High Blood Pressure Effects on Sexual Function

High blood pressure may cause inefficient blood flow that affects the sex lives of men and women.

Also known as hypertension, high blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack or stroke by damaging blood vessels and causing hardening of the arteries. The lack of blood flow through the arteries and veins may lead to erectile dysfunction for men, according to Dr. Gina Lundberg, a volunteer with the American Heart Association.

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Problems achieving an erection could also indicate underlying heart disease risk, she says. Doctors check for high blood pressure when patients complain of erectile dysfunction.

Limited blood flow means less blood to the penis, but also women with high blood pressure may have reduced blood flow to the vagina, the Mayo Clinic reports. Vaginal dryness, a decrease in sexual arousal, and difficulty in achieving orgasm may occur in women with high blood pressure.

Women with high blood pressure may experience fatigue, which lowers libido and interest in sex.

Stress and anxiety are sometimes linked to high blood pressure and sexual function. Men and women both may lose their sexual satisfaction or desire for sex when under stress.

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Preventing or controlling high blood pressure includes a nutritious diet, regular exercise, healthy weight management, stress management, limiting alcohol consumption, and avoiding tobacco, Lundberg explains.

Medication may help to control high blood pressure, but it could have its own effects on a person's sex life. Diuretics and beta blockers prescribed for high blood pressure may cause sexual dysfunction for men, according to the Mayo Clinic.

High blood pressure medications that may have fewer sexual side effects include calcium channel blockers, receptor blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Patients should discuss blood pressure medications and their effects with a doctor.

In some cases, under a doctor’s supervision, patients may temporarily stop taking medication for high blood pressure to see if their sex lives improve. Blood pressure readings need to be taken regularly during this time to make sure the pressure is in a safe range.

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