Female Sexual Dysfunction Among Greek Women With Multiple Sclerosis: Correlations With Organic and Psychological Factors.

Introduction: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a degenerative neurological disease that usually occurs between the ages of 20 and 50 years. Sexuality issues are important factors that affect the quality of life of patients.

Aim: To determine and evaluate the prevalence of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in Greek women with MS and correlate it with organic and psychological factors.

Methods: 248 consecutive women with MS, aged over 18 who admitted to our outpatient clinics from February 2016 to March 2017 were included in the study. Demographics (age, marital status, menopause status, number of children) and disease-related data such as the duration of the disease, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and medication for MS obtained.

Main Outcome Measure: All participants completed the Greek validated versions of the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-21) and the Female Sexual Function Inventory (FSFI) questionnaires. Statistics used to estimate the prevalence of FSD and its correlation with organic (age, EDSS, duration of the disease, menopause status) and psychological factors (depression, anxiety, stress).

Results: FSD was diagnosed in 64.5% of our sample. Age was associated with most subscales of the FSFI. There was no significant correlation in FSFI subscales with the disease duration. Correlation of EDSS and FSFI scores was found to be statistically significant with a negative correlation in all subscales apart from the Satisfaction subscale. Regarding the association between DASS domains and FSFI subscales, there were no significant correlations.

Conclusion: FSD is common among Greek women; it is influenced by age, severity of disease, and it is independent of the existence of depression, anxiety, and stress. Konstantinidis C, Tzitzika M, Bantis A, et al. Female sexual dysfunction among Greek women with multiple sclerosis: Correlations with organic and psychological factors. Sex Med 2019;7:19-25.