Health care providers rarely bring up the subject of sexuality, because of personal discomfort, lack of professional training in this area, or fears of being overly intrusive. Most providers will be willing to discuss it however, if the person with MS brings up the subject. It is important to discuss changes in sexual feelings and ask directly about treatments that are available to enhance sexuality. Talk over with your physician, nurse, or other MS health care provider the ways in which MS symptoms and the medications used to treat them may be affecting your sexual responses. Providing health care providers with information and articles about sexuality and MS can help facilitate the discussion. Additional information resources are listed at the end of this article.

Another problem that inhibits communication about sexuality and MS is the lack of standardized assessment instruments that comprehensively evaluates primary, secondary, and tertiary problems. Filling out an instrument such as the MSISQ-19 (see Sexual Changes) will facilitate discussion with your partner and health care provider.