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Sexual dysfunction in multiple sderosis: II. Correlation analysis

Clinical Neurology, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy

M Zorzon

Clinical Neurology, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy

A Bosco

Clinical Neurology, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy

L Monti Bragadin

Clinical Neurology, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy

R Moretti

Clinical Neurology, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy

L Bonfigli

Clinical Neurology, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy

L G Iona

Rehabilitation Centre, Santorio Hospital, Trieste, Italy

G Cazzato

Clinical Neurology, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy

Sexual dysfunction affect a large part of patient suffering from multiple sclerosis, but some aspect of i clinical presentation and aetiology are not clearly defined yet. In an unselected sample of 108 patient with definite multiple sclerosis we investigated the relationship between symptoms of sexual dysfunctioning and sphincteric dysfunction, patient' and disease characteristics, disability and neurological impairment psychological and cognitive functioning. Sexual dysfunction directly correlated with presence of physical disorders (r=0.37, P=0.0004) low educational level (r=0.32, P <0.002) disability (r=0.3 1, P <0.003) age at onset of symptoms (r=0.30, P <0.003) sphincteric dysfunction (r=0.30, P <0.003), age (r=0.30, P< 0.004) depression (r=0.29, P< 0.005) fatigue (r=0.29, P=0.005) cognitive deterioration (r=0.26, P< 0.0 1) primary-progressive co urse of disease (r=0.25, P < 0.02) ne urological impairment (r=0.25, P < 0.02), marriage (r0.24, P < 0.02) anxiety (r0.23, P < 0.03) male gender (r0.22, P=0.03) bladder dysfunction (r=0.29, P <0.04) and u nemployment (r0.2 1, P< 0.04). Sexual dysfunction correlated inversely with relapsing -remitting co urse of disease (r -0.31, P < 0.002). No correlation was fo und between sexual dysfunction and bowel dysfunction, duration of disease, secondary-progressive course of disease, number and frequency of sexual intercourses in the last year, number of partners, number of exacerbations in the last year, number of months since last exacerbation, masturbation, and fertility. In conldusion, the association between sexual dysfunction and sphincteric dysfunction indicates a common aetiology corresponding to the frequent involvement of the spinal cord in multiple sclerosis, but the concomitant correlation between sexual dysfunction and other variables suggest the possible aetiological role of physical psychological and sociological factors as well.

Key Words: sexual dysfunction • sphincteric dysfunction • multiple sclerosis • correlation analysis • social life • psychological functioning

Multiple Sclerosis, Vol. 5, No. 6, 428-431 (1999)
DOI: 10.1177/135245859900500i610


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