Sexual dysfunction in essential hypertension: myth or reality?
Erectile dysfunction is currently considered a condition with high prevalence in the general population, exerting a major impact on patients' and their sexual partners' quality of life. Available data indicate that hypertension represents a risk factor for erectile dysfunction, which is more frequent in hypertensive compared with normotensive subjects. The pathophysiologic basis of erectile dysfunction in hypertension is under thorough investigation, and several mechanisms have been proposed. Erectile dysfunction has also been related to cardiovascular risk factors and might be used as a marker of cardiovascular disease in the future. Although male sexuality has been studied rather extensively, female sexual dysfunction in hypertension is underexplored. Recently published hypertension guidelines either ignore or superficially address sexual dysfunction, underlining the need for more attention and better education of health care professionals on this issue.
Doumas
Michael
M
Departments of Internal Medicine, University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece. michalisdoumas@yahoo.co.uk
Douma
Stella
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D000804:Angiotensin II