The Effects Your Medications Are Having on Your Sex Life And What to Do About It – Introduction
Medications are a standard part of everyday life, and approximately 70% of Americans have used at least one prescription drug within the past month (CDC, 2020). Although drugs can have an immense impact on life quality by regulating illness and alleviating symptoms, they can have unintended effects such as affecting sexual function and craving. This article will discuss how drugs influence a person’s sexual life and provide ways to prevent these effects.
Medications That Can Affect Sexual Function
Many medicines have the potential to affect sexual function and desire. The most common forms of drugs that can interfere with sex life include:
1. Blood Pressure Medications
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a health problem that plagues millions of people. Beta blockers and diuretics can effectively lower blood pressure, but they can also have unwanted sexual side effects. Patients can experience decreased sexual desire, orgasm issues, or even erectile dysfunction. Some may not adhere to their medication regimen because of the anxiety surrounding these side effects, which is a risk for their health.
2. Antidepressants
The antidepressants commonly used in mental health management are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). While such medications can enhance mood and wellbeing, they are infamous for altering sexual function. Most people complain of low libido, lack of orgasm, and male erectile dysfunction. The patient should discuss these risks with their medical professionals, and other therapies and protocols could reduce those risks.
3. Antipsychotics
Antipsychotic drugs, used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar illness, can impact sexual function. Popular drugs of this class, such as haloperidol and thioridazine, can reduce sexual desire, orgasm issues, and erectile dysfunction in men. Since mental health conditions are a complex field, their effects on sexuality can complicate the patient’s life. Users on these drugs should discuss their experiences with their physicians to see if changes or supports might be available.
4. Hormonal Medications
Men and women alike use hormone treatments, such as hormonal contraceptives and hormone replacement therapies. Yet they can affect sexual desire, especially in women who might feel dry vaginas and lose sexual desire. In the case of women using hormonal birth control, educating and speaking with your healthcare provider can create more tailored interventions so that contraceptives do not compromise sexual health.
5. Chemotherapy
The chemotherapy regimen used to combat cancer is often effective, but it is also highly toxic. Chemotherapy can have an enormous impact on sex during and after treatment, with many patients experiencing diminished sexual desire, vaginal dryness (in women) and erectile dysfunction (in men). Chemotherapy patients should receive an individualized care plan that includes sexual health support because intimacy can be key to emotional stability during a trying period.
These are just a handful of the medications that affect sexual function. This doesn’t mean that every user of these medications will experience sexual side effects, and not everyone will experience side effects with one drug but not another.
Mitigating the Effects of Medications on Sexual Function
If you’re experiencing sexual side effects from a drug, be sure to inform your doctor about your worries. They can potentially reduce your medication dose, switch you to a different medication, or suggest other treatment options. For now, here are some measures to reduce medication’s impact on sexual functioning:
Open Communication with Your Partner
The biggest weapon in your arsenal is communication. Talking to your partner about your issues and emotions can lessen some of the stress associated with sexual dysfunction. Being clear not only gives your partner an opportunity to read and feel comfortable with you, but also takes a safe step towards intimacy. Perhaps a confession can allow you to work together to explore new forms of intimate contact, which fuels the relationship in the face of drug side effects.
Practice Relaxation Techniques
Stress and anxiety can increase the sexual side-effects of prescription medications. Relaxation practices like yoga, meditation and breathing can greatly reduce these emotions. These techniques de-stress not only your body but your mind, and thus enable you to engage in sexual intercourse with more ease. Perhaps you can experiment with mindfulness practices, which can encourage you to focus more on the present moment and to take a better view of your body and sexuality.
Stay Physically Active
It’s incredibly important to health, both physically and sexually. Regular activity boosts blood circulation and makes you feel better, and your metabolism improves. Even if it’s simply walking every day, lifting weights or playing on a team, exercising regularly can serve as a powerful antidote to some of the sexual side effects of medication. Aim for 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise each week, or the equivalent of moderate and vigorous exercise combined with strength training at least twice a week.
Positive Lifestyle Changes
The environment can have a huge effect on sex function. If applicable, you might want to consider quitting smoking, drinking less or spending time on a healthy diet that includes fruit, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains. This, in turn, will enhance circulation and hormones, thereby improving one’s libido and thus sex functioning. Moreover, a healthy weight also ensures good sexual health because too much fat in the body causes erectile dysfunction, hormone imbalance, and other sexual dysfunctions.
Professional Help
If you’re stressed, depressed, or feeling emotional issues of any kind as a result of your sex acts, a professional counselor will do you plenty of good. The patient is even willing, in therapy, to make a decision about how to resolve the issue, and begins to feel confident in their sexual well-being. Cognitive-behavioural therapy has also helped them learn to become more conscious of the toxic way of thinking that leads them towards their sexuality.
Conclusion: The Effects Your Medications Are Having on Your Sex Life And What to Do About It
Meds can have serious consequences for one’s sexual life, delivering a variety of sexual side-effects. If you’re experiencing sexual side effects from a medication, tell your doctor about your fears. You may be able to have them lower your dose, switch you to a new medication, or suggest other therapies. In the meantime, open communication with your partner, exercising and visiting a mental health professional could prevent drugs from disrupting sexual function.
