I am 27 and have experienced a first psychotic episode. I used to enjoy being able to masturbate, but since then I have been unable to climax. I am wondering if my psychosis has caused any psychological damage, or if it will just take time to recover?
Antipsychotic medications can have several possible sexual side-effects, including the problem you are experiencing. Many neurotransmitters and hormones play a role in maintaining normal sexual function, but if the function of any of these is altered by antidepressant or antipsychotic drugs, sexual dysfunction can occur.
Sexual side-effects vary depending on the specific medication, but they include orgasmic and ejaculatory problems. Contact the person who prescribed your drugs, explain your symptoms and ask for a review. Your situation is common, and there are several ways to help you, so do not be afraid to ask. Additional medication might be prescribed to counter these sexual ill-effects, or some other kinds of treatment may be considered, such as lowering the dosage, changing to a different drug, delaying taking the drug until after sexual activity, or having a drug “holiday”.
Even if you did not receive antipsychotic or antidepressant drugs there is still an association between psychosis – especially when it is persistent – and sexual dysfunction, so ask your doctors about your specific case.
Pamela Stephenson Connolly is a psychotherapist who specialises in treating sexual disorders.
If you would like advice from Pamela Stephenson Connolly on sexual matters, send us a brief description of your concerns to private.lives@theguardian.com (please don’t send attachments).
