POSH-Ex: Physiotherapist-Led Telerehabilitation Exercise Programme for Postpartum Sexual Health

Sponsor
University Medical Centre Ljubljana
Study ID
NCT07747285
Status
Not Yet Recruiting

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Conditions

  • Fatigue
  • Physical Activity
  • Postpartum Depression
  • Postpartum Sexual Dysfunction

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
FEMALE
Age
18 Years - 45 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • POSH-Ex (Postpartum Sexual Health Exercise) — BEHAVIORAL
    POSH-Ex is a standardized physiotherapist-led telerehabilitation programme designed to improve female sexual function and overall postpartum health. The intervention integrates pelvic floor muscle training, breathing control, deep core activation, functional strengthening, balance training, mobility exercises, and progressive whole-body exercises delivered through live online sessions.

Study Details

Postpartum women frequently experience impairments in sexual function, pelvic floor dysfunction, fatigue, and depressive symptoms, all of which may adversely affect their quality of life during the postpartum period. Although pelvic floor muscle training is recommended as part of postpartum rehabilitation, evidence regarding comprehensive physiotherapist-led exercise programmes specifically targeting postpartum sexual health remains limited. Furthermore, no standardized telerehabilitation programme has yet been evaluated using a randomized controlled trial design. The aim of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of the POSH-Ex (Postpartum Sexual Health Exercise) programme, a standardized 12-week physiotherapist-led telerehabilitation intervention designed to improve female sexual function and overall postpartum health after childbirth. Secondary objectives are to evaluate its effects on pelvic floor muscle strength, physical activity, fatigue, depressive symptoms, health-related quality of life, and body composition. A total of 84 postpartum women will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either the intervention group or the control group. Participants in the intervention group will complete supervised online exercise sessions twice weekly for 12 weeks, while participants in the control group will receive usual postpartum care. Outcome assessments will be performed at baseline and immediately after completion of the intervention. The primary outcome is female sexual function assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Secondary outcomes include pelvic floor muscle strength, physical activity, fatigue, depressive symptoms, health-related quality of life, and body composition. The findings are expected to provide high-quality evidence regarding the effectiveness of a standardized telerehabilitation programme for postpartum rehabilitation and may contribute to the development of evidence-based postpartum rehabilitation programmes and future clinical practice guidelines.

Key Dates

First listed
Aug 5, 2026
Start date
Sep 1, 2026
Status verified
Jul 2026
Primary completion
Aug 31, 2027
Completion
Sep 30, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment
84 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Arms

  • Experimental: POSH-Ex (Postpartum Sexual Health Exercise)
    Participants allocated to the intervention group will receive the POSH-Ex (Postpartum Sexual Health Exercise) programme, a standardized physiotherapist-led telerehabilitation intervention delivered over 12 weeks. The programme consists of two supervised online exercise sessions per week (approximately 60 minutes per session) conducted according to a predefined standardized protocol. Participants will additionally receive weekly written exercise materials supporting independent practice between supervised sessions.
  • No Intervention: Control Arm POSH-Ex
    Participants allocated to the control group will receive usual postpartum care routinely available within the Croatian healthcare system. They will not receive the structured POSH-Ex exercise programme during the study period. Outcome assessments will be performed according to the same schedule as in the intervention group.

Primary Outcome Measure

Change in female sexual function [ Time Frame: Baseline and after the 12-weeks ]

Central Contacts

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