Understanding the Female Libido and Its Fluctuations

There is, however, a lack of evidence showing that libido gummies will effectively improve your sex life (or desire for one), and individual data on many of these ingredients is also lacking, conflicting, or shows limited evidence. The choice is yours if you’d like to try them to see if they benefit you. These types of gummies aren’t considered harmful, so even if it’s just the placebo effect that has you feeling more perked up, take it. Still, before choosing any supplement, it’s important to purchase those that are third-party certified, which ensures that they are labeled correctly and do not contain contaminants. Doing so helps you stay safe when taking them—a must even when they’re available over-the-counter. Supplements are unlikely to be the answer to your libido problems.

Your health, life stage, lifestyle, and relationship are all pieces to figuring out exactly why your desire is down—and how to get it back up. Most women benefit from a treatment plan that's more holistic, including a combination of lifestyle changes, medications, and maybe even some supplements, to get your libido back on track. There are many science-backed options available to you to get your sex life back on track. Midlife women in the menopausal transition often benefit from hormone replacement therapy (HRT), especially if you’re besieged with symptoms that may be interfering with intimacy. (Some experts now use the terms hormone therapy (HT) or menopausal hormone therapy, or MHT). The name is a tad misleading because you’re not replacing any hormones in your body so much as you’re giving them a little boost. “Adding back just a tiny percentage of the hormones your body made during your peak reproductive years “is all that is needed to gain so many benefits,” says Midi’s Chief Medical Officer Kathleen Jordan, MD. Available in a pill, patch, vaginal ring, topical cream or gel, the medication provides small doses of estrogen (plus progesterone if you have a uterus) to your body. Estrogen deficiency in menopause is linked to a low libido, as well as vaginal dryness and thinning that make sex uncomfortable and painful.

• Ashwagandha may reduce stress and boost libido naturally.
• Maca root is known for enhancing female sexual desire.
• Ginseng can improve energy and arousal levels.
• Tribulus terrestris may increase libido in women.
• L-arginine helps improve blood flow to enhance desire.
• Damiana leaf is traditionally used as an aphrodisiac.
• Fenugreek may support hormonal balance and libido.
• Shatavari root is celebrated for its sexual health benefits.

Research suggests that HRT can improve sexual desire and symptoms like vaginal dryness. “We know that declining estrogen levels that occur with menopause can affect individual women differently,” says Dr. Goldman. “About 50% of menopausal women will get symptomatic Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause, or GSM. This collection of symptoms is due to declining estrogen and can include symptoms like vaginal/vulvar dryness, burning, pain, sexual dysfunction as well as urinary symptoms.” All things that can do a real number on your libido. If you’ve also been experiencing menopausal symptoms like night sweats and hot flashes—which can wreak havoc on your overall wellbeing—HRT can be a huge help. HRT relieves hot flash symptoms by up to 90 percent. To inject some life back in your libido, testosterone supplementation during perimenopause and menopause might just be your ticket to reviving your missing mojo.

A few exceptions

Treatment to improve libido requires a multi-pronged approach. 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. Testosterone is the spicy hormone behind your sex drive, and according to a major study on postmenopausal women, testosterone therapy can effectively reverse low desire. Despite its stellar performance, there's currently no FDA-approved testosterone product for women in the U.S. However, it's still prescribed off-label for women whose testosterone levels have gone south, contributing to libido hibernation or other symptoms.

