title: [Heart failure and sexual dysfunction].
abstract: Most patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) can safely engage in sexual activity and be treated for erectile dysfunction with sildenafil, provided that they do not have active coronary ischemia and do not require treatment with nitrates. Clinicians should know the physiological requirements for sexual activity and the impact chronic heart failure has on sexual performance. Fear of cardiac events during intercourse can interfere with patients' ability to perform and enjoy sex, and thus, it is important that the physician be able to counsel patients with chronic heart failure about sexual activity.
authors.affiliation: Département de médecine interne et service des urgences, HUG, Genève 14. lucka.sekoranja@hcuge.ch
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sekoranja
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bianchi-Demicheli
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gaspoz
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mach
mesh_terms: D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male