Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsEarly Signs and Symptoms of MS in All GendersCommon MS SymptomsLess Common MS SymptomsSecondary SymptomsMS Symptoms in WomenMS Symptoms in MenDiagnosing MSFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Early Signs and Symptoms of MS in All Genders
Common MS Symptoms
Less Common MS Symptoms
Secondary Symptoms
MS Symptoms in Women
MS Symptoms in Men
Diagnosing MS
Frequently Asked Questions
Multiple sclerosis (MS)is an unpredictable disease that affects everyone differently. Symptoms vary in intensity—some people are mildly affected, but others experience severe symptoms that lead to difficulty walking, eating, and talking.
While anyone can be diagnosed with MS, it is more prevalent in females than in males. All people typically experience similar MS symptoms, butMS also can impact menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause in females.
Read on to learn more about the common symptoms of MS in all genders, as well as how the condition affects females in particular.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
A Note on Gender and Sex TerminologyVerywell Health acknowledges thatsex and gender are related concepts, but they are not the same. To reflect our sources accurately, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as the sources use them.
A Note on Gender and Sex Terminology
Verywell Health acknowledges thatsex and gender are related concepts, but they are not the same. To reflect our sources accurately, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as the sources use them.
Common early signs and symptoms of MS include:
A CIS episode could include:
Not everyone who experiences CIS will be diagnosed with MS. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is often used as a diagnostic imaging tool to check for physical signs of MS on the brain and spinal cord.
Everything You Need to Know About MRI for Multiple Sclerosis
MS can cause a number of symptoms, but most people do not experience all of them. The signs and symptoms of MS are different for everybody, and your experience and symptoms may be different from another person who also has MS.
Common MS symptoms include tingling and numbness, muscle spasms and pain, fatigue and weakness, balance problems and dizziness, bladder and bowel dysfunction, cognitive problems, sexual dysfunction, and changes in emotional health.
Tingling and Numbness
Numbness and tinglingare often one of the first signs of MS a person experiences. You may notice you feel fewer sensations when you toss something with your hands or notice one leg feels a little different from the other. You may feel like your limbs are “asleep” with a tingling/pins and needles sensation.
This occurs because MS affects the protective coating on nerves in the brain and spinal cord (demyelination). This can cause numbness in the arms, legs, face, and fingers.
Muscle Spasms and Pain
MS pain is often categorized as:
Fatigue and Weakness
Fatigue is more than just feeling tired after a bad night’s sleep. MS-related fatigue is a feeling of overwhelming exhaustion that can be hard to shake. People with MS may experience intermittent fatigue, recurrent fatigue, or chronic fatigue. Different factors can cause fatigue if you have MS:
Weakness can develop due to the demyelination of nerves in the brain and spinal cord, or from muscles shrinking from lack of use, due to loss of balance and mobility.
Balance Problems and Dizziness
Problems with balance and dizziness are common in MS. Many MS symptoms can affect balance, including muscle weakness, stiffness and spasms, difficulty with coordination, andtremors. Many people with MS report feeling dizzy, particularly after standing up.
Is Your Vertigo Related to MS?
Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction
Bladder and bowel troubles are other common symptoms of MS. You may feel like you need to urinate frequently, struggle to hold in urine, or have difficulty urinating (bladder retention).
While some variation in your daily bowel movements is normal, MS may lead toconstipationand make it difficult to have a bowel movement.
Cognitive Problems
Many people with MS experience problems with memory and thinking (cognitive problems). You may find that you have trouble focusing, or have a shortened attention span or struggle to stay organized. Experiencing depression and/or anxiety is also common.
Sexual Dysfunction
Changes in sexual function (arousal, orgasms) are common. Arousal begins in the central nervous system, and damage to nerve pathways may become damaged as a result of MS. Sexual dysfunction may also be a result of weakness, fatigue, or muscle spasms. Emotional symptoms can also have an impact on sexual desire.
The Link Between MS and Erectile Dysfunction
Changes in Emotional Health
Living with a chronic, progressive disease like MS can tremendously impact your emotional health and well-being. The stresses of the disease can cause mood swings, irritability, and persistent sadness. Research suggests that over 35% of people with MS have been diagnosed with major depression, and nearly 34% have experienced anxiety.
