Adequacy of sexual performance in men maintained on methadone

Impairment of sexual performance may occur in men on methadone maintenance. A random sample of 50 of 355 men enrolled in a methadone program was interviewed with respect ot sexual activity. Seventeen (33%) reported sexual dysfunction, occurring in 50% within 1 month after initiating methadone therapy. A comparison between these individuals and those without a reported change in sexual activity revealed no differences with respect to demographic parameters, methadone dose, or presence of polydrug abuse. Inadequate sexual function on heroin, however, was reported in 12 (71%) of those experiencing similar difficulties on methadone. This finding was present in only one person (3%) of those individuals whose sexual function on methadone maintenance was considered adequate. This study suggests that those persons with altered sexual function while on street heroin represent a high risk group for the development of inadequate sexual function upon initiation of methadone maintenance.