Sexual Health

The purpose of this study is to see how two brief tasks affect where women focus their attention when looking at sexual images and videos. The study team also wants to find out whether the way women pay attention to sexual cues influences their sexual response. By better understanding this connection, researchers hope to learn more about how attention affects sexual experiences and to identify new ways to improve sexual well-being.

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of a six-month resistance exercise training program on the cognitive health of perimenopausal women. 

Participants will randomly be assigned to attend either two resistance training classes or two Pilates classes per week. In addition to the exercise classes, there are three study measurement sessions, at the beginning, middle and the end of the intervention. 

The purpose of this study is to refine a customizable large language model-based chatbot to provide support to augment an existing acceptable, feasible and efficacious online treatment for sexual difficulties in women. The objectives of the study are to establish the feasibility of an artificial intelligence (AI)-chatbot navigator for eSense-MBT; compare a customizable AI-chatbot navigator to a human navigator; and evaluate the effects of user-customization on the attitudes and acceptability of AI. 

The purpose of this study is to gather the first-hand experiences of Indigenous women and Two-Spirit persons who have/had sexual dysfunction and/or genito-pelvic pain. This study seeks to identify research priority areas, inform clinical guidelines and amplify patient voices in a way that leads towards culturally and trauma-informed health care solutions.

Participants will complete a brief screening video call on Zoom, followed by an online survey.

The purpose of this study is to identify the barriers faced by health care providers in assessing and managing female sexual dysfunction (e.g. desire, arousal, orgasm difficulties) and genito-pelvic pain.

Participants will complete an online survey and follow-up focus groups sessions will be held via Zoom. Take the survey here.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the safety and effectiveness of non-invasive transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (TSCS) in conjunction with conventional rehabilitation in helping with the recovery of bladder function in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). The study team will assess immediate TSCS efficacy when the stimulation is turned on, as well as the persisting effects of TSCS (e.g. any changes in function) that remain after the stimulation is turned off and after several weeks of regular stimulation.

The purpose of this study is to compare brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity in women/people diagnosed with endometriosis to similar healthy controls. BAT activity is measured twice in a random order during the early part of the menstrual cycle (follicular phase) and following egg release/ovulation (luteal phase). The study team will investigate whether BAT activity in women with endometriosis differs from healthy control women who are of similar age and body mass index.

The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy, tolerability, and acceptability of doxycycline prophylaxis in preventing incident bacterial sexually transmitted infection cases (such as syphilis, gonorrhea or chlamydia).

The purpose of this study is to explore virtual reality (VR) exposure for the treatment of vaginismus, also known as fear of painful vaginal penetration. Vaginismus is common and affected individuals experience difficulties with vaginal intercourse and gynaecological exams. Available treatments are not very effective. Cognitive behavioural therapy with an exposure element (insertion of vaginal dilators in the presence of a clinician) is highly effective, but unavailable in Canada.

The purpose of the study is to find out how women with and without sexual difficulties respond to videos and pictures (some of which contain erotic material). It also aims to understand the neurocognitive correlates of sexual arousal and desire, including attention to sexual cues, physiological and subject sexual responses.

Recruitment Poster