High blood pressure and sex - Overcome the challenges

High blood pressure often has no signs or symptoms. But the impact on your sex life may be unmistakable. Although sexual activity seldom poses cardiovascular risks — such as causing a heart attack — high blood pressure can affect your overall satisfaction with sex. Both men and women face specific challenges.

Challenges for men

Over time, high blood pressure damages the lining of your blood vessels and promotes hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). This means less blood flows to your penis. For some men, the decreased blood flow makes it difficult to achieve and maintain erections.