Women's Sexual Wellness Supplements

Certain medications may have an effect on your sex drive as well.

Similar questions

Males and females alike have reported increased sex drive after eating them. But again, there’s no evidence to support these claims. Capsaicin, the active component of chili peppers, offers several health benefits, including improved sex drive. One study did conclude that capsaicin improved sexual behavior in male rats, but there’s no research that suggests the same might be true for humans. While saw palmetto is often recommended to boost libido in both males and females, there’s little evidence to support this.

Lifestyle And Health

In fact, a 2009 systematic review concluded the opposite. After looking at the data from multiple studies, researchers listed decreased libido as a potential side effect of saw palmetto usage. However, little is known about saw palmetto use by women. Chasteberry, also known as Vitex agnus-castus or monk’s pepper, is a popular herbal supplement used for many female reproductive health concerns. While research suggests that chasteberry may improve the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, there’s no scientific evidence supporting its potential benefits for female sex drive. If you’re taking antidepressants and have low libido, talk to your doctor about the pink pill for women how you can manage any potential side effects. You may even be able to adjust your dosage.

Just make sure you don’t stop taking them without talking to your healthcare provider first.

A woman’s perspective and personal journey

A study concluded that fenugreek may be an effective treatment to increase female sex drive. However, most of the current research on fenugreek covers male sexual health. You can find fenugreek in grocery stores, spice shops, and online. It’s available in the form of: While not backed by any evidence, these foods and herbs have historically been used to boost libido. Plus, you likely already have many of them in your kitchen, making them easy to try.

Is there an equivalent of Viagra for women?

However, despite its popularity, a 2006 study concluded that chocolate consumption didn’t have a significant difference on the female sex drive. Some recommend coffee as an aphrodisiac, but — while coffee can help boost your mood — there’s no research to support this claim. While honey is a good source of antioxidants, there’s no scientific evidence that suggests it boosts libido. Strawberries are another popular option that some folks swear by, despite a lack of evidence. The original Casanova is said to have started each day by eating 50 raw oysters. Exercise is a fantastic way to increase your libido. One study concluded that resistance training may increase sexual desire and excitement in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

• Some pills contain pheromones to attract sexual interest instantly.
• Certain vitamins, like B6 and B12, may improve mood and vitality quickly.
• Nitric oxide boosters can increase blood flow and arousal rapidly.
• Herbal stimulant blends are marketed for immediate mood enhancement.
• Quick-acting mood enhancers include L-arginine supplements.
• Aromatherapy sprays claim to set a sensual mood instantly.

Plus, exercise is a great way to reduce stress, which we already know can help boost your sex drive. While additional research is needed, a 2008 review concluded that acupuncture may be a potential method for boosting sex drive in women. Plus, acupuncture may help reduce anxiety, stress, and insomnia, all of which can be underlying causes of a decrease in your libido.

If you’re not quite ready to try acupuncture, massage is a great alternative. A 2008 study showed that simply touching your partner can help reduce stress, meaning a quick massage might help boost your libido. Believe it or not, learning to be more mindful and present can have a major effect on your sex drive. Mindfulness is a wonderful tool for reducing stress, and research suggests that mindfulness therapy significantly improves sexual desire in women. Yoga offers countless benefits, and improving your sex life may be one of them. A 2010 study concluded that 12 weeks of yoga practice lead to significant improvement in all areas of the Female Sexual Function Index. Areas measured included desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain during sexual activity. Try incorporating these yoga moves into your regular yoga practice to help you reduce stress and increase your libido. You can even get your partner involved, too.

While fluctuations in your libido are perfectly normal, consider talking to your healthcare provider or a sex therapist if it becomes an ongoing issue. The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) provides a national directory of providers. You may be dealing with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), now known as female sexual interest/arousal disorder.

4. Maca

Another study emphasized the connection between sleep quality and sexual function, concluding that shorter sleep duration and insomnia were both associated with decreased sexual function. When it comes to boosting your libido, getting enough sleep is a great first step. Stress can have a negative effect on a lot of aspects of your health, including your sex drive. A recent study found a correlation between job stress and female sexual dissatisfaction, meaning any extra stress may be dropping your libido. Taking active steps to reduce your stress levels may help boost your sex drive. It can affect anyone, and it may be a sign of an underlying medical condition. Common signs and symptoms of HSDD include: little to no interest in sexual activity Libido is affected by many different things, like hormones, life experiences, and medications. Mental and physical health conditions can change your sex drive too. Some people naturally have a low sex drive. But if it bothers you, treatment can help. Treatment for low libido includes medications, therapy, and lifestyle changes. Your libido — also known as your “sex drive” — is your overall interest in sex. It varies from person to person and throughout life. It includes your desire to have sex, your sexual thoughts and fantasies, and what sex means to you personally. After all, sex drive is affected by many different things — like life events, hormones, and your mental and physical health, as well as the medications you take.

