Low sex drive on the pill?

[Canadadarlingg]

Me and my partner generally have low sex drives anyway (average for us would be 1/2 times a month), however recently I have had no drive whatsoever and actually find the thought of intimacy off-putting It's probably been 2 months since we were last "intimate" and I can tell it's affecting my OH. He says it's fine and would never get annoyed at me not wanting sex but I can tell he's slightly frustrated... I started antidepressants (sertraline) and the mini pill about 2 months ago which I think are to blame as the combined pill I was on before had the same effect, which was one of the reasons I came off them. Anyway, has anyone has this issue before and how did you overcome it? Will it come back on its own after a while? Would love some advice from other people who have been on these medicines

Don't know about setraline but the pill robbed me of my libido for a decade and I'm furious that no-one ever mentioned that to me as a side effect until I was nearly 30.

Anyway, if you're only having sex once or twice a month maybe you can use condoms instead. Or get a coil.

I was various pills from the age of 20 to 27 and had next to no sex drive while on any of them. I went off the pill almost a year ago and my sex drive came back immediately.

We tried condoms for a while but then I had a coil (Kyleena) inserted about six months ago. The coil has had its own side effects although these are settling now, and if hasn't affected my libido at all.

Same Wnikat, was a bit of a revelation when I stopped taking it and it does make me angry that I didn't know there was a link. Agree a barrier method seems more sensible for the sake of once or twice a month OP, maybe combine with natural contraception and try to time it for safer times? Nothing worked to reignite the urge while still on the pill though, coming off was literally like flicking a switch back to 'on', it was that noticeable!

Another here that found the pill left me 'dry' for lack of a better word and killed my libido. When I went off them, let's just say the dryness was gone!!

I also found going back on them after childbirth affected my milk supply.
Both of these things the doctors denied.

The pill killed my sex drive completely & made me quite numb all round. I was on it for well over a decade. I wish I stopped taking them sooner.

Worth trying coming off the pill and using condoms instead.

Your anti-depressant could be a cause, but obviously you need to keep going with that.

It's possibly the pill, but it could also very likely be the sertraline. Speak to your GP

The pill took my libido massively unfortunately. Once you are off it you know you are 'off' it shall we say 🤦🏻‍♀️

I have also been on Sertraline a couple of years back- whilst it didn't take away my libido it took away my um... ability to finish

The mini pill made me numb in my sex drive. Within 4 days of coming off it I was definitely back to my old self.

Wow I didn't know it was so common! I was on Microgynon (combined pill) for 5 years and when I came off I was so shocked that my sex drive came back and I felt so... normal! I was using "natural planning" methods before so I thought I'd try to be a bit safer by going back on the pill, but what's the point of being on contraceptives if they make you unable to do the thing you're on them for??😭

Wow. Me too. I can't believe this is a thing! It's a major thing, I think.

@Pugmumm

The pill took my libido massively unfortunately. Once you are off it you know you are 'off' it shall we say 🤦🏻‍♀️

I have also been on Sertraline a couple of years back- whilst it didn't take away my libido it took away my um... ability to finish

I have heard that sertraline can do that! I haven't experienced it yet (obviously I haven't been doing anything) but that sounds so frustrating

cerazette made my libido drop like a stone. I had bouts of hair loss on combined and mini pill, not sure if it's related but due to the hair loss I started taking Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid and I have to say its made a huge improvement to the hair loss and my libido picked up very quickly which was a bonus

Mini pill killed my libido too and yes wish I’d known it was a side effect

All SSRI antidepressants make it more difficult to achieve orgasm, and oral contraception can certainly lower libido.
I would suggest discussing it with your GP, OP, but don’t stop your Sertraline outright - your depression could relapse. If you come off it in future, your GP will advise on gradual dose reduction.
Stopping the Pill to see whether your libido improves would be reasonable, but do ensure you have alternative contraception organised first.

@Babdoc

All SSRI antidepressants make it more difficult to achieve orgasm, and oral contraception can certainly lower libido. I would suggest discussing it with your GP, OP, but don’t stop your Sertraline outright - your depression could relapse. If you come off it in future, your GP will advise on gradual dose reduction. Stopping the Pill to see whether your libido improves would be reasonable, but do ensure you have alternative contraception organised first.

To be honest I don't care if I can't orgasm but I would like my libido back even just a little so that I can be physically close to my OH again. I feel like it's actually gone in the opposite direction now like I am disgusted at the thought of sex and don't even enjoy the non-sexual intimacy like cuddling or kissing atm.

@Canadadarlingg it was frustrating, it does happen eventually if you really take your time but it was difficult to achieve it for me 🤦🏻‍♀️