Sexual dysfunction secondary to depressive disorders

Human sexuality has received less systematic study and is less well understood than other aspects of mental and physical health. Although depression itself, apart from medication, is generally believed to be associated with sexual dysfunction, the few existing studies report wide discrepancies with regard to frequency, gender, and quality of sexual dysfunction. Loss of libido is frequently and consistently associated with major depression. Moreover, sexual dysfunction secondary to depression or other factors is often mistaken for that caused by antidepressant medication. Although antidepressants have long been associated with sexual dysfunction, the precise nature and magnitude of sexual side effects have not been fully appreciated. This article will review the literature on sexual dysfunction associated with unmedicated depression and offer a guide for the clinician evaluating and treating depressed patients with sexual problems.