Can MS be transmitted through sex?

[laquanda]

Is it possible to get MS through sexual contact?  My male partner has MS.  I've had a steady progression of a cluster of odd symptoms since we had unprotected anal sex three months ago:  eyelid twitching, facial spasms, tingling in left leg, groin and testicles, pins and needles sensations on my skin, itchiness, etc. All STD tests came back negative.  Could herpes cause all of this?  I've not noticed any visible lesions or sores?  I recently had an MRI -- about three months after the sex --- that showed demyelination, but I haven't gotten clear answers from my PCP and haven't yet seen the neurologist in my horrible HMO.  I also don't know which part or parts of the brain are affected.  Does demyelination mean lesions?  My friend with MS said he was diagnosed when the MRI showed lesions in a couple parts of my brain.  My neuro wants to run some more blood tests and eventually do a spinal tap.  If it's not possible to have gotten MS from my partner, is it possible that I was exposed to some kind of virus that might be related to MS?  Have you ever heard of this happening?  It might be months before the spinal tap is done because neuro appointments are almost impossible to get at my HMO.

[TheLightSeeker]

Here's an abstract of an article which you may find useful:

----Infectious causes of multiple sclerosis.---

Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a serious chronic neurological disorder in which demyelination and inflammation occur in the white matter of the CNS. The findings of many epidemiological studies and a discordance of MS in monozygotic twins suggest that the disorder is acquired. The most likely cause is a virus because more than 90% of patients with MS have high concentrations of IgG, manifest as oligoclonal bands, in the brain and CSF. Most chronic inflammatory CNS disorders are infectious. More indirect evidence that MS is caused by a virus is the association of several viruses with demyelinating encephalomyelitis in human beings, and the induction of demyelination in animals infected with viruses in research. Nevertheless, no virus has been isolated from the brains of patients who had MS. Molecular analysis of IgG gene specificity in the brain and CSF of those with MS has shown features of an antigen-driven response: clonal amplification and extensive somatic mutations. A viral antigen against which the IgG in MS brain and CSF is directed might be identified.

---Source: Lancet Neurol. 2005 Mar;4(3):195-202.---

Note: The etiology in such conditions cannot be attributed to single factors only.
It is likely a variety of causative factors,  such as genotype,
phenotype, emotional factors, viral load etc. involved in their development.
I hope this helps.
Niko

[garRy11]

hi laquanda, what was the final result? I´m in the same position just like you were.

[nutrinut_bob]

You are of the age that SV40 in your polio vaccine is a possibility.  It has an affinity for neural tissue.  Let me see if Washington was one of the states with contaminated vaccines.  Yes it was, high levels of contamination.

[superscope]

I was very intrested in this topic... what have you learned since this post?
I seem to have a similar ideopathic nerve condtion but MS testing has come up negative.

[PlateletGal]

You are very welcome... glad I could assist. I'm told that physicians are not taught about these mycoplasma (L-form bacterial) infections (at least not right now) in medical school. Prof. Nicolson's comments on this when he was here in October:

Unfortunately, most Infectious Disease specialists will not recognize or test for these chronic infections, such as Mycoplasma, C. pneumoniae, Borrelia, and other viruses, mainly because they are never taught about them during their training (I know this well from teaching medical students for over 25 years!).   (RESPONSE TO PADRO46)

source: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Fibromyalgia---CFS/Q--A-Session-With-Dr-Garth-Nicholson-10-6-08/show/648144

Also, the lyme forum has been recently discussing this as well:

"Has your spouse or lover been tested for lyme?"

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Lyme-Disease/Has-your-spouse-or-lover-been-tested-for-Lyme/show/946267


Best,

~PlateletGal

[laquanda]

THANK YOU very much!  This information will help me when I speak with my doctors this week.   Ever since my first appointment two months ago, I've been convinced that there is a direct correlation between my symptoms and our unprotected sex.  By the way, we've only been with each other.  I foolishly listened to his doctor's conclusion that I have nothing to worry about from having unprotected sex with him.  I hope my case sheds some new and much-needed light on these issues.  I've also read about the possible association between MS and HHV-6.  I'll look into that, too.  Again, thank you.  I'll keep you posted.

[PlateletGal]

P.S. ~ I hope that you will consider joining us this Wednesday in MedHelp from 12 - 1 PM with Prof. Garth Nicolson. I'm sure he can answer your question and answer any additional questions you may have on this. There will be a special forum for Prof. Nicolson and you can ask your questions ahead of time. Watch this community for additional info !

[PlateletGal]

Good question. I can just give you the links on this for you to read. My answer would be yes... if your partner has a bacterial infection, such as mycoplasma, as many chronically ill patients do. I'm thinking that depending on your genes, you may not necessarily get MS, but you could get another neuro-immune type illness.

Sources:

http://www.immed.org/illness/autoimmune_illness_research.html
http://bacteriality.com/2007/10/31/family/ ---- Bacteria vs. genetic predisposition: the spread of chronic disease in families