Erectile Dysfunction Symptoms in Polydrug Dependents Seeking Treatment

To assess erectile dysfunction (ED) symptom prevalence, sexual behavior conditions, and risk factors associated to ED in a male polydrug dependent sample.

A cross-sectional design study was conducted with 102 substance-dependent male polydrug users who sought outpatient treatment in São Paulo, Brazil. Sociodemographic data, drug of choice, chronic disease questions, sexually transmitted infections, International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) scale, Sexual Addiction Screening Test (SAST), and WHOQOL-Bref instrument were used.

The erectile dysfunction prevalence was 32.3% and it was related to the marital status (single) (p < 0.001), occupational status (fully unemployed) (p < 0.001), presenting a chronic disease (p = 0.027), and with types of sexual partnerships (occasional partner) (p < 0.001). Alcohol (73.5%), tobacco (79.4%), cannabis (83.3%), and cocaine (snorted 78.4% and smoked 42.2%) were the drugs of choice. The ED risk decreased when marital status was married (odds ratio = 3.2 CI95% 1.411-7.518) and with chronic disease (odds ratio 0.06 CI95% 0.00-0.97), while having occasional sexual partners increased 14 times ED risk (OR 14.0 CI95%1.62-122.18). There were no significant associations between quality of life, DOC and ED.

Approximately one third of the substance dependents in this sample presented ED. There is a need to integrate psychiatric and clinical care in substance treatment services, and to improve the provision of sexual health care and support available for this population.