010 Improvements in Perceived Genital Sensations and Sexual Arousal Following App-based Intervention: Preliminary Results Form a Randomized-controlled Trial

Abstract

Low resting heart rate variability (HRV) has been associated with poor sexual arousal function in women. Recently, a single session of autogenic training, an intervention shown to increase HRV, led to increases in both physiological and subjective sexual arousal and perceived genital sensations in women experiencing decreased arousal (Stanton, Hixon, Nichols, & Meston, under review). The current study expands upon these findings by examining the efficacy of HRV biofeedback, with and without autogenic training, for sexual arousal dysfunction in an at-home setting. Women with sexual arousal complaints were eligible to participate if they scored below the clinical cut-off for sexual function on the FSFI, endorsed generalized rather than situational deficits in arousal, and reported significant distress. Participants (N = 37) were randomized into one of three conditions: HRV biofeedback, HRV biofeedback + autogenic training condition, or waitlist control. Each condition included three laboratory sessions, spaced two weeks apart, during which both subjective sexual arousal and perceived genital sensations were measured. Participants in the two active conditions completed 4-6 biofeedback sessions at home between each laboratory visit using a Polar H7 strap and a mobile app. Participants in the HRVB+A condition listened to a 14-minute autogenic training recording before completing the biofeedback. Preliminary self-report data were analyzed with repeated measures ANOVAs.