MS symptoms can vary from person to person. You may also experience different symptoms during relapses, or have certain symptoms that come and go. Less common symptoms of MS include:
Secondary symptoms of MS are not directly related to MS itself. Instead, they are complications that may occur due to the primary symptoms of the disease. Common secondary symptoms include:
One of the goals of MS treatment is reducing primary symptoms to prevent the development of secondary symptoms. If you do develop secondary symptoms, they are generally treatable.
Females are more likely to be diagnosed with MS than males; Iin fact, MS is two to three times more common in females.Researchers are still working to determine the reasons for this, but hormones may play a role in why females are more susceptible to the disease.
Menstrual Problems
Females with MS often experience more MS symptoms around the time they are going throughpremenstrual syndrome(PMS) and during their period. Before you get your period, sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone) decline, which can trigger symptoms of both PMS and MS. This suggests that hormones not only regulate your menstrual cycle but may play a role in MS activity in the body.
If you have irregular cycles, MS may be the cause. Research shows that an MS diagnosis is linked to irregular periods in some people.
Pregnancy-Related Symptoms
If you have MS and are pregnant or planning on getting pregnant, talk with your healthcare provider about treatment options and symptom management that are safe for you and the fetus.
Menopause
In their late 40s or 50s, females may experience a worsening of your MS symptoms aftermenopause. During menopause, estrogen levels drop dramatically. One study found that MS progresses more quickly after menopause.This may be due to the decline in estrogen levels in the body.
Symptoms of both menopause and MS are similar, including:
If you’re not sure if your symptoms are related to MS or menopause, talk to your healthcare provider. They can run bloodwork to check your estrogen levels and determine if you are in menopause or post-menopause.
How Menopause Affects Women With Multiple Sclerosis
Though MS is three times more common in females, males are affected, too. They are more likely to have a progressive form of MS and tend to have different symptoms and disability progression throughout the course of the disease.
Men Are More Likely to Develop Primary Progressive MS
Males are more likely to be diagnosed withprimary progressive MS(PPMS) than females. This type of MS is associated with worsening neurological functioning from the onset of symptoms and no relapses or remissions.
The average onset of PPMS is 10 years later than in relapsing MS. People with PPMS experience more problems with balance and tend to require more assistance with everyday activities.
MS May Progress Faster in Men
For reasons that are not yet fully understood, males with MS tend to experience a faster progression of the disease than females. This may be due in part to early signs of MS in males being missed or overlooked, or because of delays in seeking help for health issues.
Research shows that males have a more rapid progression of disability, reach disability milestones more quickly than females, and often have a more malignant form of the disease with poorer recovery after initial disease relapse.
Neurodegeneration
MS is a neurodegenerative disease, meaning it causes damage (neurodegeneration) to grey and white matter in the brain and spinal cord. In imaging tests (e.g., MRI), patches—or lesions—of demyelination can be detected in the brain and spinal cord. MS also causes axonal damage (tearing of nerve fibers) in the cells of the brain and spinal cord. As a result of these changes, MS is associated with brain atrophy and long-term disability.
What Are the Long-Term Effects of Multiple Sclerosis?
There is no single test to diagnose MS. If you have symptoms of MS, talk to your healthcare provider. They will give you a physical examination, neurological examination, and ask about your medical history. They may also order tests to provide an accurate diagnosis.
Tests and Procedures
Doctors use different tests to confirm a diagnosis of MS. Your doctor may recommend the following tests:
How Multiple Sclerosis Is Diagnosed
Misdiagnosis
Despite significant advancements in tools and technologies used to diagnose MS, misdiagnosis can still occur. Research shows that up to 30% of individuals incorrectly diagnosed with MS were eventually diagnosed with other diseases.This may be because many conditions share similar symptoms to MS, such asfibromyalgia, functional neurological disorders, migraine, and other inflammatory and metabolic conditions.
Summary
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive disease that affects the central nervous system. The disease is unpredictable—some people may be only mildly affected, and others may be impacted significantly, losing the ability to see clearly, speak, walk, or live independently.
Early signs and symptoms of MS include vision problems, trouble walking, and numbness/tingling in the limbs. Treatments such as medications can help slow the progression of the disease and reduce symptoms.
