Investigating the effect of sensate focus technique and body image counseling on the sexual function of married women of reproductive age with polycystic ovarian syndrome: a Randomized Clinical Trial

Investigate the effect of sensate focus techniques and body image counseling on the sexual function of women with PCOS.

60 married women with PCOS will be selected and randomly assigned to intervention and control groups using block randomization (in blocks of four).

Demographic questionnaires of fertility and concern about body image and sexual performance were completed by 60 eligible married women in obstetrics and gynecology offices in Yazd city. Then, people are randomly divided into intervention and control groups.The intervention group receives a face-to-face counseling session including sensory focus technique training and body image improvement. This two-hour workshop is held individually in a confidential room and the training booklet is also provided to the samples.The evaluation of the research units is done one and two months after the intervention by completing the questionnaires in person.

Inclusion criteria: Married women aged 18-40؛ Having sex in the last 8 weeks؛ Having no known underlying disease except PCOS؛ Not having a mental illness؛ Literacy in reading and writing Persian language؛ Being Iranian؛ Exit criteria:Couples' addiction to drugs and alcohol; Stressful event in the past month; History of pelvic floor surgery; Use of medications affecting sexual function

The intervention group will receive an in-person training session that includes sensory focus techniques and body image improvement along with slides and educational videos. This two-hour workshop will be conducted individually in a private room, and an educational handout will also be provided to the participants. The control group will not receive any intervention.

Sexual function, body image

Randomization will be performed using a **block randomization** method to ensure balance between the intervention and control groups. In this study, blocks of four will be used, meaning that within each block, two participants will be assigned to the intervention group and two to the control group. All possible balanced sequences within a four-person block (IICC, ICIC, ICCI, CCII, CICI, CIIC) will be pre-generated. These sequences will then be randomly selected(Using a standard table of random numbers) and placed in sealed envelopes to maintain allocation concealment. Participants will sequentially select one of these envelopes, determining their group assignment, while group allocation will remain concealed from both researchers and participants until the end of the study.