| 709 Room 517-D | Sexuality and Health Wednesday, July 13, 2005 Time: 8:30 AM-10:30 AM |
More than prevention: what sex life for PLWA (People living with AIDS) ?
Leraton, Rene-Paul*,1, 1, 1 Sida Info Service, PARIS, FRANCE, France
ABSTRACT- Since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, the sex-life of PLWA has been widely considered through the angle of prevention. Implicitely PLWA were asked to behave as models of good prevention. For some who have been having an infection then another, they have not been interested in sex for some years. The release of multi-therapies in 1996 has changed the deal. PLWA went back to social life, work life, family life and sex life. But is it that easy? Based on two french experiences: Phone counselling on Ligne de vie(Life Line) which is a specific service for PLWA , part of the AIDS help line SIDA INFO SERVICE. Sexual counselling interviews at LE KIOSQUE a parisian AIDS association, this session will give food for thoughts on these topics: What is the influence of treatments and their possible side effects on desire and libido of PLWA? Can erectile dysfunction treatments be of any help when their use is possible? Sex life of a PLWA did not begin the day they learned they were infected. What is the impact of what they lived before especially when there is a question of sexual orientation involved? What are the special sexual difficulties of women living with AIDS? Having been close to death, is there a kind of denial of the AIDS years by wanting to have a sex life as it was before? Is there a link with barebacking and gay relapse? In spite of the recommendations of the french Delfraissy Report about how to take care of PLWA, are the AIDS doctors always open to talk about sex life of their patients when everything is fine concerning the treatment? The methodology of the session will be widely based on what the PLWA are saying about their sex life and sexuality and what use the professionals can make out of it. We will try to show that sexologist, sexotherapists or sexual counsellors can be of a great help. Thanks to the good results of treatments, the PLWA population is growing and so is the need for care. We will also try to show the importance of sexology on a public health matter as Aids. The audience targeted is any person (doctors, sexologists, counsellors) or association ( AIDS, LGBT) concerned with AIDS.
Key words: AIDS, sexual orientation, gay, counselling, erectile dysfunction problems