UNCOMFORTABLE GENITAL SENSORY disturbances, including burning, pain, or tingling, can sometimes be relieved with prescription medications such as carbamazepine (Tegretol) or phenytoin (Dilantin) .The application of a cold compress prior to sexual activity can sometimes suppress uncomfortable sensations.
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| MS Sexual Side Effect |
Decreased vaginal and clitoral sensation can sometimes be overcome by more vigorous stimulation, either manually, orally, or with the use of a vibrator. Strap-on clitoral vibrators may be worn by the woman or attached to the base of the penis during intercourse, allowing for more intense clitoral stimulation. In general, AC electric plug-in vibrators have more powerful motors and are more stimulating than DC-powered battery-operated ones.
However, some electric vibrators are quite powerful and can irritate vaginal or clitoral tissue if they are applied too vigorously, (A large selection of vibrators and other sexual aids have become more readily available in recent years due to the proliferation of mail-order services that allow people to shop conveniently and privately at home. Some mail-order companies are sensitive to the needs of people with physical disabilities and can be good sources of information for selecting sexual aids.)
Exploring alternative sexual touches, positions, and behaviors, while searching for those that are the most pleasurable, is often very helpful. Masturbation with a partner observing or participating can provide important information about ways to enhance sexual interactions.
Problems with orgasm
MS CAN INTERFERE directly or indirectly with orgasm. Primary orgasmic dysfunction stems from MS lesions in the spinal cord or brain that directly interfere with orgasm. In women and men, orgasm depends on nervous system pathways originating in the brain (the center of emotion and fantasy during masturbation or intercourse), and pathways in the upper, middle, and lower parts of the spinal cord (which control sensations from erogenous zones such as lips, nipples, penis or clitoris, and so forth).
If these pathways are disrupted by plaques, sensation and orgasmic response can be diminished or absent. In addition, orgasm can be inhibited by secondary (indirect) symptoms, such as sensory changes, spasticity, cognitive problems, and other MS symptoms. Tertiary (psychosocial or cultural) orgasmic dysfunction stems from anxiety, depression, and loss of sexual self-confidence or sexual self-esteem, each of which can inhibit orgasm.
Treatment of orgasmic loss in MS depends on understanding the factors that are contributing to the loss. If sensation is disturbed in the genitals and lower body areas, increasing stimulation to other erogenous zones, such as breasts, ears, and lips, may enhance the orgasmic response. Conducting a sensory "body map" with one's partner, to explore the exact locations of pleasant, decreased, or altered sensations, can be both intimate and informative.
Sometimes stimulating the edges of body zones that are experiencing numbness or diminished sensation can feel sensually or erotically pleasing. Similarly, increasing cerebral stimulation by watching sexually oriented videos, exploring fantasies, and introducing new kinds of sexual play into sexual activities can help trigger orgasms.
Decreased libido
ONE OF THE most difficult primary sexual symptoms to compensate for is loss of sexual desire (libido), which is one of the most common sexual changes among women with MS. When loss of desire is due to secondary sexual dysfunction (e.g., as a result of fatigue) or tertiary sexual dysfunction (e.g., as a result of depression), treatment of the interfering secondary or tertiary symptoms frequently restores libido. When a person's libido is diminished by MS, he or she may begin to avoid situations that were formerly associated with sex and intimacy.
Sexual avoidance serves as a source of misunderstanding and emotional distress within a relationship. The partner may feel rejected, and the person with MS may experience anxiety, guilt, and reduced self-esteem. Misunderstandings surrounding sexual avoidance frequently compound the loss of desire and diminish emotional intimacy in relationships. To find out more, you can check out MS Sexual Side Effect.