Limited by a Low Libido?

Women with high blood pressure tend to suffer from sexual problems, but guess what? Researchers don't seem to know why.

Dr. Michael Doumas of the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Athens, Greece presented research showing the problem, well-known to exist among men, at the 21st annual American Society of Hypertension meeting in 2006, but he remained noncommittal about the connection.

The good news, he said, was that researchers were finally looking at the problem and recognizing that more studies are needed.

"We don't know much about sexual function in women," he admitted, saying women were more "complex" than men sexually.

"I think we are just at the beginning in this field," he said.

Female sexual dysfunction was defined as a persistent or recurring decrease in sexual desire and arousal, difficulty in achieving orgasm, and pain during intercourse.

The small study of 417 women at a clinic in Greece evaluated the effect of anti-hypertensive drug treatment and of adequate blood pressure control on sexual dysfunction among these women.

The findings were even more confusing.

Treatment Curbs Problem
Doumas' study showed that sexual problems were greater in women being treated for high blood pressure than those with hypertension who were untreated.

Yet, that reversed when blood pressure was controlled, resulting in fewer sexual problems among women who were "at goal."

Again, Doumas didn't have much explanation. He cited the small study sample and questioned the availability of drugs that are helpful to women.

Of the 65 million Americans with high blood pressure, nearly half are women, according to the American Heart Association. A blood pressure of 140/90 or higher is considered high.

The problem with drugs, high blood pressure, and lack of satisfying sex isn't new. It was outlined in a recent Harvard University health newsletter.

"One of the biggest problems with high blood pressure is that many people who have it don't feel it. The absence of immediate symptoms makes it easy to ignore, or stop drug treatment when side effects appear," the article noted.

"One group of these side effects -- sexual problems -- are a main reason people stop taking drugs that lower blood pressure. Sex-related side effects have been ascribed to virtually all classes of drugs used to control blood pressure."

But, hold on. Is it the chicken or the egg that causes the problem? Which is causing what?

"Sexual problems aren't always the drugs' fault," says the article.

"High blood pressure itself can interfere with a satisfying sex life because it can change circulatory patterns in the body and damage the inner lining of arteries."

Doumas concurred, saying both men and women need "an adequate blood supply" to their sexual organs to have good sex.

"Vasodilating agents (those that increase blood flow) do well," he told a group at the meeting.

But the Harvard article suggests what seems apparent: There is no one answer. The advice is to talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the problem.

Doctors Must Be Aware
"Quality of life is very important to overall health," Doumas told conference attendees. "It is important for internists and general practitioners to become familiar with female sexual dysfunction and routinely address it."

Source: Palm Beach Post. Powered by Yellowbrix.