P-137: Sex Hormones Abnormalities and Female Sexual Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common cause of progressive neurological disability in young adults who may be sexually active. MS patients experience high levels of sexual dysfunction with hypoactive sexual behavior and abnormalities in hypothalamus- pituitary-gonad (HPG) axis. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the correlation between serum levels of sex hormones during menstrual cycle and the sexual response of women with MS. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 female MS patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) aged from 20 to 40 years divided into four groups according to expanded disability status scale (EDSS, mean EDSS score 2.5, range 0-6) and 30 female age-matched healthy control subjects were included into the study. The female sexual function index (FSFI) questionnaire was used to determine sexual dysfunctions. Serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), β-oestradiol, progesterone, prolactin (PRL), total and free testosterone were checked in follicular and leutal phases of menstrual cycle. Results: FSFI scores in RRMS patients were significantly lower than the healthy group. Domain scores for desire, arousal, orgasm, pain, lubrication and satisfaction measured between RRMS patients and controls showed significant difference. We observed significant hormonal abnormalities consisted of decreased progesterone and testosterone levels and increased oestradiol and prolactin levels during menstrual cycle. Conclusion: Although, we showed the abnormalities in sex hormones level and sexual dysfunction, we could not define a statistically significant negative correlation between EDSS and FSFI scores in the RRMS patients and there was no significant correlation between abnormal hormonal status and the presence of a specific sexual dysfunction, as assessed with the FSFI.