Description :
The Sexual Health Laboratory (Université de Montréal), the Couples & Sexual Health Laboratory (Dalhousie University), and the Psychology, Health, and Sexuality Laboratory (University of British Columbia) are currently recruiting couples in which one partner experiences low sexual desire/arousal to participate in a new study.
The goal of the study is to evaluate the potential effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral couple therapy (CBCT) for individuals experiencing low sexual desire/arousal and their partners. The CBCT intervention will include education, discussions, therapeutic exercises during sessions, and take-home exercises.
This study is a randomized controlled trial, in which participants are randomly assigned (like flipping a coin) to one of two conditions: cognitive-behavioral couple therapy or a waitlist control group, to assess the effectiveness of CBCT. All couples participating in the study will have the opportunity to take part in CBCT, regardless of their assigned condition.
We will collect data from 170 couples in which one partner is a cisgender woman, a transgender woman, or a gender-diverse individual assigned female at birth, and whose low sexual desire and/or arousal causes distress. This study will include partners regardless of their gender identity, biological sex, and sexual orientation.
Eligible couples will complete online surveys and participate in 16 couple therapy sessions via videoconference.
Couples will receive compensation of up to $100 per person in the form of gift cards upon completing all study surveys. The couple therapy sessions will be provided free of charge.
This project is approved by the Research Ethics Committee in Education and Psychology at Université de Montréal, the Research Ethics Office at Dalhousie University, and the Office of Research Services at University of British Columbia. It is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
Who can participate?*
To participate, both partners must agree to take part and:
(a) Be 18 years or older
(b) Be in a relationship and have lived together for at least one year
Additionally, one partner must:
(c) Experience persistent difficulties with sexual desire and/or arousal, which will be assessed during the eligibility process.
*Additional eligibility criteria may apply.
How to participate?
Fill out the form below to contact us by email:
