low libido becouse of hepatitis c

[brankox]

HI everyone.I am 28 years old and i ve infected myselve with hep C 4 years ago.In the beggining everything was normall but after the hepatitis became chronic i lost my libido.Now i am on treatment and in the end of first month the virus was not foundable in my blood -i cleared it (but they told me i have to heal 6 months) couse i am genotype 3.SO my question is -i am starting to feel my libido coming back -still not finding any pleasure in sex but ...deffenetrly feeling is comin.I know that in most of the cases the treatment makes you loose your libido but in my case it didnt.Does this mean i am again going to be normal after the threartment ends.I know most of you wont believe me (and thats the ***** of it) but its true -hep C made me loose my libido -one guy here in the forum (orenhak) said he have the same problem as me ,but he stoped write here and was talking suicidal.SO what do you thing-is there a hope ?

[curiouslady1]

From a woman's perspective:  I had no libido for many years and also lost a verve for life and a vibrancy.  While I became involved in treatment which resolved the depression (not drug tx), the libido did not return and dreaming/ recalling dreams became non existent.  People do have to be able to sleep well to dream well and I didn't.  However, after realizing a sudden drop in VL (5 log in 72 hours) and UND within a short period of time, I have noticed the feelings of well being, then the dreaming, then the sexual dreaming, then the sensations gradually returning.  I am 64 years old.

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When I'm 64? :)

[DoubleDose]

And just a portion of the article that I linked above, which spells out how HCV does affect sexual performance in a significant number of men, compared to those without HCV:  Here is the quoted paragraph:

"Studies
Although no large-scale clinical trials have been conducted proving that the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) directly causes sexual dysfunction, many patients report an association between the two. The following two studies demonstrate a relationship between sexual dysfunction and Hepatitis C:

1. A study published in the June 2006 issue of American Journal of Gastroenterology investigated the prevalence of sexual dysfunction among men with chronic HCV infection and evaluated its impact on health-related quality of life. After evaluating 350 participants, researchers concluded “…Our study demonstrates a strong association between chronic HCV infection and sexual dysfunction among men in the United States. Men with chronic HCV infection had markedly reduced sexual function in all the five domains evaluated (sex drive, erectile function, ejaculation, sexual problem assessment and overall sexual satisfaction) compared to HCV-uninfected controls…”

[willbb]

Loss of libido and depression is a bit of a double edged sword. As Hector mentions clinical; depression and the loss of interest in life as well as sex is certainly a sign of clinical depression,however the problem with taking most of the SSRI (newer AD"s or the old MAIO"(older AD'Ss) is that the most complained about side effect to doctors and documented in studies was ..loss of libido /and or a sexual dysfunction problem.

Everyone suffering the devastating effects of depression needs to be evaluated by a psychiatrist ,however remember all medications have side effects so making sure there is balance and getting the right medication is  very important.
Good luck..
Will

http://oflikeminds.com/SexualSideEffects.html

When you’re depressed or anxious you may not feel like doing anything. Especially making love. Antidepressants or other psych meds can improve your mood and your sex life, but, for some people, sexual side effects make things worse.

Some people taking these drugs can have trouble getting in the mood (loss of libido), have trouble performing (erectile dysfunction, or ED) or have difficulty in achieving orgasm (anorgasmia ).

Can anything be done about it?

Which drugs can cause sexual problems?

Antidepressants
Sexual dysfunction has been reported with all classes of antidepressants: MAOIs, TCAs, SSRIs, SNRIs and newer antidepressants.

An SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) or SRI (non-selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) antidepressant is a common culprit. Forty to seventy percent of people taking them report treatment-related sexual dysfunction (SD). Reduced sexual desire is common, as is delay or difficulty in achieving orgasm. Men often experience erectile dysfunction. SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), fluvoxamine (Luvox) and citalopram (Celexa).

[HectorSF]

I agree with fretboard and flcyclist. It is not an issue caused by hepatitis C. We already know the plumbing is working. I had to have an injection into my penis to confirm that. So consider yourself lucky. It wasn't fun.

Since there is nothing physically wrong with you it is most likely a mental issue. Please don't take it as a personal insult. Yes, a lot of the posts are making fun but this is a serious matter. And most man are too insecure to ever say they have had sexual problems but many man do.

As fretboard asked...Have you lost pleasure it other activities also? Do you still get the same amount of pleasure in daily life as when you could enjoy sexual relations? Or do you feel numb and flat inside. Like something is missing or dead? Do other pleasures still excite you? If you have a problem feeling pleasure then you are most likely depressed. There is no shame in suffering depression. It is not your fault. And you can do something about it. I've been seriously depressed in my life but I have learned to over come it. You can too.

