Question
Do HIV medicines lower your sex drive?
4 October 2010. Related: All topics, Side effects, Support.
My partner is HIV positive and takes medicine. He is only 29 years old. I am HIV negative and feel like it is me and not his HIV that is affecting is sex drive. Can you please answer my question I would greatly appreciate it?
Answer
Thank you for your question.
A lower sex drive is more common in HIV positive people due to both medical and psychological reasons. HIV positive men and women have less testosterone which can result in a lower libido. It is also possible that your partner is worrying about infecting you with HIV and this is causing him to lose his sex drive.
Other non-HIV-realted factors include age (over 40), diabetes, hypertension, depression, use of steroids, fear of failure, stress.
HIV-related sexual dysfunction is more usually associated with people who are not on treatment.
For more information on sexual dysfunction in HIV positive people please follow this link or read this similar question
Hi Michel,
Its good that you’re on ART and your viral load is undetected.
However, there can be many reasons for having a low sex drive and other problems like this. Good sexual health is important to overall quality of life. So have you talked to your doctor about it?
Here is the guide to sexual health and quality of life. This gives lots of info about the causes of sexual dysfunction. I hope it helps to start the discussion with your doctor.
I’m HIV positive but detection is 0, my sex drive is just too low although I get an erection I have no feeling and never get to ogasm just don’t know what is the problem yet I’m on ART.
Hi Mr.M,
Some HIV medications interact with oral medications like sildenafil (Viagra). Lower doses – usually one 25 mg in any 48-hour period – are used for people using a PIs or non-nuke based combination.
But good sexual health is important to overall quality of life. Please see this link to the guide to sexual health and quality of life.
What medicine can I use to increase my sex drive as I am on arv’s
Hi Lindokuhle, thanks for your question. Neither HIV nor HIV meds are not likely to be making you dry or reducing your sex drive. Are there other things that are worrying you? For example if you worry about HIV (or anything else) when you are together this cause stop you feeling like sex? The menopause can also cause this. Have you talked to your doctor about this?
This page has more information, including using water-based lubricants (but not soap or lotions with perfume), taking more time with foreplay before sex and about talking to your doctor:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaginal-dryness
I hope that some of these things help.
Good morning I like to know which medication I can use boost sex appetite while I’m taking ARV.
My sex appetite is too low and I got dry during sex please help I’m hubby his not happy at all and his negative should I let him go?
Seeing him suffer for sex it’s not good to me please help.
Hi Maureen,
Info about sexual dysfunction can be found here: http://i-base.info/qa/2575
Body changes due to ART aren’t very common with modern day ART. This however doesn’t means to say that it can’t happen as the following discusses: http://i-base.info/guides/side/lipodystrophy
Your husband is going to need to talk about these issues with a doctor.
Dear sir/Madam,
My partner is HIV positive and has been on treatment for over 10 years, now the problem is he is suffering from penis erection.
another thing his chest has developed breasts as well as his back is full of fats, meaning, all the fats is in the upper body.
Thanking you in advance for your cooperation.
With Regards,
Maureen
You cannot get HIV this way. Fore more information about how you can get HIV please follow this link
Dear Sir or Madam,
My feeling unhappy if I don’t ask you one question
Usualy I go to massage then requested them to massage my penis by hand until it flows semen so can HIV transmit to my body or not?
With Regards,
Dara.