups. But, statistically significant differences were found in education of women, age and education of the spouse. Of the women, 14.7% stated that they experienced pain during sexual intercourse in the pre-pregnancy 12.0% in the pregnancy and 26.7% in the third month on average postpartum period. After sexual counseling, a statistically significant difference was found between the intervention and control groups between sexual desire and vaginal wetting/moistening of the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale; communication, satisfaction, avoidance, touch, vaginismus and orgasm sub-dimension scores of the Golombok Rust Scale of Sexual Satisfaction. Conclusion:In this study, it was concluded that the counseling given with EX-PLISSIT is beneficial on both sexual dysfunctions and the quality of sexual intercourse. Key words: Postpartum period, Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale, Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction Scale, EX-PLISSIT Model