| Abstract: | This survey about the contraceptive behavior of women with multiple sclerosis (MS) established that they take less oral contraceptive (OC) agents than the general population; they were more frequently sterilized, or indicated that no sex relations were practiced. Young women in the group of MS patients and in the general population preferred OCs; while the number of sterilized women increased only for the general population with increasing age. Remarkably many 20-29 year old MS patients were already sterilized (16%). In half of the patients, who before their illness used OCs, MS began coincident with this use. However, only 14% of the women with MS deteriorated when they chose OCs. Considering that OCs were taken for many years, and that this time is also the susceptible age for MS, it may be presumed, that this is only a temporal coincidence. The calculation of the prognosis from the parameters "disablement" and "illness duration" does not distinguish between women with or without OCs. Accordingly, patients with MS can be advised in the taking of OCs insofar as no other contraindications exist. |
