Prevalence and factors associated with sexual dysfunction among HIV-positive women in Europe

Florence, Éric; Schrooten, Ward; Dreezen, C; Gordillo, Victoria Castro; Schönnesson, Lena Nilsson; Asboe, David; Koitz, Gunvor; Colebunders, Robert

doi:10.1080/09540120410001716333

Cited by 62 publications

(98 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Although the relationship between HAART and sexual functioning remains far less examined among HIV-positive women, the little research that has been done has found few differences. Comparisons of HIV-positive women who were antiviral treatment naive and those who had been treated found no difference on any domain of sexual functioning (including sexual desire and satisfaction; Florence et al, 2004). Similarly, Siegel, Karus, and Dean (2004) found that there was no significant difference in the psychosexual adjustment of HIV-infected women from the pre-HAART era and a matched sample of infected women from the HAART era.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…There is some evidence to suggest that psychosocial factors may play a more prominent role in sexual functioning among HIV-positive women than disease-related factors. For example, lower sexual functioning among HIV-infected women has been found to be associated with depression, irritability, and anxiety, but not with illness severity or CD4 count (Florence et al, 2004). Similarly, a diminished sexual desire among HIVinfected women has been found to be associated with both more depressive symptoms and lower life satisfaction, but to be unrelated to testosterone levels (Goggin et al, 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Using retrospective reports, Florence et al (2004) found that HIV-positive women in Europe indicated they had significantly lower levels of sexual desire following their HIV diagnosis than before. Similarly, 43% of HIV-positive women in New York City were found to report decreased sexual desire since their HIV diagnosis (Goggin et al, 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Diminished Sexual Activity, Interest, and Feelings of Attractiveness Among HIV-Infected Women in Two Eras of the AIDS Epidemic

2006

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Despite the high prevalence of sexual inactivity, decreased sexual desire, and poor sexual satisfaction documented among HIV-infected individuals, women's experiences of sexuality following HIV-infection and their reasons for these sexual changes remain little examined. Further, the potential effects of the availability of HAART medications on their sexuality have not been explored among women living with HIV/AIDS. To examine these issues, focused interviews were conducted with two samples of women living with HIV/AIDS: one before the advent of HAART and a second matched sample interviewed after HAART became widely available. Women in both the pre-HAART and HAART eras frequently discussed decreased sexual activity, a loss of sexual interest, and a diminished sense of sexual attractiveness following their HIV infection. In addition, they reported a number of reasons for why they had discontinued sexual activity or were no longer interested in sex, including anxiety about HIV transmission, a loss of freedom and spontaneity during sex, fears of emotional hurt, not wanting the hassle of sexual relationships, a loss of sexual interest, and a diminished sense of sexual attractiveness. However, the types of changes in their sexuality women described, nor the reasons offered for these changes, did not differ between women in the pre-HAART and HAART eras. The findings suggest that therapeutic intervention may be needed by some HIV-infected women to overcome difficulties resuming healthy sexual relationships following their HIV diagnosis and offer insights into the potential content of such intervention efforts.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Diminished Sexual Activity, Interest, and Feelings of Attractiveness Among HIV-Infected Women in Two Eras of the AIDS Epidemic

2006

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“…Although there has been increased access to ART, studies examining sexuality and reproduction for women living with HIV still show that HIV impacts sexuality and reproduction negatively (Carter et al, 2017a; Greene, Ion, Kwaramba, Smith, & Loutfy, 2015; Rahangdale et al, 2014). Women with HIV therefore face unique challenges, such as in partner relationships, sexual satisfaction and childbearing (Bharat & Mahendra, 2007; Carter et al, 2013; Florence et al, 2004). Many women living with HIV have a desire to give birth to a child (Carter et al, 2017b; Wessman et al, 2015), a desire which can further increase feelings of stigmatization, shame and fear (Sandelowski & Barroso, 2003; Sanders, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexuality and childbearing as it is experienced by women living with HIV in Sweden: a lifeworld phenomenological study

