How Does High Blood Pressure Affect Sexual Function?
Since female arousal is largely dependent on a good supply of blood to the vagina and clitoris it makes sense that a condition which interferes with blood flow, as high blood pressure does, can commonly lead to female sexual dysfunction (FSD).
A
blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or higher is considered high. According
to statistics from the American Heart Association, of the 65 million
Americans with high blood pressure, nearly half are women. Women with
high blood pressure are two times more likely to experience symptoms of
sexual dysfunction than women who have normal blood pressure. What's
more, as women get older and have high blood pressure for a longer
period of time, their chances of experiencing sexual dysfunction
increases.
High blood pressure is the higher than normal tension or pressure within the arteries. When blood pressure is high for a long time, the arteries can get stiff or narrow, which keeps the blood from flowing easily throughout the body. Blood flow is critical to healthy sexual function. Common sexual side effects of high blood pressure include difficulty becoming aroused and difficulty reaching orgasm.
While high blood pressure can result in sexual dysfunction, some medications used to treat high blood pressure can also cause problems with sexual function. Women who take drugs to treat their high blood pressure, but do not reach their target goal, are more likely to experience sexual dysfunction when compared with women who were not taking medication. However, women who do gain control of their blood pressure through drugs are much less likely to experience sexual problems. This can put women and their doctors in a tough spot when trying to choose a viable treatment.
With Lyriana there is now a safe, easy way to improve sexual function without interfering with blood pressure treatments. Lyriana is a localized topical treatment that acts only on the vaginal tissues to help immediately improve sexual function. Learn more about how Lyriana works to increase blood flow to the vaginal tissues to stimulate arousal and enhance sexual experience.
