A man in his 30s has described how taking SSRI antidepressants at age 22 left him with permanent genital numbness and an inability to achieve orgasm, a condition known as post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD). Despite stopping the medication after six months, the sexual side-effects have persisted for eight years, severely impacting his relationships and mental health.
He reported that within two days of starting the SSRI, his genitals felt numb and his libido gradually disappeared. After the depression lifted, he assumed his sexual function would return, but it never did. He has since had two partners, but his inability to physically enjoy sex caused strain; one partner left after saying, 'What's the point, you're not even enjoying it.'
Years later, when he needed antidepressants again, his GP dismissed his concerns, stating that 'SSRIs are very safe.' He refused to take them and suffered a severe depressive episode without medical help. He later discovered that PSSD is not uncommon, affecting men with symptoms including genital numbness, anorgasmia, and erectile dysfunction.
Now, he is coming to terms with the possibility that he may never experience sexual pleasure again, while hoping for a medical breakthrough. His story highlights a hidden crisis of intimacy and the need for greater awareness of long-term sexual side-effects from common antidepressants.
