Science knows this for sure: there is a lot possible reasons depression. And one of them sexual protest.
For example, a study International Journal of Impotence ResearchIncluding more than 27,000 men and women between the ages of 40 and 80, they found that participants with sexual dysfunction were more likely to report depressive symptoms. (1)
Published in a similar study Journal of Sexual Medicinelower sexual satisfaction was associated with more depressive symptoms. (2)
And here’s what makes these findings so troubling: sexual dysfunction is a common side effect antidepressants. In other words, antidepressants have potential side effects it gets worse depression.
The scientific literature linking antidepressants to sexual problems is strong.
A piece of paper Medicines, healthcare and patient safety showed that six out of ten people taking an antidepressant develop sexual dysfunction (3), and 60 percent may be an underestimate.
In one study cited in the article, 93 percent of men and women who took the tricyclic antidepressant Anafranil (clomipramine) suffered from partial or complete anorgasmia. orgasm.
Published in one of the most recent studies on antidepressants and sexual dysfunction BMC Psychiatry In April 2025, researchers found that 89 percent of women and 85 percent of men who took antidepressants suffered from sexual dysfunction. Talk about depression. (4)
Types of sexual side effects caused by antidepressants include: less sexual desire (low libido); less sexual excitement (and even a complete loss of sensation in the penis or vagina); decreased or delayed orgasm; erectile dysfunction; and painful ejaculation.
These side effects also have a side effect: patients may stop taking antidepressants. In fact, some studies show that sexual dysfunction is the most common reason people stop seeking effective treatment.
In one study, 42 percent of men and 15 percent of women admitted that they had stopped taking antidepressants. drug due to sexual side effects, at some point during their treatment. (5)
Serotonin increases, dopamine decreases
Why Do antidepressants cause sexual dysfunction? No one knows for sure. But a possible mechanism of action looks like this:
Most antidepressants, especially SSRIs, work by increasing levels of the brain neurotransmitter serotonin. It’s great for the mood. But there is a possible downside.
Suppresses serotonin dopaminethe neurotransmitter most closely associated with sexual desire, arousal, and orgasm. In other words, the coping mechanism of depression may be to dampen the brain’s sexual reward system.
But as I discuss in my new book Functional Psychiatry for Depression –Finally hopeful: A personalized, whole-body plan to find and correct the root causes of depression– there is a simple plant therapy It shows promise in controlling or reversing antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction.
Pine Bark Extract: A Sex Appeal Supplement
In a study published in Physiology International In 2019, researchers in Eastern Europe studied 72 people with depression who took Lexapro. (6)
They were divided into two groups: 37 received Lexapro and Pycnogenol, pine bark extract; 35 continued to take Lexapro alone. After one month of treatment, those taking Pycnogenol had less sexual dysfunction.
Researchers hypothesize that pine bark extract works by improving circulation and reducing inflammation.
And pine bark extract may not only help with low libido; it can help improve mood. In an eight-week study of 38 women with menopausal symptoms, Pycnogenol effectively treated loss of libido—and mood swings, hot flashesnight sweats and vaginal dryness. (7)
Try a different antidepressant
Study in 2025 BMC Psychiatry As I mentioned above, it has been shown that not all depressants are created equal when it comes to causing sexual side effects.
Researchers found that women who used Wellbutrin (bupropion) “experienced lower rates of sexual dysfunction” compared to SSRIs or SNRIs.
“This highlights the importance of considering drug type when addressing and managing psychotropic-related sexual dysfunction,” they concluded.
Summary for Patients: If you want to stop taking an antidepressant because of sexual side effects, talk to your doctor about taking an antidepressant. it’s not SSRIs or SNRIs.
Final thoughts
Sexual side effects of antidepressants are common, but they are not inevitable and can often be managed.
The first step is to discuss the topic of antidepressants and sexual dysfunction with your patient, as patients rarely volunteer this information. If the patient is suffering from sexual dysfunction, consider adjusting the medication or adding a supportive treatment such as pine bark extract. And don’t forget to discuss lifestyle factors that science shows can help improve sexual function, such as regular exercise, a diet emphasizing whole, minimally processed foods, a regular sleep schedule, and a stress management deep breathing or similar techniques mental meditation.
Depression should be treated improve the quality of life does not diminish one of its most meaningful pleasures.
