Signs and symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis in women

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune condition that interferes with the flow of information in the central nervous system. It causes a variety of symptoms and can affect females differently than males.

Researchers do not know what triggers MS. Once it develops, the condition causes the immune system to destroy a type of tissue called myelin, which insulates nerve fibers.

Without enough myelin, it is difficult for the nerves to transmit and receive signals properly.

MS randomly affects nerves in the brain, spinal cord, and eyes, meaning that it can cause a wide range of unpredictable physical, mental, and emotional symptoms that vary from person to person.

This article will discuss some of the most common symptoms of MS and explain why females might experience symptoms somewhat differently. It will also cover diagnosis and treatment.

Symptoms of MS in females

The symptoms of MS in females are similar to those in males, but they can include additional issues due to hormonal changes.

MS can also affect sexual health and bladder function differently.

MS symptoms in females include the following.

1. Vision problems

For many people, a vision problem is the first noticeable symptom of MS.

MS can cause various vision problems, including:

blurred vision
poor color vision or contrast vision
painful eye movements
blindness in one eye
a dark spot in the field of vision

People with MS develop vision problems either because their optic nerves become inflamed or because they have nerve damage in the pathways that control visual coordination and eye movement.

Although vision problems due to MS can be scary, most either resolve without treatment or are highly treatable.

2. Numbness

Numbness in the face, body, arms, or legs is another common symptom of MS, and it is often one of the earliest symptoms of the condition.

The numbness can range from mild and barely noticeable to severe enough that it interferes with everyday activities, such as holding objects and walking.

Most periods of numbness due to MS resolve without medication and do not become permanently disabling.

3. Fatigue

About 80% of people with MS experience fatigue or unexplained exhaustion.

Sometimes, the cause of fatigue relates to another symptom of MS. For example, people with bladder dysfunction may sleep poorly because they have to wake throughout the night to go to the bathroom.

People with MS who have nocturnal muscle spasms may not sleep well, leaving them feeling tired during the day. MS can also increase the risk of depression, which can cause fatigue.

Another type of fatigue that seems to be unique to MS is called lassitude. A person’s fatigue may be lassitude if it:

occurs daily
worsens as the day goes on
happens in the morning, even after a good night’s sleep
worsens with heat or humidity
interferes with daily activity
is unrelated to physical impairments or depression

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4. Bladder problems

Bladder problems affect at least 80% of people with MS. These issues occur when scars on the nerves impair nerve signaling that is necessary for the function of the urinary sphincters and bladder.

MS can make it difficult for the bladder to hold urine and may reduce the amount that it can store, causing symptoms such as:

more frequent or urgent urination
hesitancy starting urination
frequent overnight urination
an inability to empty the bladder
an inability to hold urine, or urine leaks

5. Bowel problems

Many people with MS experience bowel problems, such as:

constipation
diarrhea
a loss of bowel control

Bowel problems can make other MS symptoms — especially bladder problems, muscle stiffness, and involuntary muscle spasms — worse.

Some researchers believe that people with MS have problems controlling their bowels because of the neurological damage that the condition causes. Some people with MS may also have trouble controlling their bowels when they have constipation.

6. Pain

Some research suggests that 55% of people with MS experience clinically significant pain, while 48% live with chronic pain. Females with MS may be more likely than males to experience pain as a symptom of this condition.

Acute MS pain seems to be due to problems with the nerves that help transmit sensations in the central nervous system.

Some of the acute pain symptoms that have an association with MS include:

trigeminal neuralgia, which refers to a stabbing pain in the fact that people may confuse with dental pain
Lhermitte’s sign, which is a short sensation resembling an electric shock that moves from the back of the head down the neck and spine, usually after bending forward
the MS hug, which describes a stabbing, squeezing, painful, or burning sensation around the torso or in the legs, feet, or arms

Some of the symptoms that people with chronic MS pain may report include:

burning
aching
pins and needles
prickling

Many people with MS also experience chronic pain as a secondary effect of the condition. For example, it could be due to:

compensating for gait changes
muscle stiffness, cramps, and spasms
incorrect use of mobility aids
muscle changes from mobility loss

7. Cognitive changes

More than 50% of people with MS experience changes in cognition, which means that they may sometimes have difficulty:

processing new information
learning and remembering new information
organizing information and problem-solving
focusing and maintaining attention
properly perceiving the environment around them
understanding and using language
doing calculations

The cognitive symptoms of MS are typically mild to moderate and only affect a few aspects of cognition.

In rare cases, people with MS may experience disabling cognitive problems.

8. Depression

Clinical depression is one of the most common symptoms of MS. Depression is more common in people with MS than in people with other chronic health conditions.

Although almost everyone experiences periods of sadness or grief, clinical depression refers to depressive symptoms that last for a minimum of 2 weeks.

Some of the symptoms of clinical depression include:

a loss of interest in everyday activities
an increase in appetite or appetite loss
sadness
irritability
insomnia or excessive sleep
fatigue
feelings of guilt and worthlessness
difficulty thinking or concentrating
behavioral changes
thoughts of death or suicide

Clinical depression can also worsen other MS symptoms, including:

fatigue
pain
cognitive changes

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9. Muscle weakness

Many people with MS also experience muscle weakness. This symptom is due to damage to the nerve fibers that help control muscles.

People with MS may also experience muscle weakness because a lack of use has caused their muscles to become deconditioned over time.

MS-related muscle weakness can affect any part of the body. It can be especially challenging for people with MS to walk and stay mobile when muscle weakness affects their legs, ankles, and feet.

10. Muscle stiffness and spasms

MS can cause spasticity, which refers to muscle stiffness and involuntary muscle spasms in the extremities, especially the legs.

