Abstract
PURPOSE: Hypertension and its treatment are known to produce sexual dysfunction in males. In our culture, women are not free to discuss issues of sexuality with their doctors. Hence, this phenomenon has not been explored in them. Notwithstanding this, cases occur in practice where noncompliance with dire consequences result from sexual dysfunction. This study was done to determine if any dysfunction existed among women as is commonly reported in males. METHODOLOGY: As part of a larger study on serum uric acid and lipid profile of adult Nigerian hypertensives, we sought information on sexual function in females. One group was newly diagnosed and treatment naïve, while the other was made up of known hypertensives on thiazides. The third group consisted of normotensive age-matched controls. FINDINGS: Six out of 44 (13.6%) in the first group, five out of 29 (17.2%) in the second group and two out of 43 (4.7%) in the control group reported sexual dysfunction. The commonest aspect encountered was reduced desire for intercourse. CONCLUSION: There was a tendency for hypertensive women to have more sexual dysfunction even before treatment than did controls. Larger studies should be undertaken and clinicians should probe this subject if poor compliance is suspected.
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Selected References
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