Doctors and patients have long known that antidepressants can lead to sexual problems. This can include a lack of libido, unenjoyable orgasms, and numb genitals. More than half of people taking these drugs report experiencing these side effects.
Now, a small but vocal group of patients is speaking out about severe sexual problems that have persisted long after they stopped taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the most commonly prescribed type of antidepressants. These long-term effects have proven to be devastating for many, leaving them unable to enjoy sex or sustain romantic relationships.
Despite claims that such sexual problems are rare, researchers are beginning to quantify how many people are affected by this condition, known as post-SSRI sexual dysfunction. However, the chronic condition remains contested among some psychiatrists, who believe that the symptoms may be attributed to recurrence of depression.
One study reported that about one in 216 men who stopped taking SSRIs were later prescribed medications for erectile dysfunction, which is a rate at least three times higher than that of the general population. These findings suggest that persistent sexual dysfunction caused by SSRIs is a hypothesis that requires further investigation.
The prevalence of the condition is still not fully understood, but patients have been speaking out about their experiences online and advocating for more awareness of post-SSRI sexual dysfunction. Despite the recent recognition of this condition by regulators, many individuals feel neglected and struggle to find support for their chronic sexual problems.
