Addressing Low Libido: Medical vs. Natural Solutions

O'Leary says most of those won't help your love life. But there may be a few exceptions. This amino acid provides the raw material from which the body makes nitric oxide, a molecule that helps relax and open blood vessels, a necessary step to achieve an erection of the penis. "But putting that into a pill isn't proven to produce an erection," Dr. O'Leary says.

• Evening primrose oil may help alleviate dryness.
• Managing depression can improve libido.
• Regularly updating your medical history helps.
• Using mindfulness during intimacy enhances pleasure.
• Educate yourself about sexual health.
• Have honest conversations with partners.
• Addressing past trauma can restore desire.
• Avoid high-stress environments when possible.
• Prioritize self-care to maintain confidence.
• Exploring fantasies can increase excitement.
• Set realistic expectations for sexual experiences.

Moreover, people with heart disease should avoid it. A study of L-arginine's effect on heart attack survivors had to be stopped early after six people taking the supplement died. This comes from bark of a tree native to Africa. "It does promote penile blood flow, but you have no idea whether the supplement you're taking has too much or sex tablet women too little," warns Dr.

O'Leary. Another warning: yohimbine may damage heart function and may cause high blood pressure (hypertension), headaches, agitation, insomnia, and sweating. Lifestyle changes can help boost sexual activity without medication.

Tiny sublingual Sublingual Placed under the tongue for rapid absorption into the bloodstream, bypassing digestion for faster, more effective results. tablet

Our core values guide everything we do, including standards that ensure the quality and trustworthiness of our content and editorial processes. We’re committed to providing information that is up-to-date, accurate, and relies on evidence-based research and peer-reviewed journals. For more details on our editorial process, see here. It's February — time to think about roses, chocolates, sweethearts, and romance. And if those sentiments bring you to a certain drugstore aisle stocked with pills and potions promising sex with tablet to boost your sex life, you may want to think twice before buying any.

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"Most are a phenomenal waste of money, in my opinion," says Dr. Michael O'Leary, a urologist at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital. With a few exceptions, most supplements for sexual function haven't been studied scientifically. At best, says Dr. O'Leary, they have a placebo effect (a beneficial result from an inactive treatment).

Oxytocin supports:

"That's not trivial in itself," he notes. "For example, when researchers did clinical trials for the prescription medication sildenafil [Viagra], the placebo response was about 30%. Which tells you that the most important sex organ you have is your brain. In men, the brain controls the stimulus to get blood flow to the penis, and furthermore, it controls orgasm and ejaculation. That's why a lot of people with normal vascular function still have sexual dysfunction." But what about the claims that over-the-counter supplements can increase your libido or sexual endurance? "Very good data have shown that in men, weight loss alone improves sexual function.

• Vitamin D deficiency correlates with lower libido.
• Regular sexual activity increases natural desire.
• Listening to music before intimacy can boost mood.
• Ensuring emotional safety enhances desire.
• Massage therapy may improve blood flow and arousal.
• Avoiding excessive caffeine can prevent nervousness.
• Herbal supplements vary in effectiveness; consult expert.
• Managing pain conditions can improve sexual desire.
• Social engagement and supportive relationships help.
• Avoiding high-fat, processed foods supports libido.
• Patience and communication are key for recovery.

It's probably because fat makes estrogen, which fights testosterone needed for sexual function," Dr.

O'Leary says. Other things that can help for both sexes: exercising and smoking cessation, which improve blood flow to the sexual organs; limiting alcohol intake, since large amounts can dampen sexual reflexes and the ability of men to maintain an erection; and eating a healthy diet, which helps maintain a healthy weight. If these approaches aren't helping, your doctor may be able to find a solution — that could involve treating an underlying condition or prescribing medication (for men) or lubricants and low-dose vaginal estrogen products for vaginal dryness and painful sex in women. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

• Dietary zinc deficiency may reduce female libido.
• Regular exercise can naturally boost sexual desire.
• Adequate sleep is essential for healthy libido.
• Reduce stress with meditation to improve sexual arousal.
• Vitamin E supplements may support hormonal health.
• Omega-3 fatty acids help improve blood flow and desire.
• Avoid excessive alcohol which can diminish libido.
• Weight management can positively influence sexual health.
• Breaks from medications may sometimes restore desire.
• Consult a doctor before starting any herbal supplements.
• Psychological counseling can address underlying desire issues.

Given the success of medicines to treat trouble getting and keeping an erection, called erectile dysfunction, companies have looked for a medicine to help women with sex.

