Changes in satisfaction with female genital self-image and sexual function after a Qigong exercise intervention in Spanish postmenopausal women: a randomized-controlled trial

Abstract

To analyze the effectiveness of a Qigong exercise program on satisfaction with female genital self-image and female sexual function in postmenopausal Spanish women. A total of 49 women were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 22) that carried out training based on Qigong exercises for 12 weeks and a control group (n = 27) that did not carry out any type of intervention. Female genital self-image was measured through the Female Genital Self-Tmage Scale and female sexual function through the Female Sexual Function Tndex; both variables were measured before and just after the intervention. Results showed that women who participated in the Qigong exercise program showed significant improvements with respect to female genital self-image, as well as in the domains of desire, arousal, lubrication, satisfaction, and pain and the total score of the Female Sexual Function Index, but, on the contrary, were not found in the orgasm domain. Our results suggest that Qigong has the potential to improve female genital self-image and female sexual function among postmenopausal Spanish women.