Can Blood Thinners Cause Erectile Dysfunction
A person with heart or blood vessel problems may be at risk of blood clots. This condition involves platelets, proteins, and cells in the blood sticking together to form a blood clot.
A blood clot can lead to blockage in the blood vessels and may interfere with the body's blood circulation process.
People experiencing blood clotting problems are generally prescribed blood thinners. These drugs reduce the formation of blood clots and prevent the risk factor of blood clotting.
On average, more than 2 million people in the US take blood thinners regularly. It makes these medicines one of the most common prescription medicines among the peoples of the world.
Erectile dysfunction or impotence is also a common sexual problem among adult males. The condition can appear at any age, and there can be much lead causing for Ed. Also, this sexual condition may arise due to certain medical conditions or the use of certain medications.
Let's find out if blood thinners are among the medicines that can cause a sexual problem like ED.
Are blood thinners among medications that cause Erectile dysfunction?
No accurate scientific research or study shows that blood thinners cause or lead to Ed. However, some cardiovascular health problems for which doctors prescribe blood thinners are usually linked to Ed.
This article has given possible links between blood thinners, cardiovascular diseases, and issues affecting your Erectile function. Also, we have covered some of the best possible treatment options that one can consider choosing for those who have been affected by Ed. These treatments may help you improve your erection and prevent sexual faults of Ed.
Links between blood thinners, cardiovascular diseases, and Erectile dysfunction
There can be various leading causes for Erectile dysfunction. It may include physical and mental health problems or sometimes both. Also, certain habits can be leading causes of Ed, like smoking, poor diet, being physically inactive, etc.
Sometimes, certain medical conditions and side effects of some medications may cause Ed in some males.
However, some medicines used to treat high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, sleep issues, or stomach prostate cancer may have an increased risk of erectile dysfunction in men.
So, if you're prescribed blood thinners and suffer from ED, Then it's common to think your medications can be responsible for it. But, currently, no reliable evidence suggests that blood thinners cause male impotence. There is no evidence that it makes the existing Erectile dysfunction problem more severe.
In fact, in some studies, certain blood thinners medications such as aspirin improved erection and sexual function in men with ED, especially in those men whose cause of ED was underlying heart problems.
However, you must remember that blood thinners are often prescribed with other medicines to treat your heart and vascular problems.
So, these medications may increase the risk of erectile dysfunction in some men. Drugs used for heart failure, hypertension, and other cardiovascular issues are linked to an increased risk of impotence. It includes medications such as:
- Beta-blockers
- Thiazides diuretics
- Alpha-blockers
These medications may have potential side effects causing Ed or making pre-existing Ed more severe or noticeable.
Also, some cholesterol-lowering medicines are commonly used to treat cardiovascular health issues. These medications are also seen as a contributor to Ed in some males.
In conclusion, a person prescribed an anticoagulant or antiplatelet blood thinner with other heart or blood pressure medicine can experience symptoms of ED. They can have symptoms of Ed even if blood thinners do not directly induce them.
Another thing to remember is that some health conditions are also linked to Ed, in which blood thinners are used. The physical health issues in which blood thinners are generally prescribed, and cause Ed are:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Blood vessel problems
- Atherosclerosis(clogged blood vessels and arteries)
- Type-2 diabetes
- Injury affecting your penis or its surrounding area
- Multiple sclerosis(MS)
Ed usually appears due to poor blood flow around the penis. Following this, health issues can affect your blood flow throughout the body and result in poor erectile function. So, these health issues may cause the inability to get or keep the erection you need during sex.
So, if you have one or several risk factors for Ed, you may Ed while taking a blood thinner even if this medicine is not affecting your erectile function.
Treatment options for Erectile dysfunction
Prescription medicines for male impotence
In some cases, Ed can be well managed with prescription Ed medications. These oral medications come from the class of drugs known as PDE-5 inhibitors. Ed drugs expand the blood vessels around the penis and improve blood flow to the erect penis during the urge for sex.
Some of the popular ED medications available in the market are:
These Ed medications are available online; if one has Ed, one can take them after a valid prescription. Also, before taking these ED drugs, one must discuss all the medicines and health conditions that they already have with a doctor.
Inform your doctor if you take blood thinners before taking any Ed pill. Patients taking nitrates are generally recommended to avoid taking Ed drugs along with it. Interaction among these medications can cause severe falls in blood pressure.
Also, Discover: The best ways to cure ED problem
Vacuum pump for Erectile dysfunction
If medications do not suit or fail to work for you, your doctor may recommend a vacuum pump. The pump is placed over the penis, and it gently forces the penis to become erect. A bulb is squeezed to remove air from this vacuum pump. It helps to trap the blood to maintain an erection and help a man in getting an erection.
Some other treatments for Ed, such as penile injections and penile implantation, like surgical methods. People whose leading cause of their Ed is mental health issues may require psychology and sex therapies. And if Ed is caused due to hormonal imbalance, they may need hormonal replacement therapy to treat the condition.
