Table 2.
Main findings of 20 articles included in the current study
| First author (reference number) | Year of publication | Country/city | Sample size | Age range and mean age | Duration of MS | Design of study | Outcome of study | Scale/index | The method of outcome assessment | Prevalence(N of event) | Score of quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balsamo et al. [9] | 2017 | Italy | 101 | 41.2 ± 11.6 | 11.5 ± 7.5 | Cross-sectional | Erectile dysfunction (ED) | International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-15) score ≤ 25 | Self-administered questionnaire | In 75 patients (74.25%) | 3 |
| Barak et al. [10] | 1996 | Israel | 9 | 35.4 ± 10.2 | 4.1 ± 2.7 | Cross-sectional | Sexual dysfunction (SD) | Researcher-made questionnaire | Self-administered questionnaire | In 5 patients (55.5%) | 4 |
| Carnero Contentti et al. [11] | 2019 | Argentina | 65 | 40.0 ± 8.0 | 7.09 ± 5.1 | Cross-sectional | Erectile dysfunction (ED) | IIEF-15 scores ≤ 21 | Self-administered questionnaire | In 49 patients (89%) | 3 |
| Çelik et al. [12] | 2013 | Turkey | 45 | 37.4 ± 8.6 | - | Cross-sectional | Sexual dysfunction (SD) | Multiple Sclerosis Intimacy and Sexuality Questionnaire-19 (MSISQ-19) | Self-administered questionnaire | In 22 patients (49%) | 1 |
| Darija et al. [13] | 2015 | Serbia/Belgrade | 27 | 41.6 ± 6.9 | 9.2 ± 6.5 | Cohort | Sexual dysfunction (SD) | Szasz sexual functioning scale (Szasz) score > than 0 | Face-to-face structured interview | 77.8% at baseline to 88.9% at the 6-year follow-up | 2 |
| Demirkiran et al. [14] | 2006 | Turkey | 18 | 37.99 ± 8.9 | 7.3 ± 5.4 | Cross-sectional | Sexual dysfunction (SD) | MSISQ-19 | Structured face-to-face interview | In 14 patients (78%) | 2 |
| Finkelsztejn et al. [15] | 2009 | Brazil | 17 | 43.5 ± 11.2 | 11.5 ± 6.7 | Cross-sectional | Sexual dysfunction (SD) | Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS)–(??? not clear) | Data collected by the authors during consultation | 31.1% | 3 |
| Ghezzi et al. [16] | 1996 | Italy | 77 | 40.8 ± 9.0 | 9.1 ± 5.8 | Cross-sectional | Erectile dysfunction (ED) | A subjective evaluation of their own sexual life | A clinical interview | In 26 patients (33.7%) | 5 |
| Hennessey et al. [17] | 1999 | South Glamorgan | 68 | 50.2 | - | Cross-sectional | Sexual dysfunction (SD) | Researcher-made questionnaire | Postal questionnaire and a physical examination | 56 of 68(82%) reported deterioration in sexual activity | 3 |
| Lew-Starowicz and Rola [18] | 2014 | Poland | 67 | Range : 29–72; mean age: 49.9 | 15.5 | Cross-sectional | Erectile dysfunction (ED) | IIEF-15 score ≤ 25 | Self-administered questionnaire | ED was found in 52.9% of patients | 3 |
| Marck et al. [19] | 2016 | International | 388 | - | - | Cross-sectional | Sexual dysfunction (SD) | Multiple Sclerosis Quality Of Life (MSQOL-54) sexual function scale | Self-administered questionnaire—online survey | 49.7 % | 3 |
| Nortvedt et al. [20] | 2007 | Hordaland County, Western Norway | 14 | Range: 17–53; mean: 32.9 ± 10 | 6.1 | Cross-sectional | Dissatisfaction with their sexual functioning | Five of the 18 MS-specific questions constituting the sexual scale of the MSQoL-54 | Self-administered questionnaire | 50% | 3 |
| Orasanu et al. [21] | 2013 | A global registry | 1568 | 38.47 ± 9.6 | 13.97 ± 9.3 | Cross-sectional | Sexual activity and satisfaction (SAS) | MSISQ-19 | Self-administered questionnaire—online survey | 38.6% of males experienced at least 5 different types of severe symptoms | 3 |
| Redelman | 2009 | New South Wales, Australia | 50 | - | - | Cross-sectional | Sexual difficulties | Researcher-made questionnaire with 28 items | Self-administered questionnaire | 74% | 4 |
| Tepavcevic et al. [22] | 2008 | Serbia/Belgrade | 31 | 32.6 ± 8.5 | 9.0 ± 5.1 | Cohort | Sexual dysfunction (SD) | Szasz Sexual Functioning Scale | Face-to-face structured interview | 84% had one or more sexual disturbances | 3 |
| Tomé et al.´ [23] | 2019 | Brazil | 41 | Range: 22 to 66; mean: 40.7 ± 10.1 | 10.5 ± 7.3 | Cross-sectional | Sexual dysfunction (SD) | IIEF-15 score ≤ 45 | Interview | In 29 patients (74.4%) | 3 |
| Vazirinejad et al. [24] | 2008 | Derbyshire/England | 38 | 51 ± 12.6 | 17 ± 10.8 | Cross-sectional | Sexual problems | (MSQOL-54) | Self-administered questionnaire | In 29 patients (76%) | 2 |
| Winder et al. [25] | 2018 | Erlangen-Nuremberg | 31 | 38.2 ± 11.2 | 4 | Cross-sectional | Erectile dysfunction (ED) | 5-item International Index of Erectile Function-5 questionnaire (IIEF5)—≤ 21 | Self-administered questionnaire | In 14 patients (45.2%) | 3 |
| Zavoreo et al. [26] | 2016 | Croatia | 42 | 35 ± 12 | 5.0 ± 1.5 | Cross-sectional | Sexual dysfunction (SD) | Sexual Satisfaction scale (SSS) | Self-administered questionnaire | 71% | 3 |
| Zorzon et al. [27] | 1999 | Italy/Trieste | 38 | 40.8 ± 11.9 | 9.1 ± 6.4 | Case-control | Sexual dysfunction (SD) | Szasz Sexual Functioning Scale | Face-to-face structured interview | 92.1% had one or more sexual disturbances | 3 |