When it comes to improving your sex life, you may have noticed shelves full of bottles of pills and products that promise to naturally heat up your libido. But before you start taking so-called libido supplements, it's important to consider the risks involved and understand what these products can and cannot do. In this article, we'll explore the science behind libido pills, including their potential benefits and side effects, as well as how they work. To start, let's look at the two medications that have been approved by the FDA for treating low libido in people with vulvas: flibanserin (Addyi) and bremelanotide (Vyleesi). Both drugs stimulate the activity of the brain's chemical messengers, called neurotransmitters, which are key to helping you feel aroused.
You take flibanserin every day, regardless of whether you plan to have sex or not. Bremelanotide is only injected when you need it. It's important to note that neither medication improves sexual intercourse; they just make you more likely to be in the mood. In addition to these two medications, there are some herbal supplements that may help with erectile dysfunction and low libido. Korean red ginseng was studied and found to promote libido and improve arousal in women going through menopause.
Saffron may increase libido in people taking antidepressants, but its effects are inconsistent in those who don't take these medications. Fenugreek is a popular herb in alternative medicine that can help increase libido and improve sexual function. It's also important to consider the risks involved in taking dietary supplements, including herbs and vitamins to improve sex. These products often lack complete information about the ingredients on the packaging, such as how much of a particular herb a pill contains and what dose is safe. With a few exceptions, most supplements for sexual function have not been scientifically studied.
O'Leary suggests that some of these products may, like placebos, have a placebo effect (a beneficial result of inactive treatment).If you're looking for solutions to reduce sexual desire, there are some safe libido-boosting pills that can help you regulate your sex drive to normal levels under certain circumstances. You may have an underlying health problem that is affecting your libido, such as undiagnosed diabetes. It's also possible that your low libido is caused by a mental health disorder such as hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSSD) or depression (another libido-killer). Two libido disorders that affect people with vulvas, both diagnosed as mental health problems, have already been shown to respond to medications. Studies that have been conducted so far show that bremelanotide produces noticeable and lasting improvements in people with low libido due to HSSD, with only minor side effects, such as nausea with the initial dose.
This leads to decreased blood flow and often to sexual performance problems that can lead to depression (another libido-killer) or prevent sexual activity. As you probably guessed, their sexual function and desire improved after taking the placebos, meaning that for some people who have vulvas, it's worth trying those over-the-counter “libido-boosters”. If those disorders, in particular HSSD, seem very similar to a general loss of libido, you're not the only one who thinks that way. Alman emphasizes that if you are considering taking any libido enhancers or vitamins for sex, you should first talk to your doctor. Most people who are prescribed antidepressants know that medications often have sexual side effects, and low libido is one of the most common. And if those feelings lead you to a drugstore corridor filled with pills and potions that promise to improve your sex life, you might want to think twice before buying one. Sex vitamins, libido supplements or herbs aren't going to provide instant orgasms or erections.
