Shrinking sex drive
Question
My girlfriend is on Prozac at the moment to help with her OCD. I have tried to be supportive and think I've shown commitment that other people might not have done. The thing is, her sex drive has completely vanished since she started taking medication and although I understand this is a potential side effect it's left me feeling rejected.
We used to have a brilliant sex life and although it's disappeared my sex drive hasn't. I don't want to go elsewhere but I also don't know what to do. How do I get past this so we can still be together?
Answer
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can be very debilitating for people who are experiencing it, but it can also affect their friends, family and partners. Supporting someone with OCD can be very challenging.
As you may know OCD has two elements: obsessions and compulsions. It is based around obsessive thought patterns and rituals in conjunction with compulsions to carry out physical rituals. It can be exhausting for someone trying to cope with these patterns on a regular basis and they can have a significant impact on a person's everyday life, leaving them feeling anxious.
Your girlfriend's loss of sex drive could be a potential side effect of Prozac. Prozac is a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant and is commonly prescribed to treat OCD and the depression and anxiety that can often accompany it. There are often side effects and some of these are related to libido and ability to orgasm. For more detailed information about Prozac side effects, you or your girlfriend may like to call the UKPPG Psychiatric Medication helpline on 020 7919 2999. But there could be many other reasons for your girlfriend's depleted sex drive. Dealing with a mental health issue like OCD can have an impact on many areas of life that could, in turn, effect someone's sex drive and sexual confidence.
Have you discussed with your girlfriend your concerns about the impact her loss of sex drive is having on your relationship? She might also be concerned about the effect Prozac may be having and she could discuss this with her local doctor (GP). Sometimes, changing the dose, the time the drug is taken or trying another medication can reduce these kinds of side effects. Or there may be other underlying issues affecting her sex drive. By talking things through, you may find you're both able to express your feelings and gain a greater understanding.
Your girlfriend may also like to bear in mind that medication can be combined with psychological or behavioural therapies such as psychotherapy or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). This can provide substantial benefits to the way in which OCD can be managed. Her GP will be able to refer her accordingly, but if she would like to seek a therapist independently, the British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists (BACP) has a very comprehensive website, including a search engine to locate local therapists.
There are also some herbal remedies available. For example, Damiana and Ginkgo Biloba have been proven to have both an antidepressant effect and to improve libido. Herbal medicines can be very powerful and should not be used without advice from a trained herbalist but you can find out how to contact a registered practitioner in this Mind factsheet. Also, please note, combining or replacing Prozac with a herbal remedy could have a major impact on your girlfriend and she should carefully consider the pros and cons and talk over her treatment with her GP and the herbalist. It is not advisable to stop taking Prozac suddenly, as 'discontinuation' symptoms can occur. These can cause considerable discomfort and an increase in symptoms.
If either you or your girlfriend should want to talk to someone about her OCD and the impact it is having on both of you, SANELINE is available on 0845 767 8000 and is open to anyone experiencing a mental health issue. You can both talk through any feelings and worries you have with them.
Updated: 06/06/2011
Question answered by SANE
