Sexual dysfunction, depressive symptoms, and perceived impact of HBV infectivity among noncirrhotic patients with chronic hepatitis B: a cross-sectional study.

Authors

Chengrun Song, Jing Zhou, Jiangnan Peng, Yujing Li, Sahar Muzammal, Enqiang Chen

Published in

Frontiers in public health. Volume 14. Pages 1906589. Epub Sep 29, 2026.

Abstract

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains a major global public health burden, yet sexual health is rarely addressed in routine care. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of sexual dysfunction (SD) and examine demographic, clinical, and psychological factors associated with sexual function among noncirrhotic patients with CHB. We also explored the association between sexual function and the perceived negative impact of HBV infectivity on sexual life.
This cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2023 to July 2024, enrolling 657 patients with CHB and 121 non-HBV controls. Patients with CHB were classified by treatment status as receiving pegylated interferon α-2b (n = 391), receiving nucleos(t)ide analogues (n = 203), or not receiving antiviral therapy (n = 63). Sexual function was assessed using the IIEF-5, EHS, and PEDT in men and the FSFI in women. Psychological status was assessed with the PHQ-9 and GAD-7, and the perceived negative impact of HBV infectivity on sexual life was assessed using a single exploratory yes/no item. Hierarchical multiple linear regression was used to identify factors associated with sexual function scores.
The prevalence of SD was significantly higher in all CHB subgroups than in Non-HBV group, with the highest prevalence observed in the IFN-CHB group, both in men (70.9%) and women (70.8%). In multivariable models, older age, IFN-CHB status, and higher PHQ-9 scores were associated with lower sexual function scores in both sexes. Of the variables examined, IFN-CHB status showed the strongest negative association in men (β = -0.267, p < 0.001), whereas PHQ-9 score showed the strongest negative association in women (β = -0.312, p = 0.006). A perceived negative impact of HBV infectivity on sexual life was reported by 21.6% of men and 24.7% of women with CHB. Men reporting this perception had lower IIEF-5 scores (p < 0.001), and women reporting it had lower FSFI scores (p = 0.020).
Sexual dysfunction was common among sexually active patients with CHB, and poorer sexual function was associated with IFN-CHB status, depressive symptoms, and the perceived negative impact of HBV infectivity on sexual life. Sexual health assessment and mental health support may therefore have value in comprehensive CHB care.

PMID:
42871098
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 14 Oct 2026.

Read full publication at:
Please sign in to see all details.

Stats

1-terrible, 9-excellent. How would you rate this publication? Sign in in to submit your rating.

Post a comment

You need to be signed in to post comments. You can sign in here.

Comments

There are no comments yet.