Evaluation of reproductive health in female patients with multiple sclerosis in Polish population

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease, which affects mostly women and has an early onset. Due to progress in treatment patients maintain a high quality of life for a long period and participate in all of its fields. One of them is reproductive health with all of its aspects. The aim of the study was to evaluate the reproductive health of female MS patients with regard to various features of MS. It was a cross-sectional study. The data was collected via anonymous survey distributed among patients with MS hospitalized at the Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw and online. The study group consisted of 218 women diagnosed with MS. The survey consisted of demographic questions, questions assessing features of MS, reproductive health, sexual performance and psychological comorbidities, including depression and fatigue. 53.01% of MS patients declared interest in maternity. Patients interested in pregnancy were significantly younger (p < .01), often nulliparous (p < .001), had lower EDSS score (p < .006) and lower motor deficit (p < .001). History of at least one labour (p < .02) had a negative impact on the frequency of gynaecologic admissions. More advanced age (p < .003), unemployment (p < .01), at least one labour (p < .043), stronger balance problems (p < .003) and more intense motor deficit (p < .002) were related to less frequent Pap smears. Reproductive health of women with MS is similar to that of background population. Therefore, the general gynaecological care in those women should not be neglected. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.