And it’s no secret that relationships and past experiences play a role too. A low libido means that you’re less interested in sex — or maybe not interested at all.

My experience with natural sex medicine

Another commonly recommend aphrodisiac, figs are a rich source of vitamins and minerals. But the jury is out on their effect on libido. Some believe bananas can boost libido, but again, there’s little scientific evidence to support this. However, bananas are a great source of potassium, which aids in testosterone synthesis. While testosterone is typically seen as a male hormone, females also have testosterone, and low testosterone can negatively affect sex drive.

Where to find it

Potatoes are another popular aphrodisiac, despite the lack of scientific evidence. However, both potatoes and sweet potatoes are full of potassium, meaning they offer the same health benefits as bananas. While it’s generally safe to experiment with natural, food-based aphrodisiacs, there are a few supplements you’ll want to steer clear of. Despite their popularity, yohimbine (or yohimbe) supplements are potentially harmful. Not only are they banned in several countries, but one study discovered that most brands didn’t label the amount of yohimbine correctly or list any of the known adverse side effects on the label. Here are some things you might notice if your sex drive is low: You have little to no interest in any type of sexual activity, including masturbation.

• Sildenafil (Viagra) can increase blood flow, potentially boosting arousal.
• Tadalafil (Cialis) works longer, providing hours of improved mood and desire.
• Levitra (Vardenafil) may help enhance sensitivity and desire quickly.
• Injectables like alprostadil increase blood flow instantly for arousal.
• Herbal supplements like ginseng are believed to boost energy and mood.
• OTC products claim to enhance libido through various ingredients.

You have little to no interest in any type of sexual activity, including masturbation. You don’t have very many sexual thoughts or erotic fantasies. You don’t get a lot of pleasure out of having sex. Not being interested in sex (asexuality) can be totally normal. But, for many people, sexual intimacy is an enjoyable part of life. And it can be startling and upsetting to have your sex drive dip or completely disappear. Low libido in women is very common. Studies have shown that about 1 in 3 women in the U.S. experience a low sex drive at some point in their lives.

• Black cohosh is sometimes used to increase libido temporarily.
• Yohimbine is a supplement linked to improved blood flow and desire.
• Maca root is popular for boosting energy and sexual desire swiftly.
• Ginkgo biloba is thought to improve circulation and arousal quickly.
• Damiana herb is traditionally used as an aphrodisiac for immediate effect.
• Horny goat weed may support increased arousal within an hour.

Low libido is especially common during perimenopause and menopause. But hormonal changes at other times of life can also cause a low sex drive — as can medications, relationship conflicts, work-related stress, and more. Low libido in women can be caused by many different factors. Some of these are related to health issues and your body, including: Other factors are linked to your mental health and relationships: All of these can impact how you feel about sex — mentally, physically, and emotionally. And your libido can be affected by more than one thing too. Problems with sex can also become a vicious cycle. For example, if you’re experiencing pain during intercourse, it can make you less interested in having sex. And being less interested in sex can lead to stress or relationship issues — which might decrease your libido even more. If you’re not satisfied with your sex life, there are many things you can do to make a change.

Episode Transcript

Spanish fly is another aphrodisiac that should be avoided due to its potentially dangerous side effects. Common side effects of Spanish fly include difficulty swallowing, nausea, vomiting blood, painful urination, and blood in the urine. Keep in mind that most of what you can find today isn’t actually Spanish fly. In most cases, it’s a mixture of other herbs that don’t have proven benefits. Different than regular honey, “mad honey” has been contaminated with grayanotoxins.

Bufo toad

While mad honey has historically been used as an aphrodisiac, side effects can include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, convulsions, headache, palpitations, and more. An ingredient in the potentially lethal “love stone” aphrodisiac, as well as the Chinese medication Looking for other ways to boost your libido? There are plenty of options for increasing your sex drive beyond the use of aphrodisiacs or medical intervention. Sleep is incredibly important for your health — including your sex drive. One study suggested that longer sleep duration was correlated with greater sexual desire the next day among women. Some of these you can do on your own. However, it's always a good idea to check in with a healthcare professional first. First, we’ll run through treatments for low libido that aren’t medications.