A Sexual health after Human Immunodefficiency Virus infection

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The sexual behavior adopted by patients after Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection was the focus of our research, also addressing the sexual dysfunction resulting from the infection and / or treatment and sexual satisfaction that these patients present. It is worth highlighting some gender differences in some of these parameters, since it allows us to extrapolate the most effective approach to be adopted for each patient, in the context of multidisciplinary consultations, in which not only Infectious or Internal Medicine Doctors, as well as Psychiatrists, Gynecologists, Urologists, Specialists in General and Family Medicine and Psychologists.

OBJECTIVES: To understand the sexual behavior of HIV patients, including the option of sexual abstinence, which factors are associated with sexual dysfunction, and to understand what contributes to the sexual satisfaction of these patients.

METHODS: A bibliographic search of articles with the key words sexual dysfunction, sexual behavior, HIV diagnosis, men, women, gender. Only English publications of the last 5 years have been considered, with recourse to some pertinent citations of each of these works.

RESULTS: Two large studies describe conflicting results regarding the sexual behavior of patients with HIV, one advocates the reduction of risky behaviors, another justifies the exacerbation of these behaviors with the "optimism of antiretroviral therapy". A particular behavior of patients with HIV infection, and worth reporting and studying is sexual abstinence, with significant differences between the two genders. Regarding sexual dysfunction, the studies are mostly focused on the male sex. With regard to the promotion of sexual satisfaction, it goes much further than addressing another dimension of treatment, but understanding and improving it is fundamental since there is a link between this issue and the adoption of preventive measures by patients.

CONCLUSIONS: The studies available in the world literature, besides being scarce, are difficult to compare, given the lack of homogeneity of the populations studied and the data obtained, skewed by the culture. The Portuguese population lacks a study of this theme, which allows for coherent conclusions and culminates in a draft outline of an effective action plan for the promotion of the Sexual Health of patients after HIV infection to be adopted by our country.