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Sexual Dysfunction in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis from Argentina: What are the Differences Between Women and Men?

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Abstract

Sexual dysfunction (SD) has been reported in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). However, SD is commonly underdiagnosed in clinical practice. We aimed to assess SD frequency (primary, secondary and tertiary) in pwMS in both genders and to investigate possible associated risk factors. A cross-sectional study (pwMS = 202 and healthy volunteers (HV) = 200, matched for sex and age) based on self-administered questionnaires such as Multiple Sclerosis Intimacy and Sexuality Questionnaire (MSISQ-19), The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Fatigue Severity Scale and self-reported disability was performed in pwMS and controls. In addition, the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF5-ED) were obtained in women and men, respectively. Factors associated with SD were analyzed in a multivariate model. The frequency of primary, secondary and tertiary SD in pwMS was 81%, 87.3% and 75.2%, respectively. Both erectile dysfunction (ED) and female SD were significantly higher in pwMS than in HV (89% vs. 26% and 54% vs. 21%, respectively). Only 45 (22.2%) pwMS had addressed sexual problems with their neurologist and 33 (16.3%) pwMS received counselling about their sexual problems. Higher MSISQ-19 total scores were significantly correlated with fatigue, anxiety, depression, self-reported disability and lower FSFI and IIEF5-ED scores. Furthermore, female SD was independently associated with primary SD, but no associated factors were found in male pwMS (multivariate analysis). In conclusion, SD is extremely common in pwMS from Argentina. The previously mentioned physical and neuropsychological factors have a negative impact on sexual function.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all MS patients and controls who took time to participate in this survey. Furthermore, we would like to thank ALCEM and EMA for promoting the survey as well as Dr Ocariz Florencia for her valuable recommendations.

Funding

This study was supported in part by a Grant from ALCEM (agency non-profit).

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  1. Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Hospital Alemán, Av Pueyrredón 1640, C1118AAT, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Edgar Carnero Contentti, Juan Pablo Pettinicchi, Alejandro Caride & Pablo A. López

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  1. Edgar Carnero Contentti
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Correspondence to Edgar Carnero Contentti.

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ECC has received professional travel accommodation stipends from Merck-Serono, TEVA, Genzyme, Biogen-Idec and Novartis. ECC has also received reimbursement for developing educational presentations from Merck, Genzyme, Biogen-Idec, Roche and Novartis as well as Grants for research from Novartis, Bayer and Merck. JPP has received professional travel accommodation stipends from Biogen-Idec, TEVA and Bayer as well as Grants for research from Biogen-Idec. AC has received honoraria for developing educational presentations as well as Grants for research from Genzyme and Biogen-Idec. PAA has received professional travel accommodation stipends from Merck-Serono, TEVA, Genzyme, Biogen-Idec and Roche. He has also received honoraria for developing educational presentations from Merck-Serono, Biogen-Idec and Roche as well as Grants for research from Novartis.

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Carnero Contentti, E., Pettinicchi, J.P., Caride, A. et al. Sexual Dysfunction in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis from Argentina: What are the Differences Between Women and Men?. Sex Disabil 37, 521–539 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-019-09603-5

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