title: The use of erection enhancing medication and party drugs among men living with HIV in Europe.
abstract: Studies have shown more erectile dysfunction (ED) in men living with HIV (MLHIV), relative to age matched HIV-negative men. Erection enhancing medication (EEM) is more frequently used by HIV-positive men than in the general male population. Increased sexually transmitted infection has been described in HIV-positive men with ED using EEM. This study investigated the use of EEM and party drugs (methyleendioxymethamfetamine (XTC), gammahydroxybutyrate (GHB) "fluid XTC" and alkyl nitrites "poppers") among MLHIV. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed consecutively to all patients attending 17 European HIV treatment centers. The sample included 1118 HIV-positive men, among whom 74.5% men having sex with men (MSM). The use of EEM was more frequent in MSM than in heterosexual men (odds ratio (OR) 3.33, p<0.001) and was associated with increased sexual risk behavior (OR 3.27, p<0.001). Nonmedically indicated use of EEM was linked to increased use of party drugs (OR 2.30, p=0.01). Physicians taking care of MLHIV need to be aware of the high prevalence of (nonmedical) use of EEM and party drugs. Medical provision of EEM should be combined with a discussion on safer sex behavior and the risk related to concomitant use of party drugs and illegal EEM.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tropical Medicine, HIV/AIDS Center, Antwerp, Belgium. irisderyck@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: De Ryck
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Van Laeken
authors.forename: Christiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Noestlinger
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Platteau
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colebunders
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005060:Europe; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008297:Male; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; D016017:Odds Ratio; D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine