Investigating the interaction between fertility, pregnancy, and multiple sclerosis

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system. Most women with MS are diagnosed during their reproductive ages. The aim of this study was to evaluate the interaction between fertility, pregnancy, and MS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective descriptive–analytic study was conducted on 110 women suffering from MS with a history of pregnancy (between 2007 and 2017 years) in Isfahan, Iran. Samples were selected in a census model. Women completed a researcher-constructed questionnaire by telephone. The questionnaire consisted of three parts: demographic information, MS and its symptoms and treatment, and reproductive system and the history of pregnancy associated with MS. The data were analyzed by SPSS software version 16 using Chi-square, ANOVA, and t-test. RESULTS: The mean age of women was 32.4 years. In this population, the average number of pregnancies was 1.61, the number of deliveries was 1.35, the number of abortions was 0.24, the history of ectopic pregnancy was 0.01, the number of alive children was 1.36, and the number of dead children was 0.01. The average time of the last MS attack before the pregnancy was 21.36 months. Fatigue (24.5%) was the most common symptom exacerbated during pregnancy. MS symptoms improved in 55.0% of women in the second trimester. CONCLUSIONS: MS had no effect on the pregnancy status, such as the number of abortions, ectopic pregnancy, alive and dead children, and the duration of pregnancy. Symptoms of the disease improved during pregnancy. Therefore, pregnancy has a protective role against MS.