Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Research
  • Published:

Sexual dysfunctions in HCV patients and its correlations with psychological and biological variables

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 17, pages 175–179 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

The frequency of sexual dysfunction (SD) is not very well known in patients with chronic hepatitis C. In this study, the prevalence of SD and its correlations with psychological and biological variables was assessed in 46 HCV positive patients. The mean age of patients was 46.4±9.4 y; the mean duration of HCV infection was 43.4±34.0 months; 52% were male; 89% were living with a spouse. SD was assessed using the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX), the level of anxiety and depression measured with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Biochemical parameters were also assessed. Overall, as indicated by ASEX criteria, SD was observed in 35% of our patients. Of 24 males, 21% described SD; problems with drive (25%), arousal (17%) and erection (17%) were the most frequent complaints. Of 22 female patients, 50% described SD; problems with drive (55%) arousal (50%), and reaching orgasm (59%) were the most frequent complaints. Total ASEX scores were correlated with age (P<0.07, significant at trend level), education (P<0.001), and was higher in female patients (P<0.02). After controlling for the effects of age, sex, education, duration of HCV and marital status, depression levels could still significantly predict the SD (P<0.05). Moreover, even after controlling the effects of all other variables, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) levels could predict the SD status of the patients (P<0.05). Our results indicate that the prevalence of SD was 35% in HCV-infected patients and the level of depression and GGT levels were predictive of patients SD status.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Alter MJ et al. The prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in the United States: 1994 through 1998. N Engl J Med 1999; 341: 556–562.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Page-Shafer KA et al. Hepatitis C infection in young, low-income women: the role of sexually transmitted infections as a potential cofactor for HCV infection. Am J Public Health 2002; 92: 670–676.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Valdivia JA et al. Hepatitis C virus infection in female sexual workers from northern Lima. Rev Gastroenterol Peru 2003; 23: 265–268.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Boonyarad V et al. Interspousal transmission of hepatitis C in Thailand. J Gastroenterol 2003; 38: 1053–1059.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Roonet G, Gison RJ . Sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus infection. Sex Transm Infect 1998; 74: 399–404.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommendations for prevention and control of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and HCV-related chronic disease. MMWR 1998; 47: 1–39.

  7. Banwell C et al. Disturbingly low levels of contraception among women living with hepatitis C. Aust NZ J Public Health 2003; 27: 620–626.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Clavo P, Garcia S, Rodriguez C . Prevalence of STD, HIV and hepatitis markers, and risk behaviour in immigrant female sex workers in Madrid. In: Program and Abstracts of the XIV International AIDS Conference, Barcelona, Spain, International Conference on AIDS, 2002 Vol 14, Abstract C3489.

  9. Ferri C, Bertozzi MA, Zignego AL . Erectile dysfunction and hepatitis C virus infection. JAMA 2002; 8: 698–699.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Marumo K, Nakashima J, Murai M . Age-related prevalence of erectile dysfunction in Japan: assessment by the International Index of Erectile Function. Int J Urol 2001; 8: 53–59.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. McGahuey CA, Delgado LP, Geleberg AJ . Assessment of sexual dysfunction using the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) and implications for the treatment of depression. Psychiatr Ann 1999; 29: 39–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Zigmond AS, Snaith RP . The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Acta Psychiatry Scand 1983; 67: 361–370.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Soykan A . The reliability and validity of Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale in Turkish ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis. Int J Impot Res, advance online publication 3 June 2004 doi:10.1038/sj.ijir.3901249.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Aydemir O et al. Hastane Anksiyete ve Depresyon Ölçeği. Turkce formunun geçerliliği ve güvenirliği karşılaştırması. Turk J Psychiatry 1997; 8: 280–287.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Sağduyu A et al. Sexual problems in patients at a primary health care clinic. Turk J Psychiatry 1997; 8: 220–226.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Kuloğlu M et al. Antidepresan ilaçların cinsel işlev üzerine etkileri. Bull Clin Psychopharmacol 2000; 10: 97–102.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Toorians AW, Giltay EJ, Donker AJM, Gooren LJG . Sexual functioning in chronic renal failure. Semin Dial 1997; 10: 176–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Piazza M et al. Long-term interferon-alpha therapy does not affect sex hormones in males with chronic hepatitis C. J Interferon Cytokine Res 1997; 17: 525–529.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Rhoads J . Natural history and epidemiology of hepatitis C. J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care 2003; 14(5 Suppl): 18S–25S.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Tahan V et al. Sexual transmission of HCV between spouses. J Hepatol 2003; 38(2 Suppl): 176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Consultation Liaison Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Ankara University, School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    A Soykan & H Kumbasar

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Ankara University, School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    H Boztaş & E T Özel

  3. Department of Gastroenterology, Ankara University, School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    R İdilman, A E Tüzün & A Özden

  4. San Joaquin County Mental Health Services, Tracy, CA, USA

    A Özden

Authors
  1. A Soykan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H Boztaş
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R İdilman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. E T Özel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A E Tüzün
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. A Özden
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. A Özden
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. H Kumbasar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A Soykan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Soykan, A., Boztaş, H., İdilman, R. et al. Sexual dysfunctions in HCV patients and its correlations with psychological and biological variables. Int J Impot Res 17, 175–179 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901267

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901267

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links