Spontaneous Remission of SSRI-induced Orgasm Delay

Background: Orgasm delay is a common side effect of SSRIs, causing negative influence on patients’ compliance and quality of life. A possible strategy for the management of SSRI-induced orgasm delay is waiting for tolerance to develop. The authors studied the natural course of SSRI-induced orgasm delay over a period of 6 months.
Methods: One hundred eight patients having been started on SSRIs were included in an open, naturalistic study. Sexual dysfunction was assessed at monthly intervals using a structured interview.
Results: Twenty-six patients developed clinically relevant SSRI-induced orgasm delay. Eight patients (30.8 %) reported complete remission of sexual dysfunction, while four patients (15.4 %) noted a marked improvement. Four patients (15.4 %) continued to describe severe orgasm delay at the end of the observation period. High severity of orgasm delay significantly correlated with lack of remission.
Conclusions: A significant proportion of patients, especially those with mild to moderate orgasm delay, develop tolerance within 6 months.

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