Multiple sclerosis (MS) has many unexpected effects on your life, from sleep difficulty to cognitive impairment to sensitivity to temperature extremes. But one which wouldn’t come to mind is that MS may increase sex drive and even sexual function. Now, many of you may be saying “hold on just a minute” because more often MS sufferers have a lower libido and sexual dysfunction from MS itself, compounded by pain, fatigue and depression which can lower sex drive. Even so, in some cases, the opposite can occur. In fact, the MS-associated hypersexuality may become more of an addition. It can be more than just having a strong sex drive: the hypersexuality rarely associated with MS can be uncontrollable, disrupting social and work functions and can even pose danger to the patient or those with whom they interact.
When should you start to wonder if you are suffering from a dangerous hypersexuality? Look for behaviors that leave you feeling regretful or guilty, for turning to sex as an escape from stressful components of your life, for having difficulty controlling your sex drive, for spending so much time on sexual fantasies or behaviors that it interferes with the rest of your life (such as not fulfilling your responsibilities), and for acting in such a way that poses risk to yourself or others.
People at most risk have a background of unresolved family conflict, a family or personal history of addictive behavior (such as gambling or alcohol), a history of depression or anxiety and a history of previous sexual abuse. MS patients are thought to be at heightened risk due to lesions in certain areas of the brain. But it is important to note that hypersexuality is more common in other neurologic conditions such as Parkinson’s Disease. More study is needed to determine if it is more common in MS that in other neurologic disorders, but the common mechanism may be disruption of certain neurons (nerve-cells).
Additionally, some MS patients may experience hypersexuality from the some of the medications prescribed by their doctors to control some of their symptoms, such as Provigil and Adderall (used for fatigue) and steroids (used to end MS flares). If you feel you may be experiencing hypersexuality, speak to your provider to review your medication list looking for possible culprits and to consider repeat MRI brain looking for new lesions. Remember that this is part of a medical condition-try not to feel ashamed or embarrassed when speaking with your provider. If your provider makes you feel awkward or brushes the issue aside-find a new doctor.
BeCare MS can help by tracking your neurologic function and mental health and prompt you when it is time to seek evaluation. Be empowered; become a driver of your own MS care.