Multiple Sclerosis Compromises Various Aspects of Female Sexual Function (P6.166)

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) can deteriorate sexual function. So far, prevalence of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in MS-patients is not well determined. Objective: To assess FSD prevalence in female MS patients. Methods: In 82 women (36.7±9.5 years) who have had a diagnosis of MS for 69.0±75.1 months and in 21 healthy women (36.5±11.8 years), we assessed scores of the 19-item Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) evaluating desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction and pain, and defining FSFI sum scores below 26.55 as indicative of FSD (Rosen et al. J Sex Marital Ther. 2000;26:191-208). We compared patient and control FSFI-scores using the Wilcoxon test for paired samples; significance was assumed for p<0.05. Results: 37/82 (45.1%) MS-patients and 1/21 (4.8%) healthy women had FSFI-sum scores below 26.55, i.e. met FSD criteria. In MS patients, FSFI-scores were significantly lower for desire (3.3±1.3 vs. 4.5±0.7; p<0.0001), arousal ability (4.1±2.0 vs. 5.2±1.3; p=0.005), lubrication (4.2±2.3 vs. 5.4±1.3; p=0.009), orgasmic function (3.6±2.2 vs. 4.9±1.3; p=0.008), sexual satisfaction (4.1±1.2 vs. 5.1±0.9; p=0.032), pain (4.3±2.3 vs. 5.4±1.4 vs.; p=0.012) and the FSFI-sum score (23.5±10.7 vs. 30.3±5.8; p=0.003) than in healthy women. Conclusions: In our group of female MS patients, FSD was rather frequent (45.1 %), and patients had a high prevalence of desire dysfunction, arousal disorders, lubrication, orgasmic dysfunction, sexual dissatisfaction and pain during intercourse suggesting associations between sexual dysfunction and MS-lesions. MS-associated cerebral and spinal cord lesions might compromise brain areas involved in sexual function. Reduction of sexual functions adds to a reduced quality of life in MS patients. Acknowledgement: The study was supported by Bayer Vital GmbH, Germany. Disclosure: Dr. Koehn has nothing to disclose. Dr. Linker has received personal compensation for activities with Bayer Pharmaceutical Corp., Biogen Idec, Novartis, Merck Serono, Teva Neuroscience as a speaker, with Biogen Idec, Novartis, and Merck Serono as a board member. Dr. Linker has received research support from Bayer Pharmaceutical Corp., Biogen Idec, Novartis, Merck Serono, and Teva Neuroscience. Dr. Intravooth has nothing to disclose. Dr. Crodel has nothing to disclose. Dr. Deutsch has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lee has received personal compensation for activities with Biogen Idec, Novartis. and Sanofi-Aventis Pharmaceuticals Inc. as a speaker. Dr. Hilz has received personal compensation for activities with Genzyme Corp., Pfizer Inc., and the International Brain Research Foundation, Inc. Dr. Hilz has received research support from the Rolf and Hubertine Schiffbauer Foundation, Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corp., and Novartis.