Sex and the heart: what is the role of the cardiologist?

Sexual activity is a concern both for patients with coronary artery disease and physicians taking care of these patients. Sexual counselling is an important component of treatment for post-myocardial infarction patients. Therefore, it is essential for the cardiologist to understand the physiological and haemodynamic changes that occur during sexual intercourse. It should also be borne in mind that several cardiac medications prescribed by cardiologists are responsible for sexual dysfunction. Finally, sexual dysfunction frequently occurs in cardiac patients and the treatment of sexual dysfunction, especially erectile dysfunction, may be associated with cardiovascular side-effects. The purpose of this review is to familiarize the cardiologist with sexual issues related to the cardiac patient.