Sexual Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Abstract

Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune, inflammatory, demyelinisan disease which onsets at young adult ages. In MS patients, a lot of psychological and social problem are observed along with the organic problems. The aim of this work is detecting the frequency of the sexual function disorder developed in the MS patients without any known psychiatric problem and/or advanced disability. Methods: 56 patients, who were diagnosed as MS "relapsing remitting clinical form" according to the Mc Donald criteria, participated in this study. Sexual functions of the patients were measured by the "Arizona Sexual" Experience Scale (ASEX). Results: The Mean SD age of the 56 subjects (34 women, 22 men) was 35.07 ± 8.72 years (min= 21, max= 46). The average Expanded Disability Status Scala (EDSS) score of the women was 2.29 ± 1.45, while the EDSS score for the men was 2.45 ± 1.68. The average disease duration was 6.14 ± 3.14 years. The average ASEX score for the women was 16.26 ± 5.12. The average ASEX score for the men was 15. 5 ± 4.67. 31 (91.2%) of the women and 19 (86.4%) of the men had ASEX scores above 11. There was no statistical relationship observed between the ASEX score, the disease duration and EDSS score. The average EDSS score of the subjects was 2.35 ± 1.53 and the patients have no sexual disabilities that affect /sexual/ functioning. Conclusion: Additionally, the patients have no psychiatric problems or the story of drug use that can be related to a sexual function disorder. In spite of the absence of any known risk factors that can result a sexual function disorder, the developed sexual function disorder can be explained by the influences of the disease on the central neural system and the neural information. © 2009 OMÜ Tüm Haklari Saklidir.