Factors interfering with parenthood decision-making in an Italian sample of people with multiple sclerosis: an exploratory online survey

Background: Little is known about the influence of multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis on parenthood attitude in people with MS (pwMS).

Objective: To investigate the impact of diagnosis, clinical features and external disease-related influences on parenthood decision-making in Italian pwMS.

Methods: A web-based survey was posted on SMsocialnetwork.com to investigate clinical status, parenthood desire, influences on family planning, pregnancy outcomes, abortions and adoptions of pwMS.

Results: 33/395 respondents never wanted to become parent because of MS ("anti-parenthood after diagnosis"). 362 declared to be in favor of parenthood. 51% pwMS having a child by the survey time had already received the MS diagnosis at first childbirth. The frequency of a second child in pwMS after diagnosis was 38% compared to 67% in people without yet MS diagnosis. 16% of pwMS were discouraged to become parent after diagnosis, mainly by medical personnel. In 71% of respondents, diagnosis did not delay the decision to become parent and only 39% were counseled by treating physician to plan pregnancy. Patients' distribution according to the clinical phenotype (exclusively relapsing vs exclusively progressive) showed a higher proportion of progressive patients in the "anti-parenthood after diagnosis" subgroup.

Conclusion: MS diagnosis impacted dramatically on the life project of 7% of pwMS that decided not to have children because of the disease and in pro-parenthood pwMS impacted especially on having the second child. Only a minority was counseled to plan pregnancy. A worse disease course driving to a progressive phenotype at survey time might have negatively impacted on parenthood desire.