A new Dutch study published on AidsMap.com found that for middle-aged men who have sex with men (MSM), living with HIV more than doubles the risk of erectile dysfunction.
The link to erectile dysfunction
The study looked at men age 45 and older—most of whom were taking antiretrovirals—and found that those with HIV-1 had decreased sexual functioning compared to the control group, even after taking into account all other risk factors, including depression, frailty and non-communicable co-morbidities.
Although other research has already found that middle-aged men who have sex with men and are HIV-positive are more likely to have erectile dysfunction than men in general, these researchers wanted to understand the relationship between HIV and erectile dysfunction.
At first, it looked like a past AIDS diagnosis, time since HIV diagnosis and a low CD4 cell count might have been risk factors. But after taking into account frailty and co-morbidities, those associations to erectile dysfunction disappeared.
But the researchers then found a significant link between erectile dysfunction and treatment with the protease inhibitor loprinavir/ritonavir. They found that cumulative exposure to the drug and current use of the drug increased the risk of erectile dysfunction.
Treating erectile dysfunction
The erectile dysfunction drug Viagra works for more than 80% of men. In the United States, men with erectile dysfunction can get Viagra via prescription from their health provider.
Talking to their health provider about erectile dysfunction provides men with several advantages.
First, they may be able to determine if there is an underlying health condition, drug or medication causing their erectile dysfunction. They’ll also be able to evaluate if they are currently taking any drugs, medications, vitamins, minerals or supplements that may interfere with Viagra. In addition, disclosing past or current health conditions will help their doctor decide if they’re a good candidate for Viagra.
Getting a prescription for Viagra also assure men that the Viagra they’re receiving is pure and effective. Too often, fake Viagra being sold on the Black Market contains dangerous—and sometimes deadly—ingredients, such as road paint, detergent and even arsenic.
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