It’s no secret that anti-depressants can come with sexual side effects. Between 30 and 70 percent of patients managing depression with medication report experiencing some kind of sexual problem, but the phrase "sexual side effects" can be evasive. Most medical literature uses this wording without specifically explaining what can happen to the patient’s body, and this can be frustrating for people who want to know what’s in store for them when trying out a new drug. It can also be confusing for people who may not recognize that the experience they are having is a side effect of medication.
Today we’re unraveling the mystery of sexual side effects and talking about 5 specific ways antidepressants might impact your sex life. Knowing what to look for can help you know if your antidepressants are affecting you and give you some tools to communicate with your doctor. So, let’s have a look: So, there you go folks, that’s what they mean when they say "sexual" side effects. If you experience any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor. Your sex life doesn’t have to suffer for the sake of your treatment. (Read When Sex Dries Up, How to Get Your Sexy Back for more on how to deal with libido-killers like antidepressants).
JoEllen is a writer, speaker, researcher and mental health advocate whose work explores the impact of depression on sex and relationships. Since 2012 she has written about sex, mental health, and how none of us are broken on her award-winning site The Redhead Bedhead. JoEllen has led workshops nationwide on sexual communication, navigating consent, having casual sex kindly, and dating as an introvert. She has toured sex shops, spoken at length on dildos, and even started a sex school but she is happiest and most effective when writing and speaking on behalf of quiet people who have sex. Check out her video series on attending conferences as an introvert and her extensive writing on sex and depression. JoEllen has spoken at Clark College, University of Chicago, Woodhull's Sexual Freedom Summit, and the Playground ConferenceJoEllen's book The Monster Under the Bed: Sex, Depression & The Conversation We Aren’t Having is now available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook.