Decline in Male Sexual Desire, Function, and Satisfaction During and
Posted by: "Sheree Martin" shereemartin@...   mamablondie
Wed Jun 24, 2009 5:17 am (PDT)



Gastroenterology. 2009 Jun 12. [Epub ahead of print]

During and After Antiviral Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C.

Dove LM, Rosen RC, Ramcharran D, Wahed AS, Belle SH, Brown RS, Hoofnagle JH;
Virahep-C Study Group.
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology:
New York Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY.

BACKGROUND:: The recommended therapy for chronic hepatitis C, peginterferon and
ribavirin for 24 or 48 weeks, has many known adverse side-effects. AIMS:: To
evaluate the impact of antiviral therapy on male sexual health. METHODS:: As
part of the Study of Viral Resistance to Antiviral Therapy of Chronic Hepatitis
C (Virahep-C), 260 men treated with peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin
completed self-administered questionnaires concerning sexual desire, sexual
function, including erectile and ejaculatory function, and sexual satisfaction
before, during, and after treatment. RESULTS:: Before therapy, 37% of men
reported at least some degree of impairment in sexual desire, 44% reported
dissatisfaction with their sexual life, while 22% reported impairment in
erectile and 26% in ejaculatory function. During therapy, significant declines
were observed in all components of sexual health compared to pre-treatment. At
the end of therapy (24 or 48 weeks), an
estimated 38% to 48% of men reported that overall sexual function was worse
than before treatment. African Americans reported less impairment in sexual
desire and satisfaction than Caucasians Americans during therapy. By 24 weeks
after treatment, sexual desire, and satisfaction improved and were comparable to
baseline levels. However, among men who received 48 weeks of therapy, the
estimated percentage of men reporting post-treatment erectile or ejaculatory
problems remained higher than baseline, though persistent erectile impairment
was limited to Caucasian Americans. CONCLUSIONS: : Sexual impairment is common
among men with chronic hepatitis C undergoing therapy with peginterferon and
ribavirin and should be considered as a potential side-effect of antiviral
therapy.

PMID: 19527724 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]


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