Works With or Without Hormones

Some sexual function supplements may contain potentially dangerous impurities or small amounts of hidden pharmaceutical drugs — like traces of PDE5 inhibitors, medications in the same class that includes prescription erectile dysfunction drugs like Viagra. This can produce dangerous, even life-threatening, reactions. Popular sexual performance supplements often contain a blend of ingredients (sometimes dozens of them). Some of the best-selling include DHEA (short for dehydroepiandrosterone, an adrenal hormone), ginkgo biloba, fenugreek, ginseng, horny goat weed, L-arginine, maca, tribulus, yohimbine, and zinc. Dr. Viagra even has been tried as a treatment for sexual dysfunction in women.

Replaces testosterone to support libido and energy

You might look for vaginal moisturizers or lubricants, start using a vibrator, consider HRT, implement all the healthy lifestyle strategies above, and work on connecting with your partner to strengthen your relationship. Low libido is a common problem in women, especially as they age and go through the menopausal transition. Signs of low libido include a lack of motivation for sexual activity, inability to maintain desire during sexual activity, avoiding sex, or not initiating sex. Female sexual desire is complex, involving physical, psychological, and relationship factors. Treatment to improve libido requires a multi-pronged approach.

Backed by clinical trials

A healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet and regular exercise, as well as working on your relationship, can set the stage for a good sex life. Medical treatments for low libido include HRT and prescription medications that improve female sexual desire, depending on your age, life stage, and additional symptoms. Managing underlying health conditions like thyroid disease can also help bring back your libido. There are so many reasons why your libido may be low. Perimenopause and menopause come with major hormonal shifts that can leave your desire running on empty.

What creates high libido?

Low libido can also be caused by many underlying health conditions, medications, relationship problems, and lifestyle factors like stress, lack of sleep, and an unhealthy diet. Ask your healthcare provider if you are a candidate for bremelanotide, an FDA-approved medication for hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). The injection can be given 45 minutes before having sex in order to increase your sexual desire. Improving libido really is a long-game, though. Focusing on a healthy lifestyle, connecting with your partner, and addressing underlying health conditions or hormonal issues like lack of estrogen in menopause, will help stoke a strong sex drive. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn't approved this use of Viagra.

7. Mind-Body Practices: Foundational Support

They are simply marketing promises designed to sell you a bottle of pills, and nobody's checking in advance to make sure they're accurate. For example, a 2015 review of top-selling supplements for men's sexual health, published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, found little or no evidence to support claims they could improve aspects of sexual performance. While the FDA has the responsibility to approve the use of any conventional pharmaceutical and to monitor how it is manufactured, the FDA has no such responsibility with regard to supplements. That means unscrupulous companies can sell any products they like, and the supplements won't be pulled from the shelves until and unless the FDA proves they're unsafe. So when it comes to supplements, buyer beware! For years there were no FDA-approved medicines for treating problems with sexual arousal or sexual desire in women. Yet 4 in 10 women report having sexual concerns. The FDA now has approved two medicines. The FDA has approved a daily pill called flibanserin (Addyi) to treat low sexual desire in women before menopause. This medicine started as a treatment for depression. Addyi may boost sex drive in women with low sexual desire. It's for women who are not happy with their low sex drive.

High barrier

Exercise may be one of the best natural libido boosters. It increases your mood, decreases stress, improves sleep, betters your body image and self-esteem, and promotes healthy blood flow. Rather than trying to get a high libido, focus on what you can do to promote a healthy-for-you libido. If vaginal dryness is bothering you in bed, address that asap. If hot flashes are keeping you up at night, consider if HRT may be right for you.

Understand Your Needs

Look at as many lifestyle changes, medications and other improvements you can make to help your libido make a comeback. As long as you’re satisfied with it and it works for you and your partner, you’re good to go. If you're attracted to your partner and having sex enough for you, then you're good. But if you've noticed a definite decline in your interest in intimacy, that may be a sign that your libido is low for you. If you’re in perimenopause or menopause and want guidance from clinicians who specialize in women’s midlife health, book a virtual visit with Midi today.

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Hormonal change is at the root of dozens of symptoms women experience in the years before and after their period stops. Our trained menopause specialists can help you connect the dots to guide you towards safe, effective solutions. Whether you need personalized guidance or a prescription routine to tackle symptoms—including brain fog, hot flashes, sleep trouble, mood swings, and weight gain—we’ve got you covered. Midi’s mission is to revolutionize healthcare for women at midlife, wherever they live and whatever their health story. We believe that starts with education, to help all of us understand our always-changing bodies and health needs. Possible serious side effects include low blood pressure, dizziness and fainting. These side effects are more likely to happen if the medicine is mixed with alcohol. The FDA says not to drink alcohol if you take this medicine. Experts suggest that you stop taking the medicine if your sex drive doesn't improve after eight weeks. The FDA also has approved a medicine given as a shot to treat low sexual desire in women before menopause. Bremelanotide (Vyleesi) is injected under the skin in the belly or thigh at least 45 minutes before having sex. It should not be used more than once a day or more than eight times a month. Side effects can include nausea, headache, vomiting and reactions at the site of the shot.