Methadone maintenance and male sexual dysfunction.
OBJECTIVE
This study reports the prevalence and types of sexual dysfunction in a sample of men on methadone maintenance for opioid dependence, and describes factors which may contribute to sexual dysfunction.


METHODS
92 opioid-dependent men were recruited from a methadone maintenance clinic and completed two questionnaires, a research interview and laboratory measures.


RESULTS
Fourteen percent reported some sexual dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction (r = 0.24, p = 0.020), libido dysfunction (r = 0.30, p = 0.003), and global dysfunction (r = 0.26, p = 0.013) increased with increasing age of the patient. Methadone dose showed a significant direct correlation with increased orgasm dysfunction, both before and after adjusting for duration of treatment (p = 0.012). None of the sexual dysfunction subscales or global dysfunction were associated with plasma testosterone or plasma prolactin levels.


CONCLUSIONS
The rate of global sexual dysfunction in methadonetreated men is similar to general population studies and should be evaluated using general population guidelines. Orgasm dysfunction is a special case and may respond to methadone dose reduction.
Brown
Randy
R
University of Wisconsin Medical Schoool, Department of Family Medicine, Madison, WI 53715, USA. Randy.Brown@fammed.wisc.edu
Balousek
Stacey
S
Mundt
Marlon
M
Fleming
Michael
M
D000328:Adult; D003710:Demography; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009294:Narcotics / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood
D009294:Narcotics; D013739:Testosterone; D011388:Prolactin; D013972:Thyrotropin; D008691:Methadone