Women who are taking antidepressants and experiencing sexual dysfunction may benefit from regular moderately intense workouts, say researchers from the University of Texas in Austin.
Lack of sexual desire is fairly common among women taking antidepressants but is seldom talked about. The new study, published in Depression and Anxiety, says that engaging in exercise at the right time holds the key to a more satisfying sex life.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that one in 10 Americans aged 12 and over takes antidepressants and that women are 2.5 times as likely to take them as men.
They also point out the antidepressants are the third most commonly prescribed drug, with the rate of use increasing by nearly 400% during the period 1988 to 2008.
For the study, the researchers recruited 52 women who were taking antidepressants and had reported lower libido as a side effect. For the first 3 weeks, the women engaged in sexual activity with no exercise.
All the participants were then asked to add three 30-minute sessions of strength training and cardio exercise to their routine and engage in sexual activity three times a week. Women who exercised regularly were asked to add the three extra sessions to their regular routine.
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