Amy Pearlman, MD

Urologist, Sexual Health Specialist

https://medicine.uiowa.edu/urology/profile/amy-pearlman

June 15, 2020 

To Whom This May Concern,

My name is Amy Pearlman and I am a urologist specializing in sexual health at a large academic institution. I have helped care for several young men with a history of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) use who are suffering from long-term genital anesthesia and erectile dysfunction that started after taking an SSRI(s). Though impossible to say for certain whether these side effects are a direct result of prior SSRI use, the timeline of SSRI treatment and subsequent sexual health symptoms, despite cessation of SSRI medication, suggests that the medication is, at least, associated with these symptoms.

Despite normal hormone levels and penile doppler ultrasounds, in addition to medical management with oral phosphodiesterase inhibitors and alpha blockers, and pelvic floor muscle therapy, I have been unsuccessful in finding a reliable treatment for these men. I absolutely believe, based on my training and experience seeing these patients, that long-term sexual side effects despite cessation of the SSRI(s) is a real phenomenon, even though we haven’t yet figured out the reason.

I’ve discussed my concerns with mental health providers and my patients who regularly follow with mental health providers, and I worry that the sexual health conversation is not routinely part of the mental health discussion, thus, I have no doubt that post-SSRI sexual dysfunction is more common that we currently appreciate.

In the recent weeks, I have had several men and women from across the country reach out to me with their concerns about suffering long-term sexual side effects related to prior SSRI use and, inspired by their stories, I have built a multi-institutional team of sexual health experts to help me study this underrecognized and under-appreciated disease.

As someone who has built her career treating people with sexual dysfunction, these men and women with whom I have talked are suffering from this life-altering condition. As a result, I feel strongly that additional research, resources, and medical attention are of utmost importance.

Amy Pearlman, MD