Many people feel uncomfortable talking about sex, even with their doctor, but if your sex life has taken a hit for no apparent reason, there could be a simple solution: your meds.

Studies have shown that prescription medications may be responsible for as many as 25 percent of cases of sexual dysfunction, and some experts believe the true percentage is much higher.

Some of the most commonly prescribed drugs — and some most heavily advertised — can interfere with your sex life.

These medications are among those that can cause problems in your love life:

• Painkillers: Opioids, which include Vicodin, Percocet, and OxyContin, are used to treat chronic pain.

In addition to being addictive, studies have found they can lower libido in both men and women as well as lower testosterone levels and cause erectile dysfunction in men.

A 2013 study published in the journal Spine found that men who had taken opioids for at least four months increased their likelihood of seeking treatment for erectile dysfunction by 50 percent.

• Statins: A 2002 review of several studies found that statins, widely prescribed to lower cholesterol, may cause erectile dysfunction.

A 2010 study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found increased risk of ED and lower testosterone in patients taking statins.

The study found that men who took statins were twice as likely to have low testosterone as those who didn't take the drugs. Another study, this one published in a 2014 issue of Reproductive Toxicology, found that statins inhibit the production of testosterone.

• Antidepressants: These drugs, prescribed for anxiety and chronic pain as well as for depression, cause problems in several areas of sexual function and satisfaction because they block brain chemicals — serotonin, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine — that transmit signals between cells.

More than 40 percent of men who took Anafranil reported ejaculation failure, 15 percent claimed impotence, and at least 18 percent described decreased libido.

A common type of antidepressant, SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), which include Prozac and Zoloft, decrease sex drives and cause other forms of sexual dysfunction in both men and women.

• Blood pressure drugs. Several types of blood pressure medications can cause sexual side effects, but beta-blockers, such as Inderal and Toprol-XL, and diuretics (Lasix, Diuril) top the list for causing erectile problems.

Blood pressure medications less likely to cause problems include ACE inhibitors (Zestril, Lotensin, and Prinivil), calcium channel blockers (Diltiazem, Amlodipine), and ARBs. Also known as alpha blockers, ARBs actually seem to improve erectile dysfunction.

• Hair loss medications. Propecia, also known as finasteride, counteracts hair loss, but can decrease libido and cause erectile dysfunction.

One study found that almost four percent of men suffered sexual side effects.

Unfortunately, the side effects don't always go away when the drug is discontinued.

A study at George Washington University of patients who reported sexual problems after taking finasteride, found that side effects appeared gradually, and 96 percent of the men who participated in a follow-up study said they still suffered from sexual dysfunction a year after stopping the drug.

A cautionary note: If you think a drug is putting a damper on your sex life, don't discontinue it without speaking with your doctor.