Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback for Female Sexual Arousal Disorder

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Female Sexual Arousal Disorder

In brief

Low resting heart rate variability (HRV) has been associated with sexual arousal problems and overall sexual dysfunction in women. Research has indicated that HRV biofeedback leads to increases in HRV as well as improvements in symptoms associated with several psychological disorders, some of which are comorbid with sexual arousal problems in women. Autogenic training also facilitates increases in HRV and was recently associated with acute increases in sexual arousal among sexually healthy women. The primary aim of the current study is to examine the efficacy of HRV biofeedback, with and without autogenic training, for the treatment of female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD).

Key facts

Study ID: NCT02958176
Run by: University of Texas at Austin
People needed: 65
Starts: 2016-10-01
Expected to finish: 2018-01-01
Last updated by the study team: 2018-10-11

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 40. Sex: female. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

Premenopausal (18-40 years)
Fluent in English
Heterosexual or bisexual
Score of 26.55 or less on the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI)
Current sexual arousal dysfunction
Ownership of an Elite HRV compatible device (recent iPhone, iPad, or Android)

You may not qualify if…

Pregnant or breastfeeding
History of or current sexually transmitted infections
History of major pelvic surgery
History of childhood sexual abuse
Currently taking androgens, estrogens, or other medical treatments to enhance sexual arousal
Current psychosis
If on antidepressants or antihypertensives, must be stabilized for at least 3 months

Where it is running

The University of Texas at Austin — Austin, Texas, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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