The main differences in MS symptoms seem to be affected by hormone levels.īut no matter what your MS symptoms are, there are steps you can take to help manage your symptoms and feel better. Though women are at greater risk of developing MS than men, most of the MS symptoms that both sexes experience are the same. Problems might include:Īdditionally, women may notice reduced vaginal lubrication and pain during intercourse. dizziness, balance problems, or vertigo (a spinning sensation)īoth men and women can experience sexual dysfunction as a symptom of MS.depression, either from damage to brain areas involved in emotional control or as a result of the stress of the illness.Effects on the brain and nervesĪ range of other brain and nerve symptoms may result from MS. Lesions can also affect your body’s ability to move food through your esophagus and into your stomach. MS lesions can also influence swallowing, causing problems with chewing and moving food to the back of your mouth. changes in speech quality, such as a harsh-sounding or breathless voice.People with MS may experience trouble speaking. For example, imbalances caused by walking problems may lead to pain from stress on your joints. While some types of pain are related directly to MS, other forms of pain may be byproducts of how MS affects the body. According to research, more than half of all people with MS will have some form of pain during their illness. You might notice numbness that feels like “pins and needles” or a burning sensation. People often experience these symptoms across the body or in specific limbs. Possible bladder and bowel symptoms include:įeelings of numbness, tingling, and pain are common for many people with MS. Dysfunction in the pathways of the nervous system that control your bladder and bowel muscles cause these problems. Bowel and bladder changesīoth bladder dysfunction and bowel symptoms occur frequently in MS. more generalized eye discomfort and visual difficultiesĪll of these eye symptoms are due to MS lesions in the part of the brain that’s responsible for controlling and coordinating vision.vision loss, either partial or complete, which often occurs in one eye.Vision problems can occur in both men and women with MS. weakness or tremor in one or both arms or legs.balance problems and lack of coordination.As a result, MS patients can experience muscle-related symptoms that include: This can occur in the brain, spinal cord, or optic nerves. In MS, the body’s immune cells attack the nervous system. Some of the most common MS symptoms are listed below. But the symptoms vary for everyone depending on the location and severity of nerve damage caused by inflammation. In general, MS symptoms are the same for both women and men. MS symptoms that affect both women and men

If you have questions about whether HRT might be helpful for you in managing your MS symptoms after menopause, talk to your doctor. However, HRT has also been linked with increased risk of breast cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Studies have shown that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) helps ease these symptoms for postmenopausal women. As with menstrual symptoms, this may be due to a drop in estrogen levels caused by menopause. Some research has found that in some women, MS symptoms get worse after menopause. However, it’s common for them to return following delivery. In even better news, for most women, MS symptoms actually stabilize or improve during pregnancy, especially during the second and third trimesters. That means that MS won’t keep you from getting pregnant and giving birth to a healthy child.

Some good news for women with MS: Research has found that MS has no effect on fertility.

Symptoms that worsened for study participants included weakness, imbalance, depression, and fatigue. That may be because of a drop in estrogen levels during that time. Research has shown that some women have increased MS symptoms during their periods. The main symptoms that affect women more than men include menstrual problems, pregnancy-related symptoms, and menopause issues. More research is needed to determine the true causes of these symptom differences. Others think fluctuations in female hormones may be a factor. Some researchers think that having lower levels of testosterone may play a role. The MS symptoms that primarily affect women seem to relate to hormone levels.

Ms symptoms checklist female