If you question what we are saying, go see a urologist that specializes in ER (erectile dysfunction) they will find out the cause of the problem and treat you for it. There is no reason to not be able to enjoy sex any longer. Please for your sake do something about it before more time passes.

If you have lost other pleasures in life then you should see a psychiatrist. They can find an appropriate anti-depressant to manage your depression. As your mood improves your libido will too.

Don't despair. There is no reason you have to life with this.

Good luck to you.
Hector

[flcyclist]

Sounds to me like the little head is working just fine.  It's the big head that's creating a lack of confidence and self esteem.   It sounds like you might be having a difficult time in dealing with the issues related to having HCV, the unknown side effects once you begin trt, etc.  It is a lot to deal with.  Perhaps a local HCV support group would be helpful?  Good luck.  

[DoubleDose]

Here is just one of many articles on HCV and how it CAN affect libido, and erectile function in men.  I thought almost everyone was aware of these potential associations with HCV, but maybe not.  There have been a number of articles written on the subject, and though it does not seem to affect everyone, it does appear that a significant percentage of men with HCV report definite issues.  Here is the article, which also references studies done:

http://www.hepatitis-central.com/mt/archives/2007/03/how_hepatitis_c.html

DoubleDose

[brankox]

Yes i am in love with one girl but i dont have the guts to try to get with her becouse i am not a normal man anymore....

[TripleCrown]

What's a libido?
Hopefully when treatment is over, I will redefine what that means for me. As patients with a disease we need to cease to expect the old results. Something greater and more magical could present itself in new and wondrous ways. How about love?

[brankox]

I dont have problem with erections.Almoust every morning i have erection when i woke up.But i dont have any desire for sex.And when i have sex i dont feel any pleasure.Thats my probllem and thats why i am on treatment now-becouse i hope after i cure my HCV i will regain my libido.

[fretboard]

.you didnt read my post there i told that almoust 4 years i have no libido! .
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Your HepC should not be affecting your libido but I will say that you can become depressed with having liver disease and therefore not get any pleasure out of anything, not just sex.  Think of this, you are 28 and by your own account you got infected 4 years ago.  I think you have other issues besides HepC that affects your libido.  I find it hard to believe that you are totally without sexual feelings and physically incapable.  If you wake up with a stiff one cause you gotta use the bathroom then you're still good.  There's a fool proof way to find out but you gotta get off of all drugs first.  good luck!!

[MagTX]

LOL!  blue pils...  huh?

No really, in 2006 when I was treating with SOC I answered on a "Libido Post" (in english) and probably should not have cuz the thread seemed to go wild or something,I think everyone of us had a bit of Riba Rage that day.. I'm still not sure what happened, I was just sorta delirious on tx, maybe it was something I said.  MH had to delete the whole thread!

[willbb]

At 28 Years Old, You'll be back to enjoying Bumping Uglies before you know it.
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Ricky..the scientific  medical wisdom you  give in this one is  breakthru medicine IMO.. LOL

[flcyclist]

Ok.  I'll share mine....  I've been taking 6 of those little blue pills each day and they don't seem to be helping.  Well, on most days at least.   lol.

[MagTX]

Ok, you share yours in english and I'll share mine in another language..LOL

[flcyclist]

Hey, hey, no fair MagTX.  If you are sharing some good advice on low libido, we ALL need to understand it. lol.

[MagTX]

Zdravei Brankox,   As teb rozbiram, dobre je che tuka pishesh.  Chorta tuka na forema znajet zarat mnogo problemi sas tritmenta, i sas libido.  Towa stava ne samo na mushkite obache i na mene.  As zavershih tritmenta predi 4tri godini i siga se chustfam dobre i normalno i imam libido. Ti si mlat i misle che na teb sichkoto shte ti vurni na normalno, trebva da po chekash, kolko vreme ot kuga si zavurshil tritmenta?  Jedin mesac?  

As pishe ti bo bulgarski za shtoto ne iskam zarat libido do govore po angliski po interneta, zosbirashli men?  As sem bugarka, ot haskovo, beshe na jedna godinka kato izbegach mi ot comunistete.  As sem na chternajse i devet godini, hodich wuw bulgaria lato 2006, iskam pak da se wurne skoro.  Mnogo zdravei, i pak shte ti pishe.  Engliski je moje 4ti jezik.

[brankox]

you didnt read my post there i told that almoust 4 years i have no libido!

[R Glass]

At 28 Years Old, You'll be back to enjoying Bumping Uglies before you know it.