Sexual Dysfunction, Depression in MS Prevalent, Tied to Higher EDSS Scores

Sexual dysfunction is common among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and associated with disease-related disability, according to study results presented at the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) Forum 2025, held in West Palm Beach, Florida from February 27 to March 1.

Sexual dysfunction may be an underrecognized factor that could negatively impact quality of life (QoL) among patients with MS.

Researchers from Hospital Lagomaggiore in Argentina conducted an observational, cross-sectional study to quantify the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in MS. The researchers assessed patients (N=53) with MS by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-2), Short Form-12 (SF-12), and the Multiple Sclerosis Intimacy and Sexuality Questionnaire-19 (MSISQ-19) instruments.

Half of patients (50.9%) had some form of sexual dysfunction, a third (37.7%) had some degree of depression, and a quarter (26.4%) had a negative perception of their health.

Stratified by QoL outcomes, EDSS scores were significantly higher among patients with sexual dysfunction (median, 2 vs 1.5; P =.03), those with severe depression (median, 3.25 vs 1.5; P =.04), and those with a negative perception of their health (median, 2.75 vs 1.5; P =.0003) compared with patients without sexual dysfunction, depression, or a negative health perception, respectively.

An EDSS cutoff of 2 or greater coincided with a higher prevalence of sexual dysfunction (66.7% vs 34.6%; P =.001) compared with an EDSS of below 2, respectively.

Compared with an EDSS score below 4, an EDSS cutoff of 4 or greater coincided with a higher prevalence of sexual dysfunction (87.5% vs 44.4%; P =.01), depression (85.7% vs 30.4%; P =.004), and having a negative health perception (85.7%) vs positive perception (91.7%; P =.0001).

The major limitation of this study was the small sample size.

“There is a high prevalence of sexual dysfunction and depression among MS patients, and these conditions are strongly associated with increased disability, starting at EDSS scores as low as 2. This highlights the importance of early, comprehensive treatment that addresses both the physical and emotional aspects of MS to improve patients[’] quality of life,” the researchers concluded.