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Antidepressant Use Tied to Reduced Genital Sensitivity

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Dec 19, 2024.

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, Dec. 19, 2024 -- Antidepressants may reduce genital sensitivity when compared with other medications, according to a study recently published in Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology.

Yassie Pirani, M.S.W., from the Canadian Post-SSRI/SNRI Sexual Dysfunction Society in Vancouver, British Columbia, and colleagues estimated the frequency of persistent posttreatment genital hypoesthesia (PPTGH) among past users of psychiatric treatments. The analysis included data from participants in UnACoRN, a survey of sexual and gender minority youth (aged 15 to 29 years) with a history of psychiatric drug use.

The researchers found that 574 of 2,179 survey participants reported genital hypoesthesia. Respondents were older and more likely to report male sex assignment at birth, history of hormonal therapy, and history of psychiatric drug use. Among antidepressant users, the frequency of PPTGH was 13.2 versus 0.9 percent among users of other medications (adjusted odds ratio, 14.2).

"Antidepressant discontinuation is strongly associated with PPTGH in the United States and Canada where selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors/serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor medications account for 80 percent of antidepressant prescriptions," the authors write. “We call for standardized international warnings and transparent, informed consent.”

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Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

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Posted December 2024

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