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Neuroanatomic Correlates of Female Sexual Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis

Winder, K; Linker, RA; Seifert, F; Deutsch, M; Engelhorn, T; Dörfler, A; Lee, D-H; ... Hilz, MJ; + view all (2016) Neuroanatomic Correlates of Female Sexual Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis. Annals of Neurology , 80 (4) pp. 490-498. 10.1002/ana.24746. Green open access

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study intended to determine associations between alterations of female sexual arousal as well as vaginal lubrication and the site of cerebral multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions. METHODS: In 44 women with MS (mean age: 36.5 ± 9.9 years), we assessed their medical history and evaluated sexual function using the Female Sexual Function Index scores for arousal and vaginal lubrication. We determined potential confounding factors of sexual dysfunction: age; disease duration; physical disability; depression; bladder or urinary dysfunction; and total volume of cerebral lesions. Arousal and lubrication scores were correlated with one another and with potential confounding factors. Cerebral MS lesions were recorded on imaging scans. A voxel-based lesion symptom mapping (VLSM) analysis adjusted for confounding variables was performed correlating cerebral sites of MS lesions with arousal and lubrication scores. RESULTS: Decreased arousal scores correlated with decreased lubrication scores; decreased lubrication scores were associated with bladder or urinary symptoms. Arousal and lubrication scores were not associated with any other variables. Multivariate VLSM analysis, including arousal and lubrication scores as covariables of interest, showed right occipital lesions associated with impaired arousal and left insular lesions associated with decreased lubrication. Impaired lubrication remained associated with left insular lesions after adjustment for bladder or urinary dysfunction. INTERPRETATION: Our data indicate that impaired female sexual arousal is associated with MS lesions in the occipital region, integrating visual information and modulating attention toward visual input. Impaired lubrication correlated with lesions in the left insular region, contributing to mapping and generating visceral arousal states.

Type: Article
Title: Neuroanatomic Correlates of Female Sexual Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1002/ana.24746
Publisher version: http://doi.org/10.1002/ana.24746
Language: English
Additional information: © 2016 American Neurological Association. This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Winder, K; Linker, RA; Seifert, F; Deutsch, M; Engelhorn, T; Dörfler, A; Lee, D-H; (2016) Neuroanatomic Correlates of Female Sexual Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis. Annals of Neurology , 80 (4) pp. 490-498. 10.1002/ana.24746, which has been published in final form at http://doi.org/10.1002/ana.24746. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.
UCL classification: UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology > Brain Repair and Rehabilitation
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1536076
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