Sexual wellbeing
Can antidepressants make it harder to orgasm?
Why some antidepressants can affect orgasm and desire, and how to raise it safely with your prescriber.
Short answer
Yes. Some antidepressants can affect desire, arousal, erection, ejaculation, or orgasm. Depression and anxiety themselves can also affect sex, so it is not always possible to identify one cause alone. Do not stop or change an antidepressant on your own. Speak with the clinician who prescribes it so they can consider your symptoms and overall mental health safely.
This is a recognised side effect, not a personal failure
Sexual changes can be frustrating and can affect relationships, but they are common enough to be worth mentioning. You do not need to wait until a medication review to bring it up.
Give your clinician the useful details
Say what changed, when it started, whether you can become aroused but not orgasm, and whether there are other symptoms. Mention other medicines, alcohol or drug use, medical conditions, and relationship stress only to the extent you are comfortable.
Do not make sudden medication changes
Stopping psychiatric medication abruptly can be unsafe and may worsen your mental health. Your prescriber can discuss options that take both wellbeing and sexual side effects seriously.
Sources and further reading
- Mayo Clinic: Premature ejaculation, diagnosis and treatment (accessed August 2026)
- ACOG: Your sexual health (accessed August 2026)