2005 issue 3

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Volume 21, issue 3

Article

The sexual dysfunction in multiple sclerosis patients

Jacek Zaborski1, Lidia Darda-Ledzion1
1. II Klinika Neurologiczna Instytutu Psychiatrii i Neurologii w Warszawie
Farmakoterapia w Psychiatrii i Neurologii, 2005, 3, 273-278
Keywords: multiple sclerosis, sexual dysfunction, treatment

Abstract

The sexual dysfunction is an important and often overlooked problem in MS patients. Sexual symptoms seem to be common in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and may be main cause of social disability.
Sexual dysfunctions in MS patients are results: primary (direct physical), secondary (indirect physical: pain, fatigue, bladder and bowel dysfunction, spasticity) or tertiary (psychosocial: depression, mood disability, cognitive impairment) causes. It was shown that a rate of sexual dysfunction ranged from 70 up to 91%. No correlation of frequency and intensity of sexual symptoms with duration of disease, age of onset, form of disease and disability were found.
The first step of correct management in sexual dysfunction in MS patient depend on appropriate assessment. Treatment should be started with resolving secondary and tertiary dysfunction causes and after that with application PDG-5 inhibitors.