How depression affects sexual desire

This article is written By Dr. Justin Lehmillera social psychologist, researcher, and award-winning educator. For more information:
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Depression is one of the most common mood disorders. estimate 16% of the population Experiencing it throughout their lives, it can have a wide-ranging impact on people’s lives, including their sex lives.

So what exactly is the connection between depression and sexual desire? The answer is surprisingly complex. It turns out that depression affects sexual desire in completely different ways for different people.

It is a common belief among most people that depression reduces sexual desire. And, more often than not, this is the case. However, for some people, depression is actually related to Increase sexual activity.

In this article, we’ll discuss some of the reasons why depression affects sexual desire differently. We’ll also look at how antidepressants affect libido and sexual function, and what to do when depression affects your libido.

Why depression reduces libido

Low libido is a common symptom of depression, and it can actually be a key indicator of diagnosis. But why exactly does depression often lower a person’s libido?

One of the key characteristics of depression is the inability to enjoy things you once enjoyed. this is called anhedonia. This is a fairly common effect, meaning you may enjoy or have less fun with your hobbies, work, or even sex. You may not be very interested in these things in general, or you may feel numb when you are involved in them.

But it’s not just anhedonia that reduces sexual desire. Another hallmark of depression is a lack of energy. The situation is further complicated by the fact that depression often leads to sleep problems such as insomnia. We know from research Good sleep and rest are crucial to feeling sexual desire, so it’s no surprise that if you’re constantly tired and don’t sleep well, your sexual desire can often be affected.

Depression can also cause you to view everything around you through a negative filter, including the way you view your partner. If you start to be more critical of your partner and connect with them less, this may reduce your desire for sex.

As you can see, there are multiple reasons (physical and psychological) for low libido that often co-occurs with depression.

Can depression cause high sexual desire?

Although depression often decreases sexual desire, for some people it appears to increase it. For example, research findings Depression is sometimes associated with hypersexuality and increased sexual risk-taking behavior. Most notably, this includes having more unprotected sex. So what’s going on?

It was once thought that whether people with depression experience increased or decreased sexual desire may be due to differences in depression severity. In particular, some researchers believe that less severe depression may be associated with more risk-taking behaviors and higher levels of sexual desire, while more severe depression may be associated with less sexual desire and activity. However, research does not support this idea. In fact, quite the opposite, data shows that higher levels of depression are actually associated with more sexually risky behavior.

Psychologists now believe that one of the key factors at play are the coping strategies used by people with depression. some people are externalizermeaning they cope by looking outward. People who are externalizing may seek out more sex or engage in more risky behaviors to distract themselves or temporarily relieve their pain. You can think of it as a form of self-regulation where hypersexuality becomes a mask for depression.

On the other hand, some people internalizermeaning they cope by looking inward and withdrawing from social interactions. Internalizing may reduce sexual desire and activity because not only does it lead to fewer opportunities for sex, but it also causes you to dwell on negative thoughts, which limits your ability to feel desire.

Antidepressants and libido

Another factor in how depression affects people’s sex lives is whether they take medications. For example, if someone is taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) such as Prozac, a well-known side effect of this medication is a decrease in libido. SSRIs can also cause many other sexual side effects, including difficulty achieving orgasm.

Serotonin antagonists and reuptake inhibitors (SARIs), such as trazodone, are also frequently used to treat depression. Although SARIs appear to cause fewer sexual side effects than some other antidepressants, sexual desire sometimes decreases when people take drugs like trazodone. At the same time, however, some people report an increased libido as a side effect of these drugs.

Genetics and Sexual Desire

Your genetics may also play a role in whether depression causes an increase or decrease in sexual desire. Some researchers believe that genes related to certain dopamine receptors may explain why some people with depression engage in riskier sexual behaviors.

Specifically, when your genes make you less sensitive to the effects of dopamine, often called the “happy chemical,” you may be more inclined to seek ways to compensate. Specifically, when feeling happy becomes more difficult (such as when you feel depressed), risk-taking behavior may become a form of self-medication. In other words, people who are less sensitive to dopamine may engage in more sensation-seeking activities as a means of enhancing the effects of this neurotransmitter and regulating mood.

Can depression cause ED?

Depression and antidepressant medications can affect not only libido but sexual function more broadly. For example, depression can lead to difficulties with sexual arousal, such as erectile dysfunction (ED). In fact, depressed men are about Twice more likely Experience ED.

ED is sometimes a cause of depression. The distress associated with recurring performance difficulties can sometimes trigger a wider mental health crisis. At the same time, however, depression may make it more difficult to concentrate during sex, which can lead to ED. Impaired sleep, negative views of your partner, and other symptoms of depression may also contribute to erection difficulties.

Additionally, ED and other arousal difficulties are sometimes a product of side effects of antidepressant medications, particularly in patients taking SSRIs.

Main points

Research shows a complex link between depression and sexual desire. The impact of depression on people’s intimate lives can be diverse.

If you find that depression is affecting your libido in a negative way, whether it’s causing a loss of libido or an increase in libido, your best option is to talk to your doctor or a licensed sex therapist. Fortunately, there are many effective treatments for depression, but it’s important to work with your provider to find a solution that’s right for you.

Also, talk to your doctor if you find that antidepressants are negatively affecting your libido. These effects may be lessened by lowering the dose, switching to a different medication, or adding another medication to counteract these effects.

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