Sexual dysfunction from ssris

[learning124]

Hi, this is my first time posting on this forum :]
anyway, im 16 and ive been on srris since early this year. i have no side effects except from pretty bad sexual dysfunction. i know its from the ssris, as none of these happened before.
I have barely any feeling in my genitals. not numbness! just like, nothing happens down there during arousal or masturbation. I feel nothing while masturbating or while being aroused. because of that i cant orgasm. its like all of my sexual feelings have been turned down to 1%.

This is causing me a lot of frustration because i feel literally nothing!! i also cant put anything inside of me, and im slightly concered about vaginismus (although thats a seperate issue and idk if thats from the srris, its just sucks bc i cant even see if inserting things feels any better) im thinking about asking to speak to my gp and seeing what they can do?
i dont want to go off my srris, but this is making me kinda miserable. its so frustrating and i dont know what to do!
Would speaking to a GP be a good idea? and is there anything i can do for myself??

[mikky]

Hey there learning124, welcome to the boards!

Adjusting to a new medication can be very frustrating, and as it seems like you know, SSRIs can affect sexual "function." Meeting with your GP or a psychiatrist is a good idea, especially if you feel comfortable bringing this up. There's quite a few options that a prescriber might provide, like changing your dose, trying a different medication, and adding a medication that curbs side effects.
For some more information on vaginismus, I like this article: The FBI Files: Vaginismus. Sometimes, GPs (or PCPs here in the US) can be dismissive of issues around pelvic pain and sexual dysfunction, but these are real and important parts of our health!

[char]

Hi learning124! Adding to what Mikky said, I think it'd be helpful if you could address this to a psychologist or psychiatrist that specializes in sexuality--though, as they also mentioned, some professionals are unfortunately dismissive if not outright judgmental. Since masturbation involves the body and the mind, these worries and frustrations can definitely affect your ability to feel sexually aroused too.

Aside from getting medical help, do you think changing some of your masturbation habits could curb this issue for now? I'm talking about changing positions, fantasizing different things, using/not using lube, touching parts of your body that you don't usually touch, and so on. Perhaps our article on approaching masturbation with curiosity could be useful: Take a Self-Love Road Trip: Let Curiosity Guide Your Masturbation

Hope this helps! ^__^