Effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (ssris) therapy on the female sexual response cycle of women with major depression

Objective. Depression and its treatment may influence all aspects of the female sexual function from desire to sexual satisfaction. This study aimed to examine the components of the female sexual response cycle (SRC) of women with major depression treated with Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors. Materials and Methods. The correlations structure of the items of the SRC's phases (i.e. desire, arousal, orgasm, satisfaction and pain) in a validated Malay version of Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) was determined using principal component analysis (PCA), with varimax rotation method. The number of factors obtained was decided using Kaiser's criteria. Factor loadings using PCA with varimax rotation divided the sexual domains into three components based on Kaiser's criteria. Results. Sexual desire, sexual arousal, lubrication and orgasm were highly correlated, to form a "sexual drive" construct. Sexual satisfaction and pain made up the second and third components, respectively. SSRIs may affect the components of the SRC causing highly overlapping constructs of sexual drive including orgasm. Recognizing this helps strategizing the treatment approach of female sexual dysfunction in depression particularly in relation to the role of SSRIs.