Impact of heart defects on women’s sex lives underestimated

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A fulfilling sex life can significantly enhance quality of life. A team of researchers from the German Competence Network for Congenital Heart Defects has studied the degree to which congenital heart defects impact on women’s sexuality. Their study of 536 women leads the scientists to conclude that the role of heart defects in the sex life of women sufferers has been underestimated until now.

On average, women with severe congenital heart defects and women with cyanotic anomalies have sexual intercourse for the first time at the age of 18, which is not much later than the overall average age of 17.5 for all women. Nine per cent of the women questioned complained of physical symptoms related to their heart defect before, during or after intercourse. Women with severe heart defects, women whose heart defect imposes a higher level of physical restriction and women with cyanotic anomalies were much more likely to report problems such as shortness of breath, exhaustion and arrhythmia.

It is especially important for sufferers to be able to discuss these issues at length and without prejudice. This is why the researchers are keen to for doctors to give more consideration to matters of sexual health in their discussions with female patients.