While all people share many of the same signs and symptoms of MS, MS can affect menstruation, menopause, and pregnancy in females. Males also experience faster disease progression and neurodegeneration.
A Word From Verywell
Living with MS can be challenging, but with the right treatments and support, many people with the disease are able to live fulfilling lives. It’s important to follow your treatment plan and take your medications as prescribed. Making lifestyle changes and getting plenty of support from your family and healthcare providers can help you continue to live independently and help you support your health, emotional wellness, and quality of life.
Are Medical Researchers Close to Finding a Cure for MS?
Early signs of MS include:Bladder issuesBowel problemsDifficulty focusing/concentratingDizziness/lack of coordinationFatigueMuscle spasmsPain throughout the bodySexual problemsSpeech problemsTingling and numbnessVision problemsWeakness
Early signs of MS include:
People are typically diagnosed with MS between the ages of 20-40, though it can develop at any age. Late-onset MS can affect people aged 50 and older.Learn MoreMultiple Sclerosis (MS): Prevalence and Incidence
People are typically diagnosed with MS between the ages of 20-40, though it can develop at any age. Late-onset MS can affect people aged 50 and older.
Learn MoreMultiple Sclerosis (MS): Prevalence and Incidence
Males with MS experience common symptoms such as issues with balance and mobility, pain, vision problems, numbness, and tingling. Research shows that some males with MS have higher rates of low testosterone ( hypogonadism), which may be associated with disease progression.
MS generally starts with a vague symptom that goes away within a few days or weeks. Symptoms may appear suddenly and disappear after the first episode/attack. An attack is when MS symptoms suddenly show up. In order to be diagnosed with MS, you must have had two attacks at least one month apart.
MS is a progressive disease, and most people with MS follow one of four identified disease courses, including:
Learn MoreWhat to Know About the Multiple Sclerosis Diagnostic Criteria
Females are two to three times more likely to be diagnosed with MS than males. Sex hormones may play a role in why females develop the disease more often.
17 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Signs and symptoms of MS.National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS).Boeschoten RE, Braamse AMJ, Beekman ATF, et al.Prevalence of depression and anxiety in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Neurol Sci.2017;372:331-341. doi:10.1016/j.jns.2016.11.067Harbo HF, Gold R, Tintoré M.Sex and gender issues in multiple sclerosis.Ther Adv Neurol Disord. 2013;6(4):237-248. doi:10.1177/1756285613488434National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Who gets MS? (Epidemiology)Mirmosayyeb O, Badihian S, Manouchehri N, et al.The interplay of multiple sclerosis and menstrual cycle: which one affects the other one?.Mult Scler Relat Disord.2018;21:46-50. doi:10.1016/j.msard.2018.01.020Vukusic S, Hutchinson M, Hours M, et al. Pregnancy and multiple sclerosis (the PRIMS study): clinical predictors of post-partum relapse.Brain. 2004;127(6):1353-1360. doi:10.1093/brain/awh152Varytė G, Zakarevičienė J, Ramašauskaitė D, Laužikienė D, Arlauskienė A.Pregnancy and multiple sclerosis: an update on the disease-modifying treatment strategy and a review of pregnancy’s impact on disease activity.Medicina (Kaunas).2020;56(2):49. doi:10.3390/medicina56020049Bove R, Healy BC, Musallam A, Glanz BI, De Jager PL, Chitnis T.Exploration of changes in disability after menopause in a longitudinal multiple sclerosis cohort.Mult Scler.2016;22(7):935-943. doi:10.1177/1352458515606211Practical Neurology.Men with multiple sclerosis.National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Primary progressive MS.Eccles A.Delayed diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in males: may account for and dispel common understandings of different MS ‘types’.Br J Gen Pract. 2019;69(680):148-149. doi:10.3399/bjgp19X701729Ribbons KA, McElduff P, Boz C, et al.Male sex is independently associated with faster disability accumulation in relapse-onset MS but not in primary progressive MS.PLoS One. 2015;10(6):e0122686. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0122686Correale J, Marrodan M, Ysrraelit MC.Mechanisms of neurodegeneration and axonal dysfunction in progressive multiple sclerosis.Biomedicines. 2019;7(1):14. doi:10.3390/biomedicines7010014National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Multiple sclerosis: hope through research.Gaitán MI, Correale J.Multiple sclerosis misdiagnosis: a persistent problem to solve.Front Neurol. 2019;10:466. doi:10.3389/fneur.2019.00466Bove R, Musallam A, Healy BC, et al.Low testosterone is associated with disability in men with multiple sclerosis.Mult Scler. 2014;20(12):1584-1592. doi:10.1177/1352458514527864
