(097) SSRI-Associated Sexual Side Effects: How Are Women Impacted?
Authors: Piazza M , Gesselman A , Garcia J 
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Approaches to the treatment of sexual difficulties, especially female sexual difficulties, have garnered greater attention in recent years. Some feminist sexuality scholars have cautioned that trends in biomedicine to bolster pharmaceutical interventions for sexual problems may have resulted in unnecessary medicalization of sexual difficulties. Furthermore, medicalization of other health problems can lead to iatrogenic sexual difficulties.

Objective

In the current study, we explore issues of antidepressant medication use and associated sexual side effects, focusing on the ways that women are impacted differently than men. We also address the lack of consensus in biomedicine around selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) mechanisms of action and implications for sexual and romantic side effects. Based on the role of serotonin in sexual desire and romantic interest, and existing findings indicating impacts of antidepressant use on sexual and relationship function, we investigate the impacts of SSRI treatment on various sexual and romantic ‘side effects’ for women as compared to men.

Methods

We conducted a secondary analysis using three waves of data from an annual online survey. All three waves included data from over 5,000 single (unmarried and unpartnered) U.S. adults ages 18 and older, and one of the three waves included additional data from over 1,000 married U.S adults. Participants answered questions about their romantic and sexual behavior, SSRI use, and background information.

Results

Compared to men, women were more than twice as likely to be taking SSRI medication. Across the sample, 43% reported experiencing a sexual/romantic side effect from their SSRI, including 38% of women and 51% of men. However, our data showed a significant difference between single and married participants, with 53% of married women reporting sexual/romantic side effects compared to 36% of single women. Married women were also more likely to report these side effects compared to single men. Additionally, among single women, there were different patterns of side effects and impacts than among single men. For example, we found SSRI use to be significantly associated with more interest in sexual exploration for men but not women.

Conclusions

Although sexual difficulties can sometimes be influenced by depression itself, existing research shows that SSRIs affect sexual functioning in ways that are unrelated to depressive symptomology. Women, who have greater levels of antidepressant use than men, experience SSRI-associated sexual side effects differently than men. Our results reflect this pattern in a large national sample of U.S. adults. Our findings raise questions about how women taking SSRIs may experience their relationships, especially considering that married women were more likely to report sexual/romantic side effects than single women. There are additional questions raised about potential challenges women may face in relationships with partners who are experiencing SSRI-associated side effects. For example, women may experience greater sexual pressure if they have a male partner with an increased desire for sexual exploration resulting from SSRI treatment. Overall, our findings highlight the need for further attention to sexual and romantic side effects associated with SSRI use and a more nuanced approach to these issues in research and in clinical settings.

Disclosure

Yes, this is sponsored by industry/sponsor: Match Group

Clarification: Industry funding only - investigator initiated and executed study

Any of the authors act as a consultant, employee or shareholder of an industry for: Match Group