The use of erection enhancing medication and party drugs among men living with HIV in Europe

AIDS Care. 2013 Aug;25(8):1062-6. doi: 10.1080/09540121.2012.748877. Epub 2012 Dec 17.

Abstract

Studies have shown more erectile dysfunction (ED) in men living with HIV (MLHIV), relative to age matched HIV-negative men. Erection enhancing medication (EEM) is more frequently used by HIV-positive men than in the general male population. Increased sexually transmitted infection has been described in HIV-positive men with ED using EEM. This study investigated the use of EEM and party drugs (methyleendioxymethamfetamine (XTC), gammahydroxybutyrate (GHB) "fluid XTC" and alkyl nitrites "poppers") among MLHIV. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed consecutively to all patients attending 17 European HIV treatment centers. The sample included 1118 HIV-positive men, among whom 74.5% men having sex with men (MSM). The use of EEM was more frequent in MSM than in heterosexual men (odds ratio (OR) 3.33, p<0.001) and was associated with increased sexual risk behavior (OR 3.27, p<0.001). Nonmedically indicated use of EEM was linked to increased use of party drugs (OR 2.30, p=0.01). Physicians taking care of MLHIV need to be aware of the high prevalence of (nonmedical) use of EEM and party drugs. Medical provision of EEM should be combined with a discussion on safer sex behavior and the risk related to concomitant use of party drugs and illegal EEM.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cohort Studies
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Erectile Dysfunction / drug therapy*
  • Europe
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Illicit Drugs*
  • Male
  • N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine*
  • Odds Ratio
  • Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk-Taking
  • Sexual Behavior / statistics & numerical data*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Unsafe Sex / statistics & numerical data

Substances

  • Illicit Drugs
  • Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors
  • N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine