Sexual intercourse involves mild to medium severe physical exertion of the cardiovascular system. The risk of sudden death associated with sexual activity is very low, and so is the risk of developing infarction. In patients with pre-existing ischaemic heart disease sexual activity is safe in case of controlled angina with tolerance of a medium-grade load on examination on a treadmill. After acute myocardial infarction with a non-complicated course sexual activity can be resumed in a familiar environment with a familiar partner after about 10 days. In stabilized anginous patients sildenafil administration is safe assuming that the patient does not take long-acting nitrates and does not need frequent administration of short-term acting nitrates. It is important to avoid nitrates also in the treatment of acute ischaemic conditions in these patients. At present we do not possess adequate information on the clinical importance of influencing sildenafil elimination by competition with other substances excreted by the same route.

Keywords: Erectile Dysfunction /complications/; Humans; Male; Myocardial Ischemia /complications/; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors /adverse effects/; Piperazines /adverse effects/; Purines; Risk Factors; Sildenafil Citrate; Sulfones