Multiple Sclerosis Living with Multiple Sclerosis

Redefining Intimacy in People with Multiple Sclerosis

If you don't believe in the importance of good sex within an intimate relationship, just check out the cover of any woman's magazine in the supermarket. For couples that are coping with multiple sclerosis (MS), both physical symptoms and their emotional repercussions can make a healthy sex life challenging.

Below, Fred Foley, PhD, director of psychosocial services at the Gimbel Multiple Sclerosis Comprehensive Care Center in Teaneck, N.J., talks about how couples can reclaim an intimate relationship by learning about new ways to enjoy each other.

What is multiple sclerosis (MS)?
Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a chronic disease of the central nervous system where the myelin, which is the insulation-like material that wraps the nerve, is attacked and destroyed by cells in the immune system.

As this process unfolds, the cells in the brain attempt to repair the damage, but since they can't repair it completely, lesions develop that block nerve conduction in the brain and spinal cord. This results in clinical symptoms, such as vision problems or the ability to coordinate the legs and arms.

How common are sexual problems in MS?
Multiple sclerosis can cause a variety of symptoms and interfere in a variety of bodily functions. About 80 percent of persons with MS describe some kind of sexual problem at some point in the course of their disease. That may sound very high, but in the general American population, 35 to 40 percent of people report at least occasional sexual dysfunction.

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