Open AccessSexual Dysfunction in Essential Hypertension: Myth or Reality?
Author(s) -
Doumas Michael,
Douma Stella
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the journal of clinical hypertension
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1751-7176
pISSN - 1524-6175
DOI - 10.1111/j.1524-6175.2006.04708.x
Subject(s) - erectile dysfunction , medicine , sexual dysfunction , disease , quality of life (healthcare) , risk factor , intensive care medicine , population , gynecology , environmental health , nursing
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.