Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Neuropsychiatry

Background: Sexual dysfunction is a common but often underestimated feature of multiple sclerosis. Aim: The study was designed to assess the incidence of sexual dysfunction in MS and to assess the factors that determine incidence of sexual dysfunction in MS. Subjects and methods: The study was conducted on 40 patients with multiple sclerosis (20 females and 20 males) and 20 healthy volunteers. Demographic data, duration of the disease and disease pattern, expanded disability status scale, fatigue severity scale, hamilton depression scale, mini-mental state examination, multiple sclerosis intimacy and sexuality questionnaire-19, neuro-imaging, hormonal assessment were done for each patient. Results: Female patients with progressive type of MS had high TSS, but no correlation was found between TSS and age of female patients. Male patients with longer duration of illness had high total symptom score (TSS), also increase in age of male patients associated with high TSS, also male patients with progressive type of MS had high TSS. There was no correlation was found between to TSS and hormonal assessment in both female and male patients. Conclusion: Sexual dysfunction is one of the most common symptom in MS, many factors can determine incidence of sexual dysfunction in MS such as age, sex, type of MS and severity of disease. No correlations were detected between hormonal status and sexual function in MS

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