Age, education linked to sexual dysfunction in women with MS
Study finds 80% of women in Iran with MS affected
Sexual dysfunction affects 80% of women in Iran with multiple sclerosis (MS), with older age and lower education levels seen as key risk factors, a study found.
The study, ”The prevalence of sexual dysfunction and its contributors among the women with multiple sclerosis,” was published in BMC Women’s Health. It “is among the few that have evaluated the contributing factors of sexual dysfunction among women with MS in Iran,” the researchers wrote.
Sexual dysfunction, including issues with desire, arousal, and pleasure, is a common and often overlooked MS symptom that can significantly affect quality of life.
It can stem from nerve damage caused by MS, which directly affects sexual response. Common MS symptoms like fatigue and pain, as well as psychological and emotional factors such as depression and low self-esteem, can also make intimacy difficult.
The researchers examined data from 100 married women with MS who were referred to the Bu-Ali hospital clinic in 2020 and 2021. Participants were asked to complete the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire, a 19-item tool designed to assess a person’s sexual function. Questions relate to six subdomains — desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and sexual pain — with a maximum possible score of 36 indicating optimal sexual function.
‘Cultural stigma’ deters many from getting help
The women’s mean age at the time they entered the study was 37.4, and they had been diagnosed about nine years earlier. Nearly half (44%) were university graduates, 37% had diplomas, and 75% were homemakers.
Results showed that 80% of the women had sexual dysfunction, defined as an FSFI score of lower than 26. This prevalence was similar to results reported in previous studies from Iran, but higher those that seen in more developed countries, the researchers noted. They attributed this disparity to a lack of public education and awareness programs about sexual issues in Iran.
“Cultural stigma surrounding discussions of sexual health often discourages women from seeking help, leading to a lack of recognition and treatment for their condition,” they wrote.
Statistical analyses revealed a number of factors that significantly correlated with sexual dysfunction in these women. Higher disability levels, older age, having given birth more times, longer disease duration, and lower education levels were all significantly associated with lower FSFI scores, indicating worse sexual function.
Age was associated with all sexual function categories other than satisfaction, while disability correlated significantly with scores on desire, lubrication, orgasm, and pain. University graduation was linked to higher scores in desire, arousal, and lubrication.
However, when all factors were analyzed together, only age and having a university degree retained a significant association with sexual function. For every year added to a person’s age, FSFI scores declined by 0.41, while having an university degree increased those scores by 3.13.
The findings suggest that older and less educated patients have a greater risk of experiencing sexual issues. Knowing which groups are at risk may help healthcare providers “design more effective therapeutic and preventive strategies,” the researchers wrote.
They said there is a need for “targeted education programs, increasing public awareness, and integrating sexual health training into medical curricula,” which “could help reduce stigma and improve access to care for women with MS experiencing sexual dysfunction.”
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