Women with children have longer waits for MS diagnosis than those without

Women living with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have children may face longer waits before receiving a diagnosis than women without children, according to a new study from the United States.

The research found that for women, each child linked to an average delay of just over one year before an MS diagnosis. Delays were even longer for women whose symptoms began during their reproductive years and for mothers who were working or raising children alone. This pattern did not appear in men, suggesting motherhood may create specific barriers to timely diagnosis.

MS is most often diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, which means early symptoms often appear during years when many women are caring for children. While previous studies have linked diagnostic delays to factors such as other health conditions or smoking, little research has explored the impact of parenthood.

Researchers analysed health records from 140 women and 64 men receiving MS care at a neurology centre in the United States. On average, women waited just over three years between first symptoms and diagnosis. Women with children waited significantly longer than those without.

The researchers suggest this delay is unlikely to relate to pregnancy itself. Instead, caregiving demands and putting family health before personal health may play a larger role. They recommend greater awareness of neurological symptoms during routine healthcare appointments to help reduce delays and support earlier diagnosis for mothers living with MS.