ARVs Side Effects: Some Men Developing Breasts

BLANTYRE: The National Aids Commission says is planning to engaging science experts for an explanation on why some men on Anti-Retroviral Therapy in the country are developing feminine-like physical structures. The matter has arisen following an incident in Mangochi in which a man on ART is said to have developed female breasts and people suspect the development may be linked to the treatment.

This comes after Digitas International of Mangochi and Machinga district hospitals HIV coordinator Christopher Kandionamaso told journalists that there are strong suspicions that the physical changes taking place in men on ART could be a side effect of the therapy regime they are receiving.

Chairperson of the NAC Ms Mara Kumbweza Banda told Zodiak Online that the current developments and suspicions about the ART require a scientific investigation and subsequent explanation.

“As a commission we have taken on board the concerns by the organizations. We are going to present the matter to scientists to determine what is really happening,” said Ms Banda.

However, Mangochi District Health Officer Dr. William Peno was non-committal on the matter saying, although he has personally seen a deformed male on ART, he would not link that to the ART.

“We are not the only district that is administering the new regimen of Anti Retrovirals…so it is better to wait until something scientifically concrete comes out on the same,” said Dr. Peno.

According to Kandionamaso, about 20 males on the new regime of ART have been affected in this way.

Mc Loud Piringu, HIV/Aids coordinator for Mangochi district hospital says he knows of three such cases of males on the new ART regimen which is composed of three drugs.

“The patients take Tenofovir, Lamivudine and Favirnz, it is Favirnz, that is causing men to grow female breasts, but once we observe that, we remove Favirnz and replace it with Neverapine,” he said.—Zodiak Online