17 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Signs and symptoms of MS.National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS).Boeschoten RE, Braamse AMJ, Beekman ATF, et al.Prevalence of depression and anxiety in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Neurol Sci.2017;372:331-341. doi:10.1016/j.jns.2016.11.067Harbo HF, Gold R, Tintoré M.Sex and gender issues in multiple sclerosis.Ther Adv Neurol Disord. 2013;6(4):237-248. doi:10.1177/1756285613488434National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Who gets MS? (Epidemiology)Mirmosayyeb O, Badihian S, Manouchehri N, et al.The interplay of multiple sclerosis and menstrual cycle: which one affects the other one?.Mult Scler Relat Disord.2018;21:46-50. doi:10.1016/j.msard.2018.01.020Vukusic S, Hutchinson M, Hours M, et al. Pregnancy and multiple sclerosis (the PRIMS study): clinical predictors of post-partum relapse.Brain. 2004;127(6):1353-1360. doi:10.1093/brain/awh152Varytė G, Zakarevičienė J, Ramašauskaitė D, Laužikienė D, Arlauskienė A.Pregnancy and multiple sclerosis: an update on the disease-modifying treatment strategy and a review of pregnancy’s impact on disease activity.Medicina (Kaunas).2020;56(2):49. doi:10.3390/medicina56020049Bove R, Healy BC, Musallam A, Glanz BI, De Jager PL, Chitnis T.Exploration of changes in disability after menopause in a longitudinal multiple sclerosis cohort.Mult Scler.2016;22(7):935-943. doi:10.1177/1352458515606211Practical Neurology.Men with multiple sclerosis.National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Primary progressive MS.Eccles A.Delayed diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in males: may account for and dispel common understandings of different MS ‘types’.Br J Gen Pract. 2019;69(680):148-149. doi:10.3399/bjgp19X701729Ribbons KA, McElduff P, Boz C, et al.Male sex is independently associated with faster disability accumulation in relapse-onset MS but not in primary progressive MS.PLoS One. 2015;10(6):e0122686. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0122686Correale J, Marrodan M, Ysrraelit MC.Mechanisms of neurodegeneration and axonal dysfunction in progressive multiple sclerosis.Biomedicines. 2019;7(1):14. doi:10.3390/biomedicines7010014National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Multiple sclerosis: hope through research.Gaitán MI, Correale J.Multiple sclerosis misdiagnosis: a persistent problem to solve.Front Neurol. 2019;10:466. doi:10.3389/fneur.2019.00466Bove R, Musallam A, Healy BC, et al.Low testosterone is associated with disability in men with multiple sclerosis.Mult Scler. 2014;20(12):1584-1592. doi:10.1177/1352458514527864
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Signs and symptoms of MS.National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS).Boeschoten RE, Braamse AMJ, Beekman ATF, et al.Prevalence of depression and anxiety in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Neurol Sci.2017;372:331-341. doi:10.1016/j.jns.2016.11.067Harbo HF, Gold R, Tintoré M.Sex and gender issues in multiple sclerosis.Ther Adv Neurol Disord. 2013;6(4):237-248. doi:10.1177/1756285613488434National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Who gets MS? (Epidemiology)Mirmosayyeb O, Badihian S, Manouchehri N, et al.The interplay of multiple sclerosis and menstrual cycle: which one affects the other one?.Mult Scler Relat Disord.2018;21:46-50. doi:10.1016/j.msard.2018.01.020Vukusic S, Hutchinson M, Hours M, et al. Pregnancy and multiple sclerosis (the PRIMS study): clinical predictors of post-partum relapse.Brain. 