Improvement of sexual dysfunction in patients after treatment of hepatitis C virus using directly acting antivirals

Abstract

Objective

The impact on male and female sexual dysfunction of treating hepatitis C virus (HCV) using direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) has not been sufficiently studied. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of HCV clearance with DAAs on sexual dysfunction (SD) in both sexes.

Methods

In chronic HCV patients who were eligible for DAAs, 100 sexually active men completed the Arabic version of the international index of erectile function questionnaire (IIEF-5), and the same number of sexually active women completed Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), before, at the end of, and 3 months after, treatment for HCV.

Result

The mean of the IIEF-5 scores for male patients was 16.29 ±.07 before treatment, 16.88 ± 3.63 3 months after treatment (p < .01), and was significantly higher, at 19.06 ± 3.31 6 months after treatment cessation (p < .01). In female patients, the mean total FSFI score at baseline was 19.22 ± 2.40 and after 3 months of treatment was 21.61 ± 3.45 (p < .01), with a significant increase (25.09 ± 4.52) after 6 months (p < .01). No difference in the improvement of sexual function was reported either after 3 months or at the end of treatment between males and females (p > .05).

Conclusions

Significant improvement in SD associated with HCV infection in both sexes was recorded following viral clearance using DAAs treatment.

Keywords:

• DAAs
• HCV
• sexual dysfunction
• male sexual dysfunction
• female sexual dysfunction

Transparency

Declaration of funding

This is a non-funded study.

Declaration of financial/other relationships

No relationships to be declared by the authors. Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Author contributions

Mohamed El Kassas conceptualized the idea, Eman Salah and Ahmed Hosny planned the study and helped in data analysis. Aya Gad attended patients’ follow-up visits and collected patient data. All authors contributed equally to manuscript revision and editing. All contributors revised and approved the final version of the manuscript and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Acknowledgements

No assistance in the preparation of this article is to be declared.