Potential side effects like acne or hair growth can crash the party, but a simple dose adjustment usually addresses these issues. This underscores why getting testosterone treatment from a trained professional (like the experts at Midi) is absolutely crucial. (Heads up: Testosterone treatments have different restrictions depending on where you live, so chat with a clinician about the options available in your state.) Other bedroom-boosting treatments might include vaginal DHEA/estradiol cream — which can improve moisture and elasticity of vaginal tissues, making sex more comfortable and potentially turning up the heat on your desire. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands and it can be converted to estrogen and testosterone. When used as a topical cream, it has been shown to reduce symptoms of vaginal dryness and painful intercourse. If you are premenopausal, then you may benefit from one of the FDA-approved medications that treat HSDD. Options include the pink pill flibanserin (Addyi), which is a non-hormonal treatment that you take daily. Filbanserin works by targeting serotonin in the brain to promote sexual desire. (Addyi is currently only approved for premenopausal women, but it can be a viable option for women after menopause as well, off-label.) You can also use bremelanotide (Vyleesi), which you self-inject via a clicky pen at least 45 minutes before you might have sex. It works by mimicking neurotransmitters in the brain associated with sexual desire. Sexual desire doesn’t just come out of nowhere.

There are a lot of things that have to go right in your body to stoke that fire. Health issues like diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, and thyroid disease can sometimes sneak in and steal your sex drive when you're not looking. They might be harboring some libido-dampening culprits too, from cholesterol and blood pressure meds to birth control, antidepressants, and chemo drugs.

3. Talk to your partner

Research suggests that HRT can improve sexual desire and symptoms like vaginal dryness. “We know that declining estrogen levels that occur with menopause can affect individual women differently,” says Dr. Goldman. “About 50% of menopausal women will get symptomatic Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause, or GSM. This collection of symptoms is due to declining estrogen and can include symptoms like vaginal/vulvar dryness, burning, pain, sexual dysfunction as well as urinary symptoms.” All things that can do a real number on your libido.

Clinical Evidence

If you’ve also been experiencing menopausal symptoms like night sweats and hot flashes—which can wreak havoc on your overall wellbeing—HRT can be a huge help. HRT relieves hot flash symptoms by up to 90 percent. To inject some life back in your libido, testosterone supplementation during perimenopause and menopause might just be your ticket to reviving your missing mojo. Testosterone is the spicy hormone behind your sex drive, and according to a major study on postmenopausal women, testosterone therapy can effectively reverse low desire. Despite its stellar performance, there's currently no FDA-approved testosterone product for women in the U.S.

Is there a natural female Viagra?

However, it's still prescribed off-label for women whose testosterone levels have gone south, contributing to libido hibernation or other symptoms. Potential side effects like acne or hair growth can crash the party, but a simple dose adjustment usually addresses these issues. This underscores why getting testosterone treatment from a trained professional (like the experts at Midi) is absolutely crucial. (Heads up: Testosterone treatments have different restrictions depending on where you live, so chat with a clinician about the options available in your state.) Other bedroom-boosting treatments might include vaginal DHEA/estradiol cream — which can improve moisture and elasticity of vaginal tissues, making sex more comfortable and potentially turning up the heat on your desire. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands and it can be converted to estrogen and testosterone. Some meds can put your desire on pause without giving you a heads-up first so if you started a new medication around the same time you started having desire sexual enhancement pills problems, it may be related. Talk to a healthcare professional to see if any untreated health issues or the medications you take could be to blame. It’s no surprise that your mood and relationships affect if and when you want to have sex. For one, mood disorders like depression can decrease your interest in pleasurable activities (yes sex, but pleasure in general), decrease your self esteem, and lower your energy in ways that put sex and orgasm very low on your list of priorities. Then, in a rather cruel twist, many of the antidepressants prescribed to treat depression also decrease sexual desire. (Fun tip: Exercising right before having sex might boost your libido if you’re taking antidepressants, one study found.) Keeping that spark alive with your partner isn't just nice—it's often the secret sauce in relationships! Chatting openly with your partner (yes, actually talking about it!) can help you discover fun new ways to get cozy, both emotionally and in the bedroom. And hey, even couples who've been together forever can find this conversation a bit awkward—no shame in that game! If you're both tongue-tied, a relationship or sex therapist can be your personal conversation starter kit, helping knock down those walls so you two can build that connection bridge together.

Do Aphrodisiacs Work?

You may also be in perimenopause, and if that’s the case, there are many ways to support sexual wellbeing during these years. 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. After all, sometimes the most romantic thing you can do is simply ask for directions!

