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Sexual Problems and Quality of Life in Women with Multiple Sclerosis

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Abstract

Sexual problems (SP) are often experienced by people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and severely affect their quality of life. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between sexual problems and quality of life subscales. 132 women with MS from Iranian MS Society completed demographic and medical history questionnaire. Quality of life was measured by Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 (MSQoL-54) and sexual problems were quantified by MSISQ-19 which includes items for primary, secondary and tertiary causes of sexual problems. The data was analyzed by using SPSS-18 and Pearson’s correlation coefficients were used to examine relationships between sexual problems and quality of life subscales. Statistically significant correlation was found between sexual problems and quality of life subscales. Physical and mental components of MSQoL-54 were strongly correlated with secondary level of SP (p < 0.001, r = 0.702 and p < 0.001, r = 0.470 respectively). Of primary SP items decreased libido showed highly significant correlation with physical and mental components of MSQoL-54 (p < 0.001, r = 0.629 and p < 0.001, r = 0.499 respectively). Sexual problems such as decreased libido are highly correlated with quality of life in women with MS. Secondary SP had most correlations with quality of life subscales. Evaluation and appropriate management of sexual problems in MS patients can lead to improving their quality of life.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all our patients for sharing their sexual life information with the researchers. We are grateful to Leila Amini and Hamid Haghani for their helpful assistance with the data assessment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran

    Kowsar Qaderi

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), Charleston, SC, USA

    Effat Merghati Khoei

  3. Sexual and Family Health Division in Brain and Spinal Injury Research Center (BASIR), Risk Behaviors Research Center (INCAS), Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran

    Effat Merghati Khoei

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  1. Kowsar Qaderi
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  2. Effat Merghati Khoei
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Correspondence to Effat Merghati Khoei.

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Qaderi, K., Merghati Khoei, E. Sexual Problems and Quality of Life in Women with Multiple Sclerosis. Sex Disabil 32, 35–43 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11195-013-9318-4

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