2004;127(6):1353-1360. doi:10.1093/brain/awh152Varytė G, Zakarevičienė J, Ramašauskaitė D, Laužikienė D, Arlauskienė A.Pregnancy and multiple sclerosis: an update on the disease-modifying treatment strategy and a review of pregnancy’s impact on disease activity.Medicina (Kaunas).2020;56(2):49. doi:10.3390/medicina56020049Bove R, Healy BC, Musallam A, Glanz BI, De Jager PL, Chitnis T.Exploration of changes in disability after menopause in a longitudinal multiple sclerosis cohort.Mult Scler.2016;22(7):935-943. doi:10.1177/1352458515606211Practical Neurology.Men with multiple sclerosis.National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Primary progressive MS.Eccles A.Delayed diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in males: may account for and dispel common understandings of different MS ‘types’.Br J Gen Pract. 2019;69(680):148-149. doi:10.3399/bjgp19X701729Ribbons KA, McElduff P, Boz C, et al.Male sex is independently associated with faster disability accumulation in relapse-onset MS but not in primary progressive MS.PLoS One. 2015;10(6):e0122686. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0122686Correale J, Marrodan M, Ysrraelit MC.Mechanisms of neurodegeneration and axonal dysfunction in progressive multiple sclerosis.Biomedicines. 2019;7(1):14. doi:10.3390/biomedicines7010014National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Multiple sclerosis: hope through research.Gaitán MI, Correale J.Multiple sclerosis misdiagnosis: a persistent problem to solve.Front Neurol. 2019;10:466. doi:10.3389/fneur.2019.00466Bove R, Musallam A, Healy BC, et al.Low testosterone is associated with disability in men with multiple sclerosis.Mult Scler. 2014;20(12):1584-1592. doi:10.1177/1352458514527864
National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Signs and symptoms of MS.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS).
Boeschoten RE, Braamse AMJ, Beekman ATF, et al.Prevalence of depression and anxiety in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Neurol Sci.2017;372:331-341. doi:10.1016/j.jns.2016.11.067
Harbo HF, Gold R, Tintoré M.Sex and gender issues in multiple sclerosis.Ther Adv Neurol Disord. 2013;6(4):237-248. doi:10.1177/1756285613488434
National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Who gets MS? (Epidemiology)
Mirmosayyeb O, Badihian S, Manouchehri N, et al.The interplay of multiple sclerosis and menstrual cycle: which one affects the other one?.Mult Scler Relat Disord.2018;21:46-50. doi:10.1016/j.msard.2018.01.020
Vukusic S, Hutchinson M, Hours M, et al. Pregnancy and multiple sclerosis (the PRIMS study): clinical predictors of post-partum relapse.Brain. 2004;127(6):1353-1360. doi:10.1093/brain/awh152
Varytė G, Zakarevičienė J, Ramašauskaitė D, Laužikienė D, Arlauskienė A.Pregnancy and multiple sclerosis: an update on the disease-modifying treatment strategy and a review of pregnancy’s impact on disease activity.Medicina (Kaunas).2020;56(2):49. doi:10.3390/medicina56020049
Bove R, Healy BC, Musallam A, Glanz BI, De Jager PL, Chitnis T.Exploration of changes in disability after menopause in a longitudinal multiple sclerosis cohort.Mult Scler.2016;22(7):935-943. doi:10.1177/1352458515606211
Practical Neurology.Men with multiple sclerosis.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Primary progressive MS.
Eccles A.Delayed diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in males: may account for and dispel common understandings of different MS ‘types’.Br J Gen Pract. 2019;69(680):148-149. doi:10.3399/bjgp19X701729
Ribbons KA, McElduff P, Boz C, et al.Male sex is independently associated with faster disability accumulation in relapse-onset MS but not in primary progressive MS.PLoS One. 2015;10(6):e0122686. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0122686
Correale J, Marrodan M, Ysrraelit MC.Mechanisms of neurodegeneration and axonal dysfunction in progressive multiple sclerosis.Biomedicines. 2019;7(1):14. doi:10.3390/biomedicines7010014
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Multiple sclerosis: hope through research.
Gaitán MI, Correale J.Multiple sclerosis misdiagnosis: a persistent problem to solve.Front Neurol. 2019;10:466. doi:10.3389/fneur.2019.00466
Bove R, Musallam A, Healy BC, et al.Low testosterone is associated with disability in men with multiple sclerosis.Mult Scler. 2014;20(12):1584-1592. doi:10.1177/1352458514527864
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