Carlsson-Lalloo

Berg

Mellgren

et al. 2018

International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well

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The effectiveness of antiretroviral treatment has reduced sexual HIV transmission and mother-to-child-transmission. To optimally support women living with HIV, health care providers need deepened knowledge about HIV, sexuality and childbearing. The aim of this study was to describe the phenomenon sexuality and childbearing as experienced by women living with HIV in Sweden. Data were collected by phenomenon-oriented interviews with 18 HIV-positive women. A reflective lifeworld analysis based on phenomenological philosophy was conducted, describing the meaning structure of the phenomenon. The essence of the phenomenon is that perceptions about HIV and its contagiousness profoundly influence sexual habits and considerations in relation to pregnancy and childbearing. These perceptions are formed in combination with knowledge and interpretations about HIV by the women themselves and by their environments. The essence is further described by its constituents: Risk of transmission imposes demands on responsibility; The contagiousness of HIV limits sexuality and childbearing; Knowledge about HIV transmission provides confident choices and decisions; and To re-create sexuality and childbearing. Although HIV has a low risk of transmission if being well treated, our study shows that HIV-positive women feel more or less contagious, which influences sexuality and decision-making in relation to become pregnant and give birth.

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“…9 Generally, depressive symptoms have been associated with lipodistrophy syndrome, 10 disability, 11 and tend to become more prevalent as the disease progresses, 12 especially among those individuals with low nadir (i.e., CD4 + < 200 cells). 9,13 Health-related quality of life 14 as well as sexual disturbances 15,16 are also negatively influenced by psychological factors, which seem to represent the most important contributors to feelings of unattractiveness as well as to diminished interest, sexual desire or satisfaction in individuals living with HIV/AIDS. 15,16 Depression per se 17 or associated with fatigue 18 is related to physical limitations to perform activities of daily living.…”

Section: Muscle Strengthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Depression is inversely associated with sexual satisfaction and physical function in men living with HIV/AIDS

Raso¹,

Tolea²,

Casseb³

et al. 2016

Medical Express

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OBJECTIVE:To assess the associations between depression and physical fitness and function in men living with HIV/AIDS and the role of sexual satisfaction in these associations. ). METHODS: Depression was determined by the Beck Depression Inventory. Participants were asked to evaluate their satisfaction with sexual life and their physical fitness was assessed by flexibility, muscle strength and peak oxygen uptake (VO 2peak ). Physical function was measured by time taken to move from seated to standing position (TSSP), time to tie sneakers, and time to walk 3.33 m. RESULTS: Depression was inversely associated with sexual satisfaction (for low and high CD4 + nadir) and flexibility (for low CD4 + nadir), and positively associated with walking time (for low CD4 + nadir and total sample), and time to tie sneakers (for the total sample). Sexual satisfaction was positively associated with muscle strength (for low CD4 + nadir and total sample), but inversely with TSSP (for low CD4 + nadir and total sample), walking time (for low CD4 + nadir and total sample), and time to tie sneakers (for high CD4 + nadir and total sample). CONCLUSION: Findings suggest a negative association between depression and physical function regardless of retrospective clinical status of men living with HIV/AIDS and a potential role for sexual satisfaction in explaining this association.

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Prevalence and factors associated with sexual dysfunction among HIV-positive women in Europe

Cited by 62 publications

References 23 publications

Diminished Sexual Activity, Interest, and Feelings of Attractiveness Among HIV-Infected Women in Two Eras of the AIDS Epidemic

Diminished Sexual Activity, Interest, and Feelings of Attractiveness Among HIV-Infected Women in Two Eras of the AIDS Epidemic

Sexuality and childbearing as it is experienced by women living with HIV in Sweden: a lifeworld phenomenological study

Depression is inversely associated with sexual satisfaction and physical function in men living with HIV/AIDS

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