Welcome to the MS Compass: Guiding Clinical Care podcast. A clinician-focused podcast led by Lindsay Ross, MD, of Cleveland Clinic, exploring the research, care decisions, and evolving conversations shaping MS treatment for women.

In this episode of MS Compass: Guiding Clinical Care, host Lindsay Ross, MD, is joined by Tammy Kaplan, MD, assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and vice chair of education for neurology at Mass General Brigham, for a comprehensive discussion on sexual dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis. The conversation opens with an overview of the scope and prevalence of sexual dysfunction in MS, emphasizing its impact on quality of life and its frequent underrecognition in clinical practice.

Kaplan outlines a practical framework for understanding sexual dysfunction through primary, secondary, and tertiary contributors, before shifting into strategies for integrating sexual health discussions into routine clinical care. The episode also explores common barriers clinicians face, including time constraints and uncertainty around management, while offering actionable approaches to assessment, communication, and treatment. Additional discussion highlights symptom-specific management strategies, indications for referral, and emerging areas of research, including neuromodulation and hormonal considerations.

Episode Breakdown:

• 0:00 – Introduction to sexual dysfunction in MS and its impact on quality of life
• 2:05 – Defining sexual dysfunction: desire, arousal, and orgasm across the sexual cycle
• 4:20 – Prevalence of sexual dysfunction in MS and variability across studies
• 5:45 – Primary, secondary, and tertiary sexual dysfunction framework in MS
• 8:15 – How to assess sexual dysfunction: normalizing conversations and building it into routine care
• 10:35 – Practical communication strategies and discussing intimacy with patients and partners
• 16:30 – Identifying underlying causes: bladder dysfunction, medications, and secondary contributors
• 20:45 – Managing decreased libido: medication review and role of SSRIs vs alternatives
• 22:10 – Addressing vaginal lubrication: medication effects, lubricants, and vaginal estrogen
• 24:20 – Orgasmic dysfunction and the role of SSRIs and upstream symptom management
• 26:05 – When to refer: mental health, gynecology, endocrine concerns, and complex cases
• 29:30 – Emerging research: neuromodulation and posterior tibial nerve stimulation
• 32:40 – Hormonal considerations and limitations in current clinical practice

• 34:50 – Key takeaway: sexual dysfunction in MS is multifactorial and requires routine, normalized assessment