Study summary · research use only
Management of Hypertension with Female Sexual Dysfunction
Plain-language summary
Paraphrased from the published abstract below — not a verdict on whether anything works.
This review analyzed randomized double-blind clinical trials and cross-sectional studies published from 1991 to 2021 on female sexual function in human patients with hypertension. The abstract reports FSD appeared higher in hypertensive women than in normotensive women, describes beta-blockers as having relatively strong evidence of being associated with damaging female sexual function, and describes angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) as relatively beneficial to female sexual function. The authors describe controlling blood pressure as key, with ARBs noted as an associated option, and mention flibanserin and bremelanotide as options tried in premenopausal women, and ospemifene and hormone supplements as options for postmenopausal women. Species: human.
Abstract
Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in hypertension has been less studied than male sexual dysfunction, and antihypertensive agents' impact on female sexual function is not defined. In this review, randomized double-blind clinical trials and cross-sectional studies related to female sexual function in hypertension were analyzed from 1991 to 2021. FSD appeared to be higher in hypertensive women than in normotensive women. Beta-blockers are the only antihypertensive agents with relatively strong evidence of damaging the female sexual function. Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) are relatively beneficial to female sexual function. To treat FSD in the presence of hypertension, controlling blood pressure is key, and the administration of angiotensin receptor blockers is preferred. In addition to controlling blood pressure, for premenopausal women, flibanserin and bremelanotide can be tried, while ospemifene and hormone supplements are preferred for postmenopausal women.
pepmg summarizes the peer-reviewed literature and links to every source — it sells nothing, ships nothing, and gives no medical, dosing, or human-use guidance. Don't just trust this summary: follow the citation to its source and read it yourself. Research use only.