AEGiS-Glasgow [PL9.3] Sexual dissatisfaction in association with combination antiviral therapy

Eighth International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV Infection

Glasgow, UK - 12-16 November 2006

[PL9.3] SEXUAL DISSATISFACTION IN ASSOCIATION WITH COMBINATION ANTIVIRAL THERAPY

Int Cong Drug Therapy HIV 2006 Nov 12-16;8:Abstract No. PL9.3

Bob Colebunders
Institute of Tropical Medicine Belgium, Antwerp and University of Antwerp, Belgium

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Sexual dissatisfaction (SD), especially loss of libido, is present in a very high number of men and women with HIV infection. HIV-discrimination and disturbing adverse events such as lipodystrophy due to HIV-treatment have been reported to be associated with SD. Up to now reports on the association between antiretroviral therapy (ART) and SD are based on cross-sectional studies or series of case reports. Most of the evidence has been documented in industrialised countries. Because sexual problems in persons with HIV infection may be of multifactorial aetiology, the interpretation of the published results is difficult. Certain studies have suggested that ART, in particular certain protease inhibitors, may cause SD while other studies could not confirm this observation.

Ideally, we should assess sexual health (SH), including sexual functioning, during randomised clinical trials comparing different ART. This could be done by including SH questions in quality of life questionnaires that are administered during such clinical trials. However, the quality of life questionnaires that are currently used in HIV clinical trials usually do not include such questions. SH does not seem to be high on the agenda of clinical trial developers. Conversely, SH from the patients’ perspective seems to be very important.

SH problems are an important cause of a decreased quality of life of people living with AIDS (PLWH). Moreover, SD also may lead to risky behavior. Health care teams taking care of PLWH need adequate SH counseling training, and improving SH should be an important aim of every HIV treatment/care programme.

Plenary Session: Adverse Events I

2006-11-12
PL9.3

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