Exercise reduces the sexual side effects of antidepressants in women, enhancing their sexual experience, a new study finds.
Antidepressants can have some sexual side effects in women. Researchers found that moderate exercise can significantly improve the sexual functioning of women taking such medications, according to a press release.
"These findings have important implications for public health, as exercise as a treatment for sexual side effects is accessible, cheap and does not add to burden of care," said Tierney Lorenz, an Indiana University post-doctoral research fellow who conducted the study.
Fifty two women who reported sexual side effects from antidepressants indulged in sexual activities without exercise for the first three weeks of the study. For the next three weeks of the study, participants engaged in exercise either before sexual activates or three weeks of exercise not timed to it. All participants were also made to indulge in sexual activities and 30 minutes of strength training and cardio exercise three times a week. For the last part of the experiment, all participants were asked to reverse roles.
Researchers found that indulging in 30 minutes of exercise before sexual activities reduces the effects of "libido-dulling drugs." Additional, exercising either before or after sexual activities improved orgasm function in all women, though women who exercised immediately before sex experienced significantly stronger libidos and overall improvements in sexual functioning.
These findings were based on self-reported sexual functioning, satisfaction and psychological health before and after each experiment.
"Considering the wide prevalence of antidepressant sexual side effects and the dearth of treatment options for those experiencing these distressing effects, this is an important step in treating sexual dysfunction among women who are taking antidepressants," Lorenz concluded.