Some of the symptoms of spasticity include:

tightness in or around the joints
painful, uncontrollable spasms in the arms and legs
lower back pain
hips and knees that bend and become difficult to straighten
hips and knees that stiffen while close together or crossed

11. Dizziness and vertigo

Some people with MS experience dizziness and the sensation of being lightheaded, woozy, weak, or faint. Less commonly, they may experience vertigo, which makes it feel as though they or their surroundings are spinning.

MS may cause vertigo by damaging the pathways that coordinate the spatial, visual, and sensory input that the brain needs to maintain balance in the body.

The symptoms of vertigo include:

balance problems
motion sickness
nausea and vomiting
lightheadedness
a spinning sensation

12. Sexual problems

People with MS often experience sexual problems and may find it difficult to become aroused or have an orgasm. For example, MS may reduce natural vaginal lubrication, potentially making sexual intercourse painful for females.

The condition can also cause sexual problems by damaging nerves in the sexual response pathways that connect the brain and the sexual organs.

People with MS may also experience issues with sex as a result of other MS symptoms, such as:

muscle spasms and stiffness
mood or self-esteem changes
fatigue

13. Emotional changes

MS can cause a wide range of emotional symptoms and changes, including:

mood shifts
periods of uncontrollable laughter or crying
irritability
grief
worry, fear, and anxiety
distress, anger, or frustration

The condition is unpredictable, often has fluctuating symptoms, and can become disabling, all of which can be scary for someone.

MS can also cause emotional changes by damaging the nerve fibers in the brain. Some of the medications that people take to manage MS can also cause mood changes.

For example, corticosteroids can have many emotional side effects, including:

anxiety
irritability
agitation
tearfulness
restlessness
fear

14. Difficulty walking

People with MS can develop problems with gait, or how they walk, because of several factors. Some MS symptoms that may affect how a person walks include:

muscle stiffness and spasms
numbness or other sensory problems in the hips, legs, ankles, or feet
fatigue
muscle weakness
loss of balance

15. Hormonal effects

There is some evidence to suggest that MS can affect females differently than males due to hormonal changes, including those that occur during the following times of life.

Menstruation

More research is necessary to draw firm conclusions, but the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) states that some studies have found that females with MS have worse symptoms within a week of starting their period.

Studies that used an MRI scan have also shown that MS disease activity may change according to the different hormonal levels during menstruation.

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Pregnancy

Pregnancy can reduce the risk of MS symptom flare-ups, especially during the second and third trimesters.

Researchers believe that pregnancy has a protective effect against MS by raising the levels of compounds that help reduce inflammation and the effects of the condition.

Pregnant people also have naturally higher levels of circulating corticosteroids, another type of immunosuppressant.

Although pregnancy can temporarily reduce some MS symptoms, flare-ups tend to return in the first 3–6 months postpartum. However, in the long term, there is no proven link between pregnancy and a higher risk of disability.

Although being pregnant can temporarily reduce the risk of flare-ups, pregnancy also puts a lot of physical stress on the body, which can make certain symptoms of MS worse.

In addition, some of the medications that people use for MS are not safe to take during pregnancy and can worsen symptoms.

Anyone with MS who is pregnant or planning to become pregnant should discuss their medications with a doctor.

Some MS symptoms that pregnancy often exacerbates include:

fatigue
gait problems
bladder and bowel problems

Menopause

MS symptoms may worsen after menopause, possibly because declining estrogen levels adversely affect disease progression.

However, it is difficult to tell whether MS symptoms worsen because of menopause or just as a natural result of aging or the progression of the condition.

Much more research is necessary to understand the relationship between menopause and MS symptoms.

Rarer symptoms

Although the symptoms above are the most common, MS affects everyone differently. Some less common symptoms of MS include:

speech problems
seizures
hearing loss
swallowing problems
tremor
breathing problems
itching
headaches

Early symptoms

Some early symptoms of MS include:

a temporary loss of vision
color blindness
eye pain that worsens with eye movement
flashes of light with eye movement
numbness or tingling in different parts of the body

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MS in females

According to the NMSS, at least two or three times more females than males receive a diagnosis of MS.

Overall, MS seems to affect males and females similarly. However, a doctor cannot predict which symptoms that someone with MS will experience, the severity of the symptoms, or the progression of the condition.

The reason for this is that the condition attacks the myelin randomly, and the nerves that it affects can differ from person to person.

Although males and females with MS often experience similar symptoms, certain factors — such as menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause — may influence MS symptoms in females.

Why are females more at risk?

Females may be more at risk of MS because their bodies suppress the immune system while pregnant.

Vitamin D deficiency may also be linked with MS. Some researchers believe that there is a link between MS and the differences in the ways that male and female bodies process vitamin D. However, more studies are necessary.

Other researchers theorize that X chromosomes play a direct role in autoimmune function. X chromosome inactivation in females may result in them having more MS susceptibility genes. Again, more research is necessary.

Outlook

MS is an autoimmune condition that randomly affects parts of the central nervous system, resulting in unpredictable physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms.

Although MS tends to affect more females than males, it usually causes similar symptoms. However, females may experience variations in their symptoms due to hormonal changes, such as those that take place during menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause.

Vision problems and random localized numbness are often the first symptoms of the condition. Depression, bladder problems, cognitive changes, and pain are also among the most common symptoms of MS.

There is currently no cure for MS, but different drugs and complementary therapies can typically help manage the symptoms or even slow the progression of the condition.

Anyone who is experiencing concerning symptoms should contact a doctor for a proper diagnosis.

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