Among men with HIV who achieved viral suppression, no significant differences were found versus healthy controls in quality of life, depression, or sexual dysfunction, supporting individual evaluation rather than HIV status-based assumptions.
Quality of life scores were similar between virologically suppressed HIV-positive men and healthy male controls.
Depression scores were similar between virologically suppressed HIV-positive men and healthy male controls.
ASEX scores were statistically higher in HIV patients compared to controls, but this did not translate to a higher prevalence of sexual dysfunction by established criteria.
BDI scores were strongly negatively correlated with EUROHIS-QOL8 scores in the HIV group and moderately negatively correlated in controls.
The study was designed as a case-control study comparing heterosexual men on combination antiretroviral therapy with viral suppression to healthy male controls.
This research suggests that men living with HIV who have their virus successfully controlled by antiretroviral medication experience similar quality of life, depression levels, and rates of sexual dysfunction compared to men without HIV. The study compared 39 HIV-positive men whose virus was suppressed to undetectable levels on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) with 60 healthy men, using standardized questionnaires to measure well-being, depression, and sexual function. Although HIV-positive men scored slightly higher on a sexual experience scale, this did not translate into a meaningfully higher rate of clinical sexual dysfunction. The study also found that depression was closely linked to quality of life in both groups, but this relationship was stronger in the HIV-positive group. This means that when HIV-positive men experienced more depressive symptoms, their quality of life dropped more sharply than it did for healthy men with similar depression levels, highlighting the importance of mental health support for people living with HIV. These findings matter because they challenge the assumption that an HIV diagnosis automatically leads to worse mental health, sexual function, or overall quality of life. This research suggests that when HIV is effectively treated and the virus is suppressed, outcomes can be comparable to those of HIV-negative individuals, and that healthcare providers should evaluate each person individually rather than making assumptions based on HIV status alone.
Ö. Güler, Demir Akhan, Gamze Kara Sözen, S. Akhan. (2026). Quality of life, depression and sexual function in men living with HIV under effective antiretroviral therapy compared with healthy controls. Patient Related Outcome Measures. https://doi.org/10.1080/1179271X.2026.2664443