Depression and erectile dysfunction

Depression and erectile dysfunction (ED) are closely linked. Research shows that men with depression are more likely to have ED, and men with ED are more likely to report depressive symptoms, though this doesn't prove that one directly causes the other (Liu et al., 2018).

Some antidepressants can also affect sexual function. Because these conditions are so closely linked, researchers recommend that doctors ask men with ED about symptoms of depression, and men with depression about their sexual function (Liu et al., 2018). If you're not sure whether what you're experiencing counts as ED, the symptoms of erectile dysfunction are a good place to start.

How are depression and erectile dysfunction connected?

Liu et al. reviewed 49 publications and looked at the link between depression and ED in both directions. Depression was linked to higher odds of ED, and men with ED also had higher odds of depression (Liu et al., 2018). These findings show a clear link, but they don't prove that either condition directly causes the other.

Source for this table: (Liu et al., 2018).

An earlier study of men aged 40 to 70 also found that depressive symptoms were linked to higher odds of ED (Araujo et al., 1998).

The link can work in a few ways. Depression can lower your interest in sex, your energy, and your ability to enjoy things (WHO, 2026). Ongoing erection problems can then add stress and knock your confidence, which can make low mood worse. Physical health conditions like diabetes, and lifestyle factors like nicotine use, alcohol, and not being active, can also play a part in both (Nelson et al., 2026).

Depression and antidepressants are not the only things behind ED. For the full picture, the full range of causes behind ED covers the physical, psychological, and lifestyle factors involved.

Can antidepressants cause erectile dysfunction?

They can. Some antidepressants, especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are linked to sexual side effects, including a lower sex drive, erection difficulties, and delayed or absent orgasm (Nelson et al., 2026).

SSRIs increase serotonin signaling in the brain, which can affect desire, arousal, and orgasm. Researchers have suggested several possible pathways, including changes in chemicals that affect arousal and blood flow, but the exact reasons are complex and still being studied (Rosen et al., 1999).

Depression itself is also linked to sexual problems, so erection difficulties during antidepressant treatment aren't always caused by the medicine (Nelson et al., 2026). Your doctor can help work out whether your symptoms started before or after treatment began.

What to do if your antidepressant is affecting your erections

Talk to the doctor who prescribed it. Some antidepressants are less likely to cause sexual side effects than others (Nelson et al., 2026). Your doctor can help you explore alternatives while considering how well your current medicine is treating your depression.

Don't stop taking antidepressants without speaking to your doctor first. Stopping suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms, like trouble sleeping, unsteadiness, and anxiety, so doctors usually reduce the dose slowly over several weeks (NHS, n.d.).

Depending on your symptoms and overall health, your doctor may suggest adjusting your dose, switching to an antidepressant with fewer sexual side effects, or a medicine to help with erections (Mayo Clinic, 2024). Erection medicines like sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil have been shown to help men with ED linked to antidepressants (Taylor et al., 2013).

Sexual side effects can improve after a change in medicine, but in some cases they continue after treatment stops. European medicine regulators asked for this to be added to the information for SSRIs and similar antidepressants in 2019 (Medsafe, 2019). Tell your doctor if your symptoms continue, so they can look into other causes and options.

Mojo focuses on the psychological factors that may contribute to ED, like performance anxiety and sexual confidence, and can be used alongside the right medical care. Our guide to psychological approaches to treating ED explains what that support looks like.

Should you be screened for both?

Often, yes. Because depression and ED often happen together, researchers recommend that doctors ask patients with either condition about symptoms of the other (Liu et al., 2018). Spotting both can help your doctor understand what's contributing and choose treatment that supports both your mental and sexual health.

If you're wondering what that involves, how doctors diagnose ED explains the tests and questions your doctor is likely to use.

The psychological pathway behind ED and low mood

Depression and antidepressants are not the whole story. Stress, performance anxiety, and worry about erections can also contribute to sexual difficulties, even in men who don't have a diagnosed mental health condition.

Treating depression may also improve sexual function, especially when low mood is contributing to erection difficulties (Nelson et al., 2026). ED may still need its own assessment or treatment, though. Both conditions are common, and help is available for each.

When to get support

If you've been feeling low or losing interest in things you usually enjoy for two weeks or longer, speak to a healthcare professional (WHO, 2026). You should also get advice if erection problems keep happening or are affecting your well-being. You don't have to work out which came first before you ask for help.

If you're struggling to cope or thinking about harming yourself, get help right away:

• US: Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, any time of day or night.
• UK: Call Samaritans free on 116 123, day or night, 365 days a year.
• Other countries: Find a Helpline lists crisis helplines by country.
• In an emergency: If you're in immediate danger, call your local emergency number (911 in the US, 999 in the UK).

For ongoing support with low mood in the US, Mental Health America has information and support for depression.

The Erection Reset, built with Dr. Shannon Chavez, provides educational and psychological support focused on performance anxiety and sexual confidence. It's not a treatment for depression, and it doesn't replace professional medical or mental health care.