Erectile dysfunction (erection problem)
As a physical cause, long-term high blood pressure can also affect sexual function. Especially when other conditions from the metabolic syndrome are present, many people with hypertension suffer from what is called erectile dysfunction. The reason is damage to the blood vessels caused by high blood pressure. These changes can also affect the blood vessels of the penis and lead to circulation problems. In most cases, its not the blood-pressure medications that are to blame, but the disease itself or the mans overall health.
In the HOPE-3 study, neither blood-pressure medication nor cholesterol-lowering drugs led to more new cases of erectile dysfunction than placebo. Unfortunately, reducing blood lipids and blood pressure with medication did not prevent the condition from occurring. Another study from 2019 also failed to show a clear improvement in erectile dysfunction from lowering blood pressure.
Treatment can include medications prescribed by a doctor for erectile dysfunction (PDE-5 inhibitors, e.g. Viagra). They are usually easy to take. One important exception is taking nitrates at the same time these drugs must not be combined because the combination can cause serious complications. Some other cardiovascular conditions also rule out taking Viagra or PDE-5 inhibitors.
If you are affected, please talk to your treating physician to find out whether a medication is suitable for you and which one would be appropriate.
Sources:
- https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDE-5-Hemmer
- http://drwerner.webseiten.cc/fileadmin/Dokumente/PDF-Dokumente/HOPE3.pdf
- https://www.apotheken.de/krankheiten/krankheiten-und-therapie/sexualmedizin/8789-keine-impotenz-durch-blutdrucksenker
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31862174/
- https://www.aerztezeitung.de/Medizin/Wenn-Hypertoniker-Probleme-mit-der-Potenz-haben-liegt-es-meist-nicht-an-ihren-Tabletten-323214.html
This article comes from BloodPressureDB – the leading app since 2011 that helps hundreds of thousands monitor their blood pressure every day.
Our content is based on carefully researched, evidence-based data and is continuously updated (as of 11/2025).
Author Sabine Croci is a qualified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as in outpatient care, and has led BloodPressureDB's specialist editorial team since 2015. Thanks to her extensive additional qualifications as a paramedic, first responder and in various therapy and emergency areas, she provides solid, practical and reliably reviewed information.
Author Sabine Croci is a qualified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as in outpatient care, and has led BloodPressureDB's specialist editorial team since 2015. Thanks to her extensive additional qualifications as a paramedic, first responder and in various therapy and emergency areas, she provides solid, practical and reliably reviewed information.
