Sexual Dysfunction in Women With Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Sexual dysfunction in women with multiple sclerosis (MS) is an important yet often overlooked problem. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in female patients diagnosed with MS. The secondary objective is to evaluate the relationship between sexual dysfunction and fatigue, depression, anxiety, overactive bladder symptoms, and cognitive dysfunction.

For this purpose, the following validated instruments will be used: the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) to assess sexual dysfunction, the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS) to evaluate cognitive function, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to assess depression and anxiety, the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) to measure fatigue, and the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB-V8) to evaluate overactive bladder symptoms.

Recruiting

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Key information

Conditions

Multiple Sclerosis Anxiety Anxiety Disorders Autoimmune Diseases Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Cognition Disorders Cognitive Dysfunction Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS Demyelinating Diseases Depression Fatigue Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis Female Urogenital Diseases Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications Genital Diseases Immune System Diseases Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Male Urogenital Diseases Mental Disorders Multiple Sclerosis (MS) - Relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting Nervous System Diseases Neurocognitive Disorders Overactive Bladder Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Sexual Disfunction Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological Signs and Symptoms Urinary Bladder Diseases Urinary Bladder, Overactive Urogenital Diseases Urologic Diseases Urological Manifestations

Age range

25 year–50 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology

Izmir, Bornova, 35100, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location status: Recruiting

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Female patients aged 25-50 years
Literate and able to comprehend written and spoken instructions
Diagnosed with relapsing-remitting form of multiple sclerosis
Having a continuous/regular sexual partner
Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score ≤ 5
At least 3 months since the last relapse
Sexually active within the past 3 months
Spasticity level < grade 2 according to the Modified Ashworth Scale

Exclusion criteria

Pregnancy
Illiteracy or inability to understand spoken or written instructions
Absence of a continuous/regular sexual partner
Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score > 5
Not sexually active within the past 3 months
Spasticity level ≥ grade 2 according to the Modified Ashworth Scale

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

Prevalence of sexual dysfunction in female patients with multiple sclerosis

Time frame: At enrollment (Baseline, cross-sectional assessment)

Secondary outcomes

Association between sexual dysfunction and cognitive dysfunction, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and overactive bladder symptoms

Time frame: At enrollment (Baseline, cross-sectional assessment)

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Merve Dokumaci, Resident doctor

CONTACT

[email protected]

+905435088428

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Ege University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Sexual Dysfunction Prevalence and Its Relationship With Various Factors in Women With Multiple Sclerosis

Acronym: MS

Important dates

Study start: 2024
Primary completion: 2025
Study completion: 2025
First posted: Sep 26, 2025
Registry last updated: Sep 26, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed