Multiple sclerosis and marriage: how do they affect each other?

Multiple sclerosis and marriage

The injury of one of the spouses with any disease that can affect the relationship between them and put different pressures on the two partners or one of them more than the other, and these pressures increase if the disease is serious and has severe complications such as multiple sclerosis. And if you are wondering whether a patient with multiple sclerosis can marry, and how this disease can affect the relationship between a man and a woman, here are the most important things to know about multiple sclerosis and marriage and how it affects sexual intercourse and the chances of pregnancy and childbearing.

Multiple sclerosis and marriage

There is no doubt that every husband and wife faces different problems during their marriage, and although the diagnosis of one of the spouses with multiple sclerosis may not be one of the most difficult challenges that can be faced, dealing with the symptoms and changes resulting from this disease may be difficult and affect the marriage in many ways. There are many, and here is the relationship between multiple sclerosis and marriage and how this disease affects the relationship between the two partners:

  • When one spouse is diagnosed with the disease, a large part of the responsibilities fall on the shoulders of the other partner.
  • Care must be taken to administer injections and medicines to the affected person at the exact times.
  • A healthy partner should help an injured partner when he is frustrated or has a low energy level.
  • A healthy partner does most of the different household tasks.
  • In many cases the financial responsibility also lies with the healthy person alone.
  • Do most parenting tasks when there are children.

The imbalance between the distribution of responsibilities may unintentionally cause a gap between the two partners, and sometimes the marital relationship turns into a patriarchal relationship and a caring relationship. This disease can affect marriage in other ways, which we will discuss next.

Multiple sclerosis and sexual intercourse

Multiple sclerosis can also cause various sexual problems for both men and women, most notably the loss of sexual desire and energy to have sexual intercourse in the first place.

Women may have problems with orgasm and arousal, while men may have problems with penile erection. The feeling of confidence decreases with this disease, especially in the event of severe symptoms. All of these problems affect the sexual life of people with multiple sclerosis of both sexes.

Some sexual problems can be treated with some aids such as the use of sexual lubricants and medications such as antidepressants to improve the general mood. But the successful solution to such problems is good communication and talking between the two partners. The partner must talk about all the existing problems and causes of concern, and an expert in marital relations can also be sought.

Multiple sclerosis and pregnancy

Previously, it was believed that pregnancy could negatively affect multiple sclerosis, but according to recent studies and experiments, the results concluded that women with this disease have the same percentage of going through a healthy pregnancy, as women without the disease. Another 2013 study suggested that the incidence of an attack of multiple sclerosis decreases during pregnancy, likely due to hormonal activity. It was also found that pregnancy did not appear to adversely affect the long-term progression of the disease.

There is no scientific evidence that sclerosis affects fertility, but pregnancy during this disease requires more planning, compared to the normal situation. Some types of sclerosis medications are unsafe, so the doctor may suggest stopping them until delivery, and the doctor will study and discuss how to organize treatment during pregnancy and how these drugs affect the pregnant woman and the fetus.

Despite the foregoing, it should be noted that some symptoms of this disease may increase in severity during pregnancy, such as:

  • Balance problems.
  • Tired.
  • Back pain.
  • Bladder and bowel problems.

Some symptoms may increase in severity in the later stages of pregnancy, such as balance problems, and then you can talk to the doctor about the use of aids such as a walking stick or other appropriate methods.

It must be remembered, our dear ones, that despite the difficulty of this disease on all parties in the marital relationship, and despite the sometimes negative relationship between MS and marriage, speaking honestly, continuous communication and expressing feelings is one of the most important ways to deal with these challenges and adapt to them.

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