Are you on medication?

If you are suffering from sexual problems, these may relate to the sexual side effects of an antidepressant medication.

Most sexual side effects are reversible, which means that the changes are not permanent.

You may also find that your sexual problems do not appear until the medication has begun to lift your mood. Once you start to feel better, you will begin to regain the urge and energy to pursue an active sex life, but you may encounter sexual difficulties that you did not have before. And you may need professional help to overcome them.

Medicines can affect sexual arousal, erection and lubrication as well as sexual gratification, orgasm and ejaculation. Some of these changes can also be attributed to the illness itself. It is difficult to tell the difference.

Be careful not to draw any hasty conclusions. It is more important that you seek out professional help for sexual related problems.

Your options

You have a number of different options if your medication is causing sexual side effects:

• Seek advice from the doctor prescribing your medication - your condition permitting, you may be able to decrease your medication
• You may be able to take short breaks from your medication
• You may be able to take other medications to counter the side-effects

Psychological help

You can also get psychological help with changing your sexual habits. If you are having sexual problems, you can learn to compensate for any negative effects on your sexual performance.

For example, if you are having difficulty obtaining an erection, you can learn how to enhance your sexual stimulation or you can try new positions that make intercourse possible even if you are having trouble getting an erection.