Would you rather have an erection when the time is right, or the reassurance that you won’t have a panic attack in the middle of your work presentation? An orgasm, or the ability to get out of bed tomorrow morning?
Some of the most important life- and sanity-saving medications can also have a dampening effect on your sex life, so these are the kinds of decisions that millions of Americans are forced to make every day.
Read on for your guide to the effects your medications are having on your sex life and what you can do about it.
An important caveat: I’m not a medical doctor. I’m a sex therapist. Since so many of my clients struggle with sexual side effects, I’ve done a lot of research on this topic, including speaking with Anita Batra, MD, Assistant Clinical Instructor, Internal Medicine, UCLA Health. All of the following information is not to be taken as medical advice; it’s meant to equip you to have a conversation with your doctor.
Anti-Anxiety/Anti-Depressant Medications
These classes of medications are notorious for causing sexual side effects. They’re also some of the most frustrating to deal with, since mental health can obviously be a life or death issue for so many people.
This group includes SSRIs, the most common class of antidepressants. Of SSRIs, Dr Batra says, “These medications are known to cause reduced libido, decreased lubrication and inability to orgasm in women, and erectile dysfunction and delayed ejaculation in men. Complicating matters is that depression itself can cause many of these symptoms.”
Meds: Ativan, Celexa, Cymbalta, Effexor, Klonopin, Lexapro, Pristiq, Prozac, Paxil, Valium, Wellbutrin, Xanax, Zoloft.
Potential side effects:
- Decreased sex drive
- Decreased or dulled sensations
- Decreased vaginal lubrication
- Erectile difficulties
- Difficulty orgasming
- Less pleasurable orgasms
What to talk to your doctor about:
Your body’s reaction to a particular medication can vary greatly, which is why it’s important to be in communication with your doctor. Dr. Batra says, “Your options include waiting to see if side effects improve over the next few weeks as you continue to take the medication, switching to a different SSRI, or trying a non-SSRI medication.”
Frustratingly, it’s also not studied nearly as often as it should be, given how many women take hormonal birth control. Birth control works by changing the hormone levels in your body. These same hormones play a role in your sex drive. A lot of women report that being on birth control decreases their sex drive. On the other hand, knowing you’re taking an effective step towards preventing pregnancy can increase your sex drive.
Meds: there are hundreds of different types of hormonal birth control. Available forms include the patch, the pill, the ring, and the shot.
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