According to the National Health Service (NHS), females are 2–3 times more likely to develop MS than males (sexes assigned at birth). It most commonly occurs in people from ages 20–40 years.
Read on to find out how MS can affect females. This article also discusses signs and symptoms of MS in females and males, when to contact a doctor, and more.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) may affect menstruation. Some females in a 2018 study reported irregular menstruation after the onset of MS. Learn about menstrual irregularities.
Menstruation may also affect your symptoms of MS. Anecdotal evidence suggests that females feel their MS worsen around 2–3 days before the start of their period. Symptoms may improve once you start your period.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) does not affect fertility. Having MS will not impact your ability to conceive.
Research suggests that being pregnant may reduce the likelihood of relapse during that time. Estrogen and other hormones that increase during pregnancy help minimize the risk of symptom relapse. This is mostly the case during the third trimester.
It is important to contact your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Some MS treatments, such as corticosteroids, may not be suitable if you are pregnant. Your doctor can advise on the best way to manage your condition during pregnancy.
Find out more about how MS affects pregnancy.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) does not appear to affect the age at which menopause begins.
To date, there have only been a small number of studies into the effects of MS on menopause. Some females have reported worsening MS symptoms after menopause. Possible causes for this include changes in treatments and vitamin D levels.
In contrast, some females in a small study from 1992 found that symptoms of MS improved during menopause. The study attributes this improvement to hormone replacement therapy.
MS symptoms may worsen as you age. This means that it may be difficult to identify whether MS symptoms worsen due to menopause or aging.
More research into the relationship between MS and menopause is necessary.
Some people with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience sexual dysfunction.
This can include:
- painfully heightened sensation
- reduced sensation in the clitoral area or vagina
- vaginal dryness
The early symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) typically begin from ages 20–40 years. They tend to affect your vision.
Initial MS symptoms can include:
- problems with eye movement, such as nystagmus, or rapid uncontrolled eye movement
- double vision, or diplopia, which is seeing two images on top of each other or side by side
- color distortion, where colors such as red may appear washed out
- optic neuritis, which can result in pain and temporary vision loss
Learn more about how MS affects your vision.
Most multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms affect females and males. Symptoms can affect your:
- vision
- balance
- muscle control
- sensations
- memory
Common symptoms you may experience with MS include:
- numbness or tingling, which is the first symptom some people experience
- walking difficulties
- fatigue, which affects up to 75% of people with MS
- dizziness or vertigo
- cognitive changes, with over 50% of people with MS experiencing memory problems and changes in executive function
- itchiness and pain, which can feel sharp, stabbing, burning, or like a squeezing sensation
- bowel and bladder problems, such as severe constipation, fecal incontinence, or bladder dysfunction
- changes in mental health, such as depression
Uncommon symptoms that you may experience with MS include:
- speech problems
- difficulties swallowing
- breathing difficulties
- loss of taste
- hearing loss
- tremors
- seizures
Experts do not know exactly what causes multiple sclerosis (MS).
However, many believe it is an autoimmune condition that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks its tissue.
Exposure to viruses may trigger this response in the immune system.
Research into the causes of MS is ongoing.
Learn more about the possible causes of MS.
Your doctor may recommend treatments to manage your symptoms and relapses.
If you experience a relapse, your doctor may prescribe corticosteroids. They may also prescribe disease-modifying therapies to reduce the severity and frequency of a relapse.
Treatments your doctor may recommend for symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) include:
- medications for individual symptoms
- disease-modifying therapy to suppress the immune system
- physical therapy
- occupational therapy
- cognitive behavioral therapy
- speech and language therapy
Find out more about medications prescribed for MS. You can also learn about other treatment options for MS.
Contact your doctor as soon as you have concerns about multiple sclerosis (MS). They will be able to assess your symptoms and carry out tests to reach an accurate diagnosis.
There is no single test for diagnosing multiple sclerosis (MS). However, your doctor may arrange various tests to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other possible causes.
Tests your doctor may arrange include:
- MRI
- neurologic exam
- spinal fluid analysis
Find out more about how doctors diagnose MS.
Females with multiple sclerosis (MS) may experience worsening symptoms shortly before their period. Some people have reported that MS affects symptoms they experience during menopause. However, no evidence suggests that MS delays the onset of menopause.
MS may affect sensation during sex, and it can cause vaginal dryness. However, it does not affect your ability to conceive.
Other symptoms people commonly experience with MS include numbness, walking difficulties, cognitive changes, and pain. Contact your doctor as soon as you have concerns about MS. This will help them reach an accurate diagnosis and advise the right treatments for you as early as possible.