Let's talk low libido

However, many antidepressants can lower sex drive. For both men and women, relationship counseling or sex therapy is sometimes recommended and helpful. If you experience a low libido and natural remedies don’t seem to help, it’s important to see your doctor sooner than later to make sure you don’t have a more serious underlying physical or psychological issue. It’s also important to know the side effects of any and all medications you currently take to make sure they’re not causing your low libido. If you see a health care professional and seek advice on how to increase libido, tadalis oral jelly hopefully he or she will suggest some healthy lifestyle choices. Low libido is a problem affecting a large portion of the population, although the embarrassing nature of it can make it a difficult topic to broach with your health care professional. However, your diet affects your sex drive.

Risky business

If a woman has a low libido and has already gone through menopause, vaginal estrogen creams are commonly recommended to treat vaginal dryness. Testosterone therapy in the form of pills or patches is libido for women also conventionally recommended for women. If a medical condition like a fibroid is causing sexual issues, it might likely be recommended that you surgically remove the fibroid(s). If your birth control pill is lowering your desire for sex, your doctor might prescribe a non-hormonal option. Other conventional treatments for low libido in both men and women include a change in medication or the prescribing of antidepressants if depression is believed to be the cause. There are foods that directly impact libido, either positively or negatively, and supplements/essential oils that can benefit those struggling to work up the desire for sexual intimacy. Every year before Valentine's Day, we get a surge of people asking us what supplements they can take to crank up their libido and boost their testosterone. In other words, they’re looking for evidence-based aphrodisiacs. Named after the Greek goddess of love and pleasure, Aphroditē, aphrodisiacs are supplements marketed to improve your sex life. Even more than with other supplement categories, it takes research to figure out which might work, and which are a waste of money. Libido essentially means “sex drive”, and when sex drive goes down, most people don’t know exactly why. Whether the root cause is stress, hormonal issues, or a variety of other factors, supplements are often sought to give some immediate boost. Specifically, Panax ginseng, tribulus terrestris, zinc, horny goat weed, B-complex vitamins, fenugreek, L-arginine, maca, dehydroepiandrosterone (aka DHEA), ginkgo biloba, and yohimbine have all been advertised as “libido-enhancing” supplements.

But such supplements rarely undergo rigorous scientific examination.

Best Vitamins for Men’s Sexual Health

Regular exercise also enhances sexual satisfaction indirectly. A study of men and women shows that small bouts of exercise can drastically improve sexual functioning. Also, try yoga, which can help combat fatigue and stress and reduce depression and anxiety. If you smoke, here is yet another reason to stop smoking. Smoking not only decreases sexual desire and satisfaction, but it also decreases fertility.

How Effective Is Anastrozole?

According to one group of researchers, smokers reported having sex less than six times a month while nonsmoking men were having sex nearly twice as often. There can be a physical or psychological cause of low libido, or it could be both. Fifteen percent of men and up to 32 percent of women report lacking sexual interest for a period of several months throughout the previous year, which means this is clearly an important issue for a large number of people. The two clinically diagnosable conditions for low libido are hypoactive sexual desire disorder and sexual aversion disorder. The latter of these is a more drastic problem and is characterized as an “extreme aversion to and avoidance of” all sexual behavior.

Key Takeaways

Many people do turn to conventional treatment when it comes to how to increase libido, so let’s see what some of the common low libido treatments are in the conventional medicine world. For men, testosterone replacement therapy is a common conventional treatment, although it’s controversial. Some common options typically include sildenafil (VIAGRA®) and tadalafil (CIALIS®). Many men might think that a prescription drug to induce erection is the simple answer, but be aware that these drugs do not boost your libido — they only help you to get and keep erections. A forced erection will not get to the root of your low or nonexistent sex drive, and these drugs are not without concerning side effects, like memory problems, back pain, loss of hearing and many more. Though some of the supplements listed below have evidence to support their effects, even the very best options have only been tested in a handful of studies. While many supplements are marketed as “libido-enhancers”, few have enough research behind them to support such claims.

1. Some antidepressants

Research shows that yohimbe may be capable of increasing blood flow to the penis or vagina. It also increases nerve impulses that play a role in orgasm. Men on antidepressants may benefit from ginkgo biloba supplementation throughout the four phases of sexual response: desire, excitement, orgasm and resolution. Ginkgo biloba has some impact on libido, as it helps blood flow more efficiently and relaxes smooth muscle tissue. A systematic review of randomized clinical trials found that in three different trials Korean red ginseng had the ability to boost sexual arousal in menopausal women, increase well-being and general health while decreasing depressive symptoms, and better improve menopause symptoms on the Kupperman index and Menopausal Rating Scale compared to the placebo group.

HCG Side Effects

Maca root may be able to improve sexual dysfunction and boost sex drive in women. One study looked at the effects of maca root on postmenopausal women with sexual dysfunction caused by the use of antidepressants. Compared to a placebo, maca root was able to significantly improve sexual function. If you have iron deficiency anemia, then supplementing with iron might help your libido. Look for iron chelate, which is generally well-absorbed, and take it with a vitamin C source.

