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36 Neurological evaluation of genital numbness in patients reporting enduring sexual dysfunction following SSRI exposure

jnnp · 2025-11-26 · canonical JSON source

10 visible annotations · policy: published · automated confidence ≥ 75.00%

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Background and aims Post SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD) is characterised by new onset sexual dysfunction whilst taking SSRI antidepressants, that persists after discontinuing the medication and recently diagnostic criteria have been published. Patients may present to neurology services for evaluation of genital sensory loss. This study aims to phenotype neurological and pelvic neurophysiology findings in patients with PSSD.Methods In this cross-sectional observational study of consecutive patients presenting with genital numbness between May 2019 to May 2024, history, neurological examination and pelvic neurophysiology test findings of patients meeting PSSD diagnostic criteria were reviewed.Results Of 55 patients presenting with genital numbness, 9 (mean age 35 [20-47], 8 males) met PSSD criteria. Sensory loss was more pronounced on the ventral penis surface, particularly glans and distal/mid shaft. Pinprick (55.5% vs 56.5%,p=1.00) and von Frey hair (66.6% vs 43.5%,p=0.281) abnormalities were similar in frequency compared to patients with genital numbness without PSSD. PSSD patients more frequently experienced ejaculatory dysfunction (75% vs 20%,p=0.046). Neurophysiology tests of genital sensory innervation were normal in most.Conclusion PSSD-related genital numbness patients have normal neurophysiology findings, and the mismatch with examination findings suggests central impairment of erogenous sensitivity. Ejaculatory dysfunction is more frequent in PSSD-related genital numbness.zchaifv@ucl.ac.uk