As quoted by Healthday reporter Steven Reinberg, "MS is more frequent in women than men," said study author Dr. Alvaro Alonso, a research fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health. "Some people have thought that perhaps estrogen can be modifying the risk of MS."

Many oral contraceptives raise the level of estrogens in the body, and it is thought that estrogen has a regulatory effect on the immune system. "We have seen that oral contraceptives can reduce the risk of MS in the short term," Alonso said. "If you are taking oral contraceptives and you are [destined] to have MS, the onset of MS can be delayed one to two years."

That MS risk is lowered during pregnancy-- and in the presence of elevated estrogen levels-- is not entirely surprising. A previous study found that pregnancy was the best treatment for multiple sclerosis.

Despite the findings, Alonso does not see an immediate impact on MS treatments. "The decision to take oral contraceptives or the decision to become pregnant must not be influenced by the idea that this can increase or decrease the risk of MS," he said.

Increasing estrogen levels over the long term can have many undesirable side effects, and is furthermore not feasible for men with MS. As such, further research into the hormonal avenue of treatment will of course be required prior to solid treatment recommendations being produced. This is an area of great research interest-- in particular example, Nicholas LaRocca of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society states: "The society has for several years mounted an ambitious program of research directed at understanding the significance of gender in the pathogenesis of MS. As we continue to learn more about this aspect of MS, it will add to our understanding of the disease and, it is hoped, how best to treat it."

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