Depression is a serious mental health condition that can affect how you feel, think, and behave. It’s often characterized by a persistent low mood, loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed, and changes in appetite or sleep patterns.
An estimated 3.8% of the world’s population suffers from depression, including 5.0% of adults and 5.7% of persons over the age of 60. Around 280 million individuals worldwide suffer from depression.
But did you know that depression can also negatively impact your sex drive? A low sex drive is one of the most common side effects of depression, but it doesn’t have to be permanent. Your doctor may be able to help you find ways to increase the frequency and quality of your sexual activity.
If you suspect that depression might be affecting your libido, here are three reasons why it could be happening:
Depression Is a Risk Factor for Erectile Dysfunction in Men
Depression is a risk factor for erectile dysfunction in men. Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in the United States, affecting one in every three American adults suffering from depression, according to new research from the Boston University School of Public Health. The study shows that the increased rate of depression lasted into 2021 and deteriorated.
Depression is also associated with sexual problems, including reduced sexual desire and problems with achieving and maintaining an erection. Depression can cause its own sexual difficulties, but it can also make existing sexual problems worse.
In addition to the common symptoms of depression, such as sadness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and feeling hopeless, some people with depression experience changes in their sex drive. Some individuals report having no interest in sex at all. Others may feel more interested in sex but have trouble reaching orgasm or maintaining an erection during intercourse.
If you are experiencing ED along with depression, testosterone replacement therapy may be able to help. Testosterone replacement therapy has been shown to improve sexual function in men who have low testosterone levels due to age or other factors like depression.
You can type a query like “testosterone replacement therapy near me” on Google. Choose the one with expertise and experience so that you don’t experience symptoms associated with low levels of this hormone.
Depression Can Lead to a Lack of Energy and Motivation
Depression can lead to a lack of energy and motivation, which can make it difficult to engage in sexual activity.
When you’re depressed, your brain is working against you, and that includes your sex drive. The hormones that govern your sex drive are closely linked with the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine, which are also involved in mood regulation. When your depression is at its worst, these hormones may not be producing enough of their own pleasure-producing chemicals.
Additionally, when you’re depressed, you may find that even if you have the energy to engage in sex, you don’t necessarily feel like it. If you’re in a relationship with someone who has depression and doesn’t understand how to deal with this issue, they may take offense or feel rejected by your lack of interest in sex.
Medication Side Effects
According to a study, major depressive patients as a whole had a larger risk of sexual dysfunction than 36% in the control group, with higher rates of marital conflict, unemployment, positive psychiatric family history, and lower monthly income.
Unfortunately, there are many side effects associated with antidepressant medications that can cause low libido. These include nausea and dizziness, which can make it difficult for people to engage in sexual activity, weight gain, which can make sex more uncomfortable, and insomnia, which can make it difficult to initiate sex or maintain an erection.
Thus, if you’re taking a pill for depression or anxiety, but it also makes you tired, it’s not too surprising that you might not be in the mood for sex. If this is happening to you, talk with your doctor about finding another option that won’t make you feel so sluggish all the time.
Wrapping Up
The main reason people with depression have low sex drives is because of the way depression affects your brain. Depression causes a chemical imbalance in the brain, and this leads to a decreased sex drive.
Depression is also a disease that can be isolating and cause you to withdraw from others, which can make it hard for you to find support for your sex drive issues.
If you are struggling with depression, speak with your doctor about ways that you can manage your symptoms. This may include taking medication or getting counseling. If these options are not right for you, consider other ways, such as exercise or journaling.