Fifteen to 20% of hypertensive patients suffer from erectile dysfunction prior to initiation of antihypertensive therapy and the frequency of erectile dysfunction increases to 40–50% after initiation of antihypertensive therapy.
Clinical studies conducted according to a rigorous methodology have shown that diuretics are the main cause of erectile dysfunction. Antihypertensive combination therapy is an aggravating factor.
Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors can be used in hypertensive patients with erectile insufficiency in the absence of any contraindications.