Vitamin D

Iron supplements can cause constipation — therefore, it’s important to confirm with your health care professional that your anemia is being caused by iron deficiency. Using ashwagandha in supplement form may help women treat female sexual distress. A pilot study published in BioMed Research International set out to determine the efficacy and safety of 300 milligrams of ashwagandha root extract supplementation twice daily for eight weeks for improving sexual function in 50 healthy women. Researchers found that the treatment group displayed significantly higher improvements, compared to placebo, in sexual function scores, specifically in areas of arousal, lubrication and orgasm. For similar reasons it works for men, gingko biloba works as a way for how to increase libido in women as well. People often assume that in order to increase libido you must increase testosterone.

• Combining medications should only be done under medical supervision.
• Side effects of ED pills include headaches and nasal congestion.
• Natural supplements may cause allergic reactions in some users.
• Overuse of stimulant-based products can lead to health risks.
• Consultation with a healthcare provider ensures safe treatment.
• Monitoring for adverse effects is vital when using ED pills.
• Not all pills work equally; efficacy varies among individuals.
• Some herbal supplements may interact with medications.
• Regular medical check-ups improve safety and effectiveness.
• Using counterfeit medications risks serious health complications.
• Ensuring dosage adherence prevents unnecessary side effects.
• Report any unexpected reactions to your doctor promptly.

While testosterone level does play a role in libido, it is not the only factor. Take for instance the herb maca (Lepidium meyenii), which can affect your libido yet have no effect on testosterone levels.

• Viagra (sildenafil) enhances blood flow to improve erections and libido in men.
• Cialis (tadalafil) increases erectile strength and duration, boosting sex drive.
• Levitra (vardenafil) helps treat erectile dysfunction and may improve libido.
• Spedra (avanafil) quickly improves blood flow, supporting increased desire.
• Testosterone therapy boosts hormone levels, enhancing male sex drive.
• DHEA supplements may increase libido by raising androgen levels.
• Yohimbine is a natural supplement believed to improve erectile function and desire.
• Horny goat weed (Epimedium) is used for improving blood flow and libido.
• Maca root is an herbal supplement reputed to increase sexual desire.
• L-arginine supports nitric oxide production, aiding erections and arousal.
• Ginseng may enhance energy and libido, improving overall sexual function.
• Kangaroo hormone complex combines multiple herbs for male libido enhancement.

Vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, vitamin D, and zinc can help support healthy testosterone levels, but do not necessarily boost them if intake is already sufficient. If you are looking for a primer on increasing your testosterone levels, check out our infographic on what testosterone is, and how you can increase it naturally.

Ensuring sufficient intake of magnesium, vitamin D, and zinc will help support testosterone production.

• Tadalafil is used repeatedly in ED meds to help sustain longer erections.
• Sildenafil provides quick onset effects, useful for spontaneous sexual activity.
• Vardenafil offers similar benefits with a slightly different duration profile.
• Natural supplements like Tribulus terrestris may boost testosterone and desire.
• Fenugreek extract may support libido by increasing testosterone levels.
• Damania (Dynamine) is a supplement targeting mental alertness and sexual arousal.
• L-citrulline boosts nitric oxide, promoting better erections and desire.
• Ashwagandha is an adaptogen that can reduce stress and enhance libido.
• Muira puama is a traditional herb linked to increased sexual activity.
• Zinc supplementation may help restore testosterone levels and libido.
• Niacin (Vitamin B3) can improve blood circulation for better sexual function.
• Sarsaparilla root is used in traditional medicine to boost male libido.

And while optimal testosterone levels can help improve libido, that is far from the only factor at play.

How Vitamin Levels Affect Testosterone

The most significant result so far has been a potential for treating sexual enhancement pills sexual dysfunction induced by psychotropic drugs used to treat depression — specifically SSRIs. The first open clinical trial, ginkgo biloba significantly improved sexual function (especially in women) for those unable to perform due to SSRI side effects. The oil from vitex (also referred to frequently as “chasteberry”) is another great option for reducing menopausal libido problems in women. Some of its other benefits include alleviation of PMS symptoms, increased fertility, clearing acne and promotion of lactation in breastfeeding moms. Wondering how to increase libido with essential oils?

Is there an equivalent of Viagra for women?

There are various essential oils for libido that may help increase sexual and mood arousal and act as natural aphrodisiacs. Using jasmine oil as part of a libido-boosting aromatherapy blend may help increase behavioral arousal, alertness and positive mood. If you’re a woman struggling with low libido due to menopause and issues with mood, clary sage oil might be a good option. It may help improve the signs of depression and regulate cortisol levels, supporting more healthy libido. Neroli essential oil (used aromatically) has been shown to help relieve menopausal symptoms, increase sexual desire and lower blood pressure in postmenopausal women.

Gingko Biloba

Fennel oil has positive estrogen-like effects that make it another female libido booster, both scientifically and historically. These effects, however, do not seem to negatively impact fertility or reproduction like some endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Let’s talk about how to increase libido naturally with some easy lifestyle changes. Too little exercise can be a cause of low libido, but you also don’t want to overdo it either. Low libido is one of the risks of overtraining or “female athlete triad.” Studies among women indicate that exercises that increase human growth hormone, like weight training and HIIT training, can greatly improve blood flow to the genitals, mood and body perception. Maca and cocoa extract are two of the more well-researched libido-enhancing supplements. Both require at least a week of supplementation to provide benefits.