Depression affects every part of daily life, including sex. It curbs sex drive, yet sex can boost your mood and is important for relationships. And some depression medicines can limit your libido.

Depression can have a profound impact on sexual relationships. It can hamper our ability to feel emotionally secure with our partner, and it can rob us of our desire for and enjoyment of sexual connection.

Both men and women can experience difficulties with initiating and enjoying sex because of depression. Still, there are some differences in the ways depression affects women and men.

WOMEN

A higher rate of depression in women is connected to hormonal changes. This is why a woman’s risk of depression may increase :

• before and during menstruation
• after childbirth
• when juggling work, home, and family life
• during perimenopause and menopause

As women age, physical factors can make sex less enjoyable (and sometimes even painful). Changes in the vaginal wall can make sexual activity unpleasant. Also, lower levels of estrogen can disrupt natural lubrication. Such factors can be depressing for women if they do not seek help to find relief.

MEN

Anxiety, low self-esteem, and guilt are common causes of erectile dysfunction. These are all symptoms of depression, but such issues can also occur naturally with stress and age. Men are also more likely to lose interest in activities during depression. This could also mean that men might not find sex as appealing.

In men, antidepressants are directly related to impotence. Delayed orgasm or premature ejaculation may occur, too.

In both men and women, having troubles with sexual health can worsen feelings of worthlessness and other depression symptoms. This in turn can cause a vicious cycle of both worsening depression and sexual dysfunction.

The symptoms of depression vary in frequency and severity for each person. Generally, the more severe of depression you have, the more problems you’re likely to have with sexual health.

Sexual desire is cultivated in the brain, and sex organs rely on chemicals in the brain to promote libido as well as the changes in blood flow needed for the sexual act. When depression disrupts these brain chemicals, it can make sexual activity more difficult. This may be worse in older adults who already have occasional problems with sexual dysfunction.