Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2005;65(6):773-86.
doi: 10.2165/00003495-200565060-00005.

Sexual dysfunction in male patients with hypertension: influence of antihypertensive drugs

Rainer Düsing  1
Affiliations
Review

Sexual dysfunction in male patients with hypertension: influence of antihypertensive drugs

Rainer Düsing. Drugs. 2005.

Abstract

Evidence suggests that arterial hypertension, in addition to being a cardiovascular and renal risk factor, may also be associated with an impairment of male sexual function. Since other cardiovascular risk factors, especially diabetes mellitus, have also been shown to correlate with impaired sexual function it has been proposed that sexual and especially erectile dysfunction may, at least in part, represent just another manifestation of atherosclerotic vascular disease. In addition to hypertension itself, sexual function in male hypertensive patients may also be affected by antihypertensive drug treatment. Available evidence suggests that centrally acting sympatholytic agents, beta-adrenoceptor antagonists (beta-blockers) and diuretics may have the potential to further impair sexual function. Calcium channel antagonists and ACE inhibitors may be neutral with respect to this endpoint. Preliminary data from several randomised and open studies have suggested that angiotensin II (AT)(1)-receptor antagonists may even be associated with an improvement of sexual function. However, many aspects of the interaction between hypertension, antihypertensive drug treatment and male sexual function remain unclear. Among other factors, the relative contribution of disease labelling both to the higher incidence of sexual dysfunction in hypertensive versus normotensive males and to the negative impact of treatment remains an open question. Furthermore, dose dependence of the observed effects of antihypertensive agents on sexual function, the role of combination therapy and the anticipation of proposed adverse effects of treatment are unresolved issues. Thus, more data from studies of high quality using standardised definitions and procedures are urgently needed to at least partially resolve some of the many open questions.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Circulation. 1972 May;45(5):991-1004 - PubMed
    1. Lancet. 1985 Jan 26;1(8422):181-4 - PubMed
    1. Br Heart J. 1976 Feb;38(2):121-8 - PubMed
    1. Eur Urol. 2002 Mar;41(3):298-304 - PubMed
    1. J Hum Hypertens. 1989 Apr;3(2):125-30 - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

LinkOut - more resources