Estimating the Risk of Irreversible Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction Due to Serotonergic Antidepressants

This study conducted a 19-year retrospective cohort analysis with 12,302 males to assess the risk of erectile dysfunction (ED) and post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD) associated with serotonergic antidepressants (SAs). The results indicated that SAs significantly increase the risk of ED, with a crude odds ratio of 3.6 and an adjusted odds ratio of 3.2. The risk of PSSD was found to be 0.46%, with a prevalence of 4.3 per 100,000. These findings highlight a small but significant risk of irreversible ED linked to SAs, emphasizing the importance of informed consent and consideration of alternative treatments in managing patients' sexual health.