It’s really about you and what you want.Experiencing low female sex drive, whether the change is sudden or gradual, can be frustrating for women, and that frustration can understandably lead to a search for a solution. “If it’s causing you distress and you’re not satisfied with your sex life because of a medication you’re on, it’s important to speak up. “Absolutely advocate for yourself and talk to your doctor about it,” she says. Gur stresses that you shouldn’t just try to move on if having a lower libido truly bothers you and affects your life. Gur says, especially if it impacts the way you feel about your body or your relationships.Ībove all, Dr. Tossing in a lowered sex drive doesn’t feel great for many people, Dr. If you’re taking SSRIs for a mental health condition, odds are high that you’re already dealing with some tough symptoms. 10 What should you do if you believe your antidepressants are tanking your sex drive? One possible reason why: Boosting serotonin may inhibit desire because it can interfere with your body’s ability to become aroused. “It’s a very complex system, but the increase in serotonin from SSRIs may be related to sexual dysfunction,” she says. Low serotonin levels can set the stage for depression for some people-and SSRIs, in particular, work by boosting serotonin in the brain. Gur notes, but the association between certain antidepressants and low libido seems to be related to serotonin, a neurotransmitter that acts as a mood stabilizer that’s why it’s often referred to as a “feel-good” chemical. Sexual arousal and function are pretty complicated because every human operates differently physically and emotionally, Dr. “Some people will have zero problems, and some will be severely affected.”įor example, one 2014 meta-analysis of 63 studies that included more than 26,000 patients treated with antidepressants found that people who took bupropion (Wellbutrin)-a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI)-had a “statistically significantly lower risk” of sexual dysfunction compared to placebo, while those who took escitalopram (Lexapro) and paroxetine (Paxil)-both SSRIs-had a “statistically significantly higher risk” of sexual dysfunction. “It is not universal,” Mary Jane Minkin, MD, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive sciences at the Yale School of Medicine, tells SELF. 6 Research even points to genetics as a potential factor. More research is needed to understand this distinction, but it seems to depend on the type of antidepressant a person is taking, the dosage of the medication, and their individual response to it. Some people notice a lower libido when taking the meds, while others may experience improvement in their sexual desire. Taking antidepressants may complicate things if your sex drive is already struggling, but the effects can vary. People with vaginas are more likely to deal with this than people with penises, but it can affect anyone of any gender identity. Some research suggests that anywhere between 50 to 70% of people diagnosed with depression may also deal with sexual dysfunction-a medical term that refers to persistent and distressing issues with sexual response, desire, orgasm, or pain. “It’s always tricky to know: Is the sexual dysfunction because of the depression itself or the drug?” “Depression in and of itself can cause sexual dysfunction,” 5 Lauren Streicher, MD, a board-certified ob-gyn and the founder and medical director of the Northwestern Medicine Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause, tells SELF. Research shows there’s an association between taking certain antidepressants and having a lowered sex drive, but this can be a little complicated to parse from person to person. There’s a link between antidepressants and low libido, but the reason why is a bit unclear. Here’s what you should know if your meds are, well, killing the mood. That doesn’t mean you don’t have options, though. Experts stress you shouldn’t quit taking antidepressants suddenly for any reason-low libido included.
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