Going to a Cleveland Clinic location? Sexual dysfunction is a problem that can happen during any phase of the sexual response cycle. It prevents you from experiencing satisfaction from sexual activity. The sexual response cycle traditionally includes excitement, plateau, orgasm and resolution.
Sexual Dysfunction and Medications: Exploring the Link
Prescription Medications Can Cause Sexual Dysfunction
RIS file. Commonly implicated drugs includ e antihypertensives, antidepressants, antipsychotics and antiandrogens. Understanding the potential for drug-induced sexual problems and their negative impact on adherence to treatment will enable the clinician to tailor treatments for the patient and his or her partner. Encouraging a discussion with the patient about sexual function and providing strategies to manage the problem are critical to good clinical care. Several classes of prescription drugs contribute to sexual dysfunction in men and women Table 1. This has been found with antihypertensives 4 and antipsychotics 5. The literature has emphasised male sexual problems with less data available on female or couple problems.
Indeed, studies show that prescription medications are responsible for as many as one of every four cases of sexual dysfunction — and this figure may understate the extent of the problem. How they can cause sexual dysfunction: Researchers say that by limiting the availability of cholesterol, a building block of hormones, these drugs likely interfere with the production of testosterone, estrogen and other sex hormones. Additionally, statins can cause rhabdomyolysis, a breakdown of muscle tissue, leading to joint pain and fatigue. A review of studies of statins and fibrates, published in , concluded that both classes of drugs may cause erectile dysfunction ED.
Try out PMC Labs and tell us what you think. Learn More. Hypertension is a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular and kidney disease, but treatment can substantially reduce risks. Many patients avoid antihypertensive medications due to fear of side effects. While associations between antihypertensives and sexual dysfunction in men have been documented, it remains unclear whether antihypertensives are associated with sexual dysfunction in women.