Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Exergaming in Older People Living with HIV Improves Balance, Mobility and Ameliorates Some Aspects of Frailty
07:27

Exergaming in Older People Living with HIV Improves Balance, Mobility and Ameliorates Some Aspects of Frailty

Published on: October 6, 2016

Sexual functioning in ambulatory men with HIV/AIDS

G Newshan1, B Taylor, R Gold

  • 1St Vincent's Hospital, Section of HIV Medicine, New York, NY, USA.

International Journal of STD & AIDS
|December 24, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Sexual dysfunction is common in men with HIV, worsening with disease progression. Both low testosterone and psychological factors contribute to sexual health issues in HIV patients.

Area of Science:

  • Sexual health
  • Endocrinology
  • Infectious diseases

Background:

  • Sexual functioning is frequently overlooked in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patient care.
  • Limited data exists on the interplay of hormonal, psychological, medication, and disease stage factors on sexual functioning in HIV-infected individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between hormonal levels, psychological status, medication, and HIV disease progression concerning sexual functioning in HIV-positive men.

Main Methods:

  • Fifty HIV-positive men completed the Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory (DSFI).
  • Serum hormonal assays were performed, including testosterone, thyroid function tests, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, and estradiol.
  • Participants were categorized based on symptomatic or asymptomatic HIV/AIDS status.

Main Results:

  • All participants reported some degree of sexual dysfunction.
  • Symptomatic HIV/AIDS patients exhibited more negative mood, lower sexual satisfaction, and poorer body image compared to asymptomatic individuals.
  • Asymptomatic HIV patients generally maintained normal testosterone levels, unlike symptomatic patients.

Conclusions:

  • Sexual dysfunction is prevalent in men with HIV and increases with symptomatic disease progression to AIDS.
  • Both physiological factors, such as low testosterone, and psychological issues significantly impact sexual health in this population.
  • No correlation was found between medications and low testosterone levels in this cohort.

More Related Videos

Retzius-Sparing Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy12:10

Retzius-Sparing Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy

Published on: May 19, 2022

Treatment Model for Young Patients with Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction and Resultant Infertility04:22

Treatment Model for Young Patients with Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction and Resultant Infertility

Published on: May 30, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Retrovirus Life Cycles01:10

Retrovirus Life Cycles

Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the retrovirus to...
Male Sexual Response: Erection & Ejaculation01:17

Male Sexual Response: Erection & Ejaculation

Sexual stimulation can take various forms, such as physical touch and visual or auditory cues. When this happens, the parasympathetic reflex in the sacral portion of the spinal cord is activated. This reflex stimulates the release of nitric oxide (NO), which then dilates the arterioles in the penis, increasing blood flow to the erectile tissues - the corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum.
The blood filling the erectile tissues compresses the veins, which helps to prevent blood from leaving...
Sexually Transmitted Infections01:26

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diseases transmitted primarily through unsafe sexual interactions. Bacteria, viruses, or parasites cause them and can result in severe health complications if untreated.ChlamydiaThe bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for the disease Chlamydia, the most common STI in the United States. This peculiar pathogen requires human cells to reproduce, residing intracellularly. The initial infection often goes unnoticed because it typically does not...
Disorders of the Male Reproductive System01:20

Disorders of the Male Reproductive System

Men's health issues are increasingly recognized as significant, with several conditions posing common threats. Among these, testicular cancer is especially prevalent in younger men, particularly those aged 20 to 35 years. The disease often manifests as a painless mass in the testicles, sometimes accompanied by a sensation of heaviness or a dull ache.
Prostate disorders are another major concern. These conditions can impair urinary flow due to the prostate's location around the urethra. Symptoms...
Genital Herpes01:23

Genital Herpes

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection primarily caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), though herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is increasingly implicated in genital infections, particularly among younger populations. Transmission occurs mainly through sexual contact, with asymptomatic viral shedding serving as a major route of spread. This characteristic makes HSV-2 difficult to control at a population level, as individuals may unknowingly transmit the virus even in the...
Amebiasis01:28

Amebiasis

Entamoeba histolytica, a protozoan parasite, is responsible for intestinal and extraintestinal amebiasis. Though a significant proportion of infections remain asymptomatic, approximately 50 million individuals annually are estimated to present with clinical disease, resulting in up to 100,000 deaths globally. The disease burden is disproportionately high in regions with lower socioeconomic status, such as parts of India, Africa, Mexico, and Latin America.Etiology and TransmissionThe infective...