Sexual practices as an important aspect of reproductive health have many physical and psychological effects on people's lives, there is limited evidence on such practices and their pattern among Iranian women. Hence we aimed to determine different types of sexual practices among 19-45 year old married Iranian women. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 married women, aged 19-45 years, attending Taleghani Public Health Center for annual gynecologic examination during November 2008 to May 2009 using convenient sampling. The participants were enquired about their experience regarding different types of sex, as well as their views and feelings about such practices, using an anonymous questionnaire. The mean age of the participants was 34 years. All had ever experienced vaginal sex and 50.9% reported ever experience of other types of sex (non-vaginal), as well. Due to some stigma attached to non-vaginal sexual practices among women in Iran, the feelings of women with re...

Background & Aim: For diagnosis, prevention and treatment of female sexual problems, it is crucial to understand the ways women conceptualize their sexuality. The aim of current qualitative study was to explore the participant's perceptions and understanding of sexuality. Methods & Materials: In this qualitative study, fifteen married women aged 21-42 interviewed face to face as they referred to the selected outpatient clinics to receive care and treatment for their sexual problems. The kind of their sexual problems has been confirmed through interview, Brief Index of Sexual Function-Women (BISF-W) and Female Sexual Distress-Revised (FSD-R) questionnaire before conducting in-depth semi-structured interviews. Results: The obtained theme from content analysis indicated that women conceptualize sexuality as " any interaction between man and woman that leads to pleasure and tranquility ". This main theme comprises two categories that include emotional intimacy and sexual intimacy. All the women claimed that emotional intimacy behaviors were the most and the majority of them believed that coital behaviors were the least enjoyable aspects of their sexuality. Women rarely refer to spontaneous sexual desire or fantasy and they believed that pleasure was more important than orgasm in their sexual life. Participants didn't mention to oral and anal sex, and self-stimulation in their statements. Conclusion: The findings of this research are support previous studies that showed for women emotional closeness is the main aspect of sexuality and it is the prerequisite to a fulfilling sex life. In the other hands, this study show that women's description of sexual norms is different in some aspects from that in women of western context, therefore clinicians should consider participant's definitions and pay attention to the socio-cultural aspects of sexuality.

The Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire-44 (OBQ-44), a self-report measure, was developed by the Obsessive Compulsive Cognitions Working Group (OCCWG) to assess beliefs considered relevant in the etiology and maintenance of obsessions and compulsions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Persian language version of the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (POBQ-44). A sample of 222 medical students from an Iranian university was used to assess the reliability and validity of the POBQ-44. The results indicated five factors: 1) general, 2) perfectionism, certainty, 3) responsibility and threat estimation, 4) importance and control of thoughts, 5) complete performance. Each of these factors was found to have adequate test-retest and internal consistency reliability. Each of the factors was associated with O-C symptoms. In addition, adequate convergent validity was found with a measure of obsessive compulsive symptoms, and discriminate validity was found w...

Objective: Hypoactive sexual desire Disorder (HSDD) is a common sexual problem among women. Sexual interest and desire inventory-female (SIDI-F) has been widely validated and used to measure sexual desire in women. The aim of this study was to determine the psychometric properties of the Persian version of SIDI-F for Iranian population. Method: This was a methodological study on the psychometric properties of SIDI-F. This report describes the process and principles used in the translation and cultural adaptation of the SIDI-F on 40 women of reproductive age who were selected using convenience sampling method. The content validity of this inventory was proved by analyzing the feedback solicited from women of reproductive age; professions specialized in health, sociology and psychology. Reliability was assessed through test-retest and internal consistency reliability. Results: Few cultural differences were identified and considered during the process of translation and validation. In ...

The Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire-44 (OBQ-44), a self-report measure, was developed by the Obsessive Compulsive Cognitions Working Group (OCCWG) to assess beliefs considered relevant in the etiology and maintenance of obsessions and compulsions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Persian language version of the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (POBQ-44). A sample of 222 medical students from an Iranian university was used to assess the reliability and validity of the POBQ-44. The results indicated five factors: 1) general, 2) perfectionism, certainty, 3) responsibility and threat estimation, 4) importance and control of thoughts, 5) complete performance. Each of these factors was found to have adequate test-retest and internal consistency reliability. Each of the factors was associated with O-C symptoms. In addition, adequate convergent validity was found with a measure of obsessive compulsive symptoms, and discriminate validity was found w...

Background & Aim: For diagnosis, prevention and treatment of female sexual problems, it is crucial to understand the ways women conceptualize their sexuality. The aim of current qualitative study was to explore the participant's perceptions and understanding of sexuality. Methods & Materials: In this qualitative study, fifteen married women aged 21-42 interviewed face to face as they referred to the selected outpatient clinics to receive care and treatment for their sexual problems. The kind of their sexual problems has been confirmed through interview, Brief Index of Sexual Function-Women (BISF-W) and Female Sexual Distress-Revised (FSD-R) questionnaire before conducting in-depth semi-structured interviews. Results: The obtained theme from content analysis indicated that women conceptualize sexuality as "any interaction between man and woman that leads to pleasure and tranquility". This main theme comprises two categories that include emotional intimacy and sexual int...