High cholesterol isn’t really termed as a disease. But its presence could pose some serious health problems for you. High cholesterol reduces blood flow and has been associated with sexual disorders.
Dr. Michael Krychman, the executive director of the Southern California Center for Sexual Health and Survivorship, commented, “High cholesterol causes fatty deposits that clog blood vessels leading to the pelvic area. Men with high cholesterol sometimes end up with erectile dysfunction because they are not receiving enough blood flow to the penis. As soon as a man presents with erectile dysfunction, we begin measuring cholesterol and blood pressure”
He further added, “In the past we used to think if a woman is having sexual problems, she’s frigid, and she needs to go home and have a glass of wine and relax. However, there is emerging data associating underlying medical causes with female sexual dysfunction.”
Manifesting with or without symptoms, high cholesterol leads to a dangerous condition called atherosclerosis. This clogs arteries, reduces blood flow and increases the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Krychman revealed that high cholesterol and its blood flow-restricting mechanisms has been associated as a factor in male sexual dysfunction for long. Its role in female sexual disorders however has been revealed only recently. Additionally, he asserted that women experience painful intercourse and a lowered libido due to the fatty deposits from high cholesterol as it impacts lubrication.
Krychman further advised that men and women who had high cholesterol must consult a physician to rule out other causes affecting their sex lives. Doctors may recommend a cholesterol-lowering medication if necessary.
If cholesterol does turn out to be the cause for sexual health problems, doctors normally recommend dietary and lifestyle changes like quitting smoking and increasing exercise along with exclusion of saturated fat (found in fatty meat and eggs) from the diet.