UNITED STATES: Men's Sex Lives May Suffer on Hepatitis C Therapy

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CDC 09-22-09

UNITED STATES: " Men's Sex Lives May Suffer on Hepatitis C Therapy "

ABC News (09.16.09):: Reuters Health

All three components of sexual health - desire, function, and satisfaction - may

be negatively impacted for men taking standard therapy for chronic hepatitis C,

new research shows.

" Men planning to receive peginterferon and ribavirin should be counseled about

the possibility of a decline in sexual health during treatment and receive

adequate support if these side effects occur, " according to lead author Dr.

Lorna M. Dove of New York Presbyterian Medical Center and colleagues.

The subjects of the current study were 260 men taking the combination treatment

for chronic hepatitis C. They completed self-administered questionnaires before,

during, and after treatment.

Before initiating therapy, 37 percent reported " at least some degree " of sex

drive impairment; 26 percent reported erectile dysfunction; 22 percent reported

impairment in ejaculatory function; and 44 percent reported dissatisfaction with

their sex life.

When therapy ended, at 24 or 48 weeks, 38-48 percent of the men said their

" overall sexual function was worse than before treatment. " Caucasian-American

men reported more impairment than African-American men.

" By 24 weeks after treatment, sexual desire and satisfaction improved and were

comparable to baseline levels, " the authors wrote. " 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,

although persistent erectile impairment was limited to Caucasian-American

patients. "

" Sexual impairment is common among men with chronic hepatitis C undergoing

therapy with pegylated interferon and ribarvirin and should be considered as a

potential side effect of antiviral therapy, " the authors concluded.

The report, " Decline in Male Sexual Desire, Function and Satisfaction During and

After Antiviral Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C, " was published in

Gastroenterology (2009;137(3):873-884).