Science knows this for sure: there are a lot possible causes depression. And it is one of them sex discontent.
For example, research in International Journal of Impotence Researchinvolving more than 27,000 men and women between the ages of 40 and 80 found that participants with sexual dysfunction were more likely to report depressive symptoms. (1)
In a similar study, in publ Journal of Sexual MedicineLow 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 side effects that can it gets worse depression
The scientific literature linking antidepressants to sexual problems is strong.
A piece of paper Drugs, health care and patient safety showed that six out of ten people taking antidepressants develop sexual dysfunction (3), and 60 percent may go undiagnosed.
In one study cited in this article, 93 percent of men and women taking the tricyclic antidepressant Anafranil (clomipramine) suffered from partial or complete anorgasmia. orgasm.
In one of the most recent studies on antidepressants and sexual dysfunction, in BMC Psychiatry In April 2025, researchers found that 89% of women and 85% of men on antidepressants suffer from sexual dysfunction. Talk about depression. (4)
Types of sexual side effects caused by antidepressants include: decreased sexual desire (low libido); less sexual excitement (and even complete loss of sensation in the penis or vagina); reduced or delayed orgasm; erectile dysfunction; and painful ejaculation.
There is also a side effect of this side effect: Patients may stop taking antidepressants. In fact, some studies show that sexual dysfunction is the most common reason people stop using what could otherwise be an effective treatment.
In one study, 42% of men and 15% of women admitted that they had stopped taking their antidepressants. medicine in some cases during their treatment due to sexual side effects. (5)
Serotonin high, dopamine low
why Do antidepressants cause sexual dysfunction? No one knows for sure. But the possible mechanism of action is as follows:
Most antidepressants—especially SSRIs—work by increasing brain levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin. It’s good for the mood. But there is a possible downside.
Serotonin suppresses dopaminethe neurotransmitter most closely related to sexual desire, arousal, and orgasm. In other words, the very mechanism that relieves depression can weaken the brain’s sexual reward system.
But as I discuss in my new book Functional Psychiatry for Depression –Finally I hope: A personalized, whole-body plan to find and correct the root causes of your depression– there is a simple plant therapy which shows promise in controlling or reversing sexual dysfunction with antidepressants.
Pine bark extract: Supplement with sexual attraction
In a study conducted in International physiology In 2019, researchers in Eastern Europe studied 72 people with depression who were taking Lexapro. (6)
They were divided into two groups: 37 people received Lexap and Pycnogenol, pine bark extract; 35 continued Lexapro only. After a month of treatment, those taking Pycnogenol had significantly less sexual dysfunction.
Researchers hypothesize that pine bark extract works by improving circulation and reducing inflammation.
And pine bark extract can help with more than just decreased 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, warm glownight sweats and vaginal dryness. (7)
Try other antidepressants
Education in 2025 BMC Psychiatry As I mentioned above, it has been shown that not all antidepressants are equal in terms of sexual effects.
Researchers found that women using Wellbutrin (bupropion) “experienced lower rates of sexual dysfunction” than those on SSRIs or SNRIs.
“This highlights the importance of considering … type of medication in the treatment and management of psychotropic-related sexual disorders,” they concluded.
Bottom line for patients: If you’re thinking about stopping an antidepressant because of sexual side effects, talk to your doctor about the possibility of taking an antidepressant. no SSRIs or SNRIs.
Final thoughts
Sexual side effects of antidepressants are common, but they are not inevitable and often manageable.
The first step is to bring up the subject of antidepressants and sexual dysfunction with your patient – as patients rarely disclose this information. If the patient suffers 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 improve sexual function, such as regular exercise, a diet emphasizing whole, minimally processed foods, a regular sleep schedule, and the use of a stress management techniques such as deep breathing or meditation on memory.
Depression should be treated improve does not diminish the quality of life, one of its most meaningful pleasures.
