(101) Role of Afterplay in Female Sexual Satisfaction: A Prospective Randomized Two Arm Study

Introduction Despite the immense emotional value of afterplay in female sexual satisfaction, its role has not been scientifically studied until now. Objective To evaluate the impact of afterplay on female sexual satisfaction using a prospective randomized study design. Methods The study was initiated after the institutional review board approval. We recruited sexually active adult women, along with their partners in stable heterosexual relationships, who volunteered to participate in thematic sessions held in-house. Couples with comorbidities, psychiatric illnesses, or clinically proven sexual dysfunction were excluded from the study. All the participants completed the Sexual Satisfaction Scale for Women (SSS-W) both at the beginning and at the conclusion of the eight-week study. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups using computer-generated numbers. Group A, along with their partners, attended weekly thematic sessions covering topics such as foreplay, desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, sexual satisfaction, and pain during intercourse, in that order. Similarly, Group B, along with their partners, participated in the same thematic sessions as Group A but with an additional 15 minutes focused on afterplay during each session. Additionally, participants were asked to document their sexual encounters in a diary, specifically noting the occurrence of orgasm, the benefits gained from using tips provided during the thematic sessions, and rating their overall sexual satisfaction on a scale from 0 to 3. This satisfaction scale corresponded to the following levels: 0 for absent satisfaction, 1 for minimum satisfaction, 2 for average satisfaction, and 3 for total satisfaction. Data from these diaries were collected and analyzed weekly. At the end of the study, we assessed and compared changes in personal domain scores (communication, compatibility, and contentment) of the SSS-W. Data analysis was performed using MedCalc software, with a significance level set at p ≤ 0.05. Results The study, conducted from April 2023 to January 2024, involved a sample of 431 participants divided into two groups: Group A (N=211) and Group B (N=220). At the time of recruitment, both groups were similar in terms of age, the percentage of sexual encounters that involved orgasm, and their scores in the personal domain of the Sexual Satisfaction Scale for Women (SSS-W). After 8 weeks, participants in Group B reported experiencing orgasm in 52% of their sexual encounters, and 91% rated their sexual satisfaction as total. In contrast, Group A reported orgasm in 38% of encounters, with only 51% rating their sexual satisfaction as total (p≤0.0001). The mean changes in personal domain scores of the SSS-W were as follows: Group A had scores of 5.7±0.6 for contentment, 4.9±1.1 for communication, and 3.8±0.9 for compatibility. For Group B, the scores were significantly higher, with 11.7±0.9 for contentment, 12.9±0.3 for communication, and 12.1±0.7 for compatibility (p≤0.0001). Additionally, 3% of participants in Group A and 87% in Group B reported experiencing afterplay by their partners during sexual encounters, while 97% in both groups reported having foreplay. Conclusions In our study, afterplay emerged as the most important factor influencing women’s sexual satisfaction. This finding could provide a therapeutic avenue for addressing disorders related to female sexual satisfaction. Disclosure No