Sexual Dysfunction in Patients with Alcohol and Opioid Dependence

Abstract

There are limited numbers of studies which have evaluated the sexual dysfunction (SD) in patients with alcohol and opioids dependence. This article reviews the existing literature. Electronic searches were carried out using the PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect to locate the relevant literature. Subjects addicted to heroin or on methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) or buprenorphine maintenance treatment (BMT) show higher rates of SD in comparison to the general population. SD rates have ranged 34-85% for heroin addicts, 14-81% for MMT, 36-83% for BMT, and 90% for naltrexone maintenance. The rates of SD in alcohol-dependent population have ranged 40-95.2%, with rates being consistently much higher in alcohol-dependent population than in the healthy controls or social drinkers. The common SDs reported have been erectile dysfunction followed by premature ejaculation, retarded ejaculation and decreased sexual desire among men, and dyspareunia and vaginal dryness among women. This review suggests that long-term use of alcohol and opioids are associated with SD in almost all domains of sexual functioning. There is a need to increase the awareness of clinicians about this association as many times SD in patients with substance abuse lead to poor treatment compliance and relapse. Further, there is a need to carry out more number of studies to understand the relationship in a better way.

Who Gets Testosterone? Patient Characteristics Associated with Testosterone Prescribing in the Veteran Affairs System: a Cross-Sectional Study

“…Opioid medications suppress testosterone levels, 32 and their use is associated with a high prevalence of sexual dysfunction 35 and osteoporosis. 34 Therefore, it is not surprising that the odds for receipt of testosterone were six times more in those patients on high-dose opioids.…”

Sexual Dysfunction among Men with Alcohol Dependence Syndrome in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Puducherry

“…The sexual disturbances noted by Vijayasenan et al 12 in their study revealed diminished sexual desire (58%), ejaculatory incompetence (22%), erectile impotence (16%) and premature ejaculation(4%). In a review study done Grover et al 7 , the common sexual dysfunction reported was erectile dysfunction followed by premature ejaculation, retarded ejaculation and decreased sexual desire. According to Bijil Simon et al 8 , the most common sexual dysfunction was found to be premature ejaculation followed by erectile dysfunction and low sexual desire.…”

“…4 A cross cultural study for alcohol use done across 8 countries by WHO reported that 12% males consumed alcohol prior to their first sexual intercourse to improve sexual pleasure and to get positive effect but chronic use of alcohol produces a negative effect in sexual functioning and leads to onset of sexual disorders. 5,6 According to Grover et al(2014), the prevalence of sexual dysfunction has ranged from 40 -95.2% across the studies.Erectile dysfunction was the most common sexual dysfunction followed by premature ejaculation,retarded ejaculation and reduced sexual desire among men, and vaginal dryness and dyspareunia among women. 7 Sexual dysfunction among alcohol dependent patients are given least attention by the clinician and the researchers when compare to the other complications of alcohol.…”

“…5,6 According to Grover et al(2014), the prevalence of sexual dysfunction has ranged from 40 -95.2% across the studies.Erectile dysfunction was the most common sexual dysfunction followed by premature ejaculation,retarded ejaculation and reduced sexual desire among men, and vaginal dryness and dyspareunia among women. 7 Sexual dysfunction among alcohol dependent patients are given least attention by the clinician and the researchers when compare to the other complications of alcohol. Sexual problems in alcohol dependent patients are often unexplored and neglected.…”

The Effect of Life Skills Training on Social Communication of Clients Referring to Drug Abuse Clinics

“…Drug addiction is the root of insecurities in the society and poses threats to health and hygiene of the patient and the society as the whole (3). Among the destructive effects of drug addiction are aggressiveness, cognitive nervous breakdown, dissatisfaction with marital life (both the addict and the spouse), family life disorders, loss of interest in sexual relationships, anxiety, depression, and problems in public health (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11). Due to medical, health, economic, social, and legal problems caused by drug abuse, the society needs to seriously pay more attention to effective preventive strategies (12,13).…”