Prevalence, dimensions, and predictor factors of sexual dysfunction in women of Iran Multiple Sclerosis Society: a cross-sectional study

• Published in: Neurological sciences 2020-05, Vol.41 (5), p.1105-1113
• Main Authors: Ghasemi, Vida, Simbar, Masoumeh, Ozgoli, Giti, Nabavi, Seyed Massood, Alavi Majd, Hamid
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Anxiety; Cross-Sectional Studies; Fatigue; Female; Humans; Iran - epidemiology; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental depression; Multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis - complications; Multiple Sclerosis - epidemiology; Multiple Sclerosis - psychology; Neurology; Neuroradiology; Neurosciences; Neurosurgery; Original Article; Prevalence; Psychiatry; Questionnaires; Regression analysis; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - complications; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - epidemiology; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - psychology; Sexuality; Surveys and Questionnaires; Urinary incontinence; Variance analysis
• ISSN: 1590-1874; 1590-3478
• DOI: 10.1007/s10072-019-04222-6

Background Sexual dysfunction (SD) is a stressful and common symptom in women with multiple sclerosis (MS) and affects different aspects of their life, seriously . The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence, dimensions, and predictor factors of SD in Iranian women with MS. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in Iran MS Society. Participants were 260 married women who had definite MS. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires, including Multiple Sclerosis Intimacy and Sexuality Questionnaire-19 (MSISQ-19); Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS); Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21); Questionnaire for Urinary Incontinence Diagnosis (QUID); ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Scale (EMS); Sexual Self-Efficacy Questionnaire; and socio-demographic and disease information questionnaire. Pearson correlation coefficients, independent sample t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple linear regression model were used for data analysis. Results Majority (76.2%) of the participants had SD, and according to the dimensions of SD in MS, primary SD was found in 176 (67.7%), secondary SD in 158 (60.7%), and tertiary SD in 126 (48.5%) of the participants. The most important and common problem was delayed orgasm (60%). According to the results of multiple linear regression model, the predictor factors of SD were sexual self-efficacy (B = -0.721, P