Can therapy help increase sex drive in women with multiple sclerosis (MS)?

Loss of libido, or sex drive, is the most frequently reported sexual symptom among women with multiple sclerosis (MS). There have been case reports that have addressed this topic in MS. In one, sex therapy in combination with MS symptom management and communication skills training, reported anecdotal success in women with MS.

Behavioral re-training that targets redevelopment of sexual pleasure in the absence of libido has been reported. The rationale for behavioral re-training is that partially differing neural pathways mediate sexual drive and sexual pleasure or response. In the absence of libido, a different set of behaviors and attitudes are required to stimulate sexual pleasure. In other words, the nervous system is often sufficiently intact to respond to sexual stimulation even when libido is absent. The issue thus becomes one of sexually "getting started" without libido, which is taught via behavior therapy.