You often hear that a drug can impact your sex drive.

But most doctors don’t seem to mention it when prescribing antibiotics.

Did yours?

 

Some themes that have come up in session include:

used Antibiotics

Client experiences

Can antibiotics prescribed for urinary tract infections or thrush cause you to start experiencing pain during and/or after sex?

The answer appears to be yes.

 

pain during sex

Female Clients

I have met a number of people who describe sex as being normal and painless prior to using their prescribed medication.

 

Numbness during sex

Male client

Early 40s

Used antibiotics for over a month

‘My penis feels numb now. I can’t feel as much in the head.”

 

METRONIDAZOLE

peripheral neuropathy

Link between the use of metronidazole and peripheral neuropathy when used for longer than 4 weeks

 

RESEARCH

Metronidazole: high dose and long duration risks peripheral neuropathy

 

  • There is a well-established link between the use of metronidazole and peripheral neuropathy, which can be irreversible   > >

 

  • Peripheral neuropathy is characterised by symptoms such as numbness, loss of sensation and neuropathic pain   > >

NITROFURANTOIN

Nitrofurantoin toxicity can peripheral neuropathy

Nitrofurantoin is an antibiotic used mainly in the treatment of urinary tract infections.

 

  • Skin biopsies revealed distinctive morphologic changes with clustered terminal nerve swellings without evidence of nerve fiber degeneration > >

 

  • Toxicity can cause peripheral neuropathy – Adverse effects > >