The effect of exercise training on heart rate during coitus in the post myocardial infarction patient

The effect of interval exercise training on the peak coital heart rate in post myocardial infarction patients was studied. Sixteen men (ages 46-54) underwent a 16-week bicycle ergometer training program 12 to 15 weeks following their first myocardial infarction. Portable ECG tape recorders were used to record the ECG during coitus twice before and twice after the training program. The maximum minute oxygen consumption (VO2max) was measured in each subject during bicycle ergometer ECG examinations before and after the training program. A control group of six post myocardial infarction patients who were not trained was evaluated in the same manner. The exercise-trained group had an average increase in VO2max of 11.5%(2.7 to 3.0 L/min) and an average decrease in peak coital heart rate of 5.5%(127/min to 120/min). The control group demonstrated a 2% increase in VO2max and no significant change in peak coital heart rate. The increase in aerobic capacity (VO2max) and the consequent reduction in peak coital heart rate in our trained group suggests the potential value of exercise training in improving sexual function in the patient with angina during coitus.