Your sex drive is a serious thing—many women consider their sexual health to be an important factor in their overall quality of life, research shows. If low libido is causing you distress or affecting your relationship, reach out for help. We realize that talking to your doctor can be a tough ask, especially if you two don’t have that type of communication. (You’ll talk to them about how your shoulder hurts or if your blood pressure is okay, but you draw the line at talking about how your husband doesn’t turn you on anymore.

Low sex drive? See tips to boost female libido naturally

Perimenopause and menopause come with major hormonal shifts that can leave your desire running on empty. 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). Understandable.) That’s why finding a clinician who is willing to have these conversations, who will ask you about these topics without judgment, and who will offer solutions is necessary. Case in point: At Midi, our clinicians specialize in sexual health for women in midlife. You can steps to protect your libido before things start to downshift.

Reduce your stress

There is, however, a lack of evidence showing that libido gummies will effectively improve your sex life (or desire for one), and individual data on many of these ingredients is also lacking, conflicting, or shows limited evidence. The choice is yours if you’d like to try them to see if they benefit you. These types of gummies aren’t considered harmful, so even if it’s just the placebo effect that has you feeling more perked up, take it. Still, before choosing any supplement, it’s important to purchase those that are third-party certified, which ensures that they are labeled correctly and do not contain contaminants. Doing so helps you stay safe when taking them—a must even when they’re available over-the-counter.

Join Anique and explore ways to increase pregnancy chances with the Flo app

Supplements are unlikely to be the answer to your libido problems. Your health, life stage, lifestyle, and relationship are all pieces to figuring out exactly why your desire is down—and how to get it back up. Most women benefit from a treatment plan that's more holistic, including a combination of lifestyle changes, medications, and maybe even some supplements, to get your libido back on track. There are many science-backed options available to you to get your sex life back on track. Midlife women in the menopausal transition often benefit from hormone replacement therapy (HRT), especially if you’re besieged with symptoms that may be interfering with intimacy.

NSF Certified

(Some experts now use the terms hormone therapy (HT) or menopausal hormone therapy, or MHT). The name is a tad misleading because you’re not replacing any hormones in your body so much as you’re giving them a little boost. “Adding back just a tiny percentage of the hormones your body made during your peak reproductive years “is all that is needed to gain so many benefits,” says Midi’s Chief Medical Officer Kathleen Jordan, MD. Available in a pill, patch, vaginal ring, topical cream or gel, the medication provides small doses of estrogen (plus progesterone if you have a uterus) to your body. Estrogen deficiency in menopause is linked to a low libido, as well as vaginal dryness and thinning that make sex uncomfortable and painful. All the steps that bring your libido back online, can be done proactively to benefit your overall wellbeing and set you up with a strong foundation for a healthy libido. Finding—and implement—it-works-for-you stress management strategies Prioritize sleeping (aim for at least 7 hours per night) And remember: You're not in this alone: Make an appointment with a clinician if you’re having unexplained symptoms alongside decreased libido.

• Kegel exercises strengthen pelvic muscles and libido.
• Aromatherapy with jasmine or ylang-ylang boosts arousal.
• Reducing caffeine intake may decrease anxiety and improve desire.
• Drinking herbal infusions like red clover can help.
• Evening primrose oil supports hormonal activity.
• Consuming dark chocolate increases serotonin and desire.
• Maintaining emotional intimacy enhances sexual satisfaction.
• Regular sexual activity naturally boosts libido.

Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may recommend testing to rule out or identify underlying health conditions.

2. FDA-Approved Prescription Options

When used as a topical cream, it has been shown to reduce symptoms of vaginal dryness and painful intercourse. If you are premenopausal, then you may benefit from one of the FDA-approved medications that treat HSDD. Options include the pink pill flibanserin (Addyi), which is a non-hormonal treatment that you take daily. Filbanserin works by targeting serotonin in the brain to promote sexual desire. (Addyi is currently only approved for premenopausal women, but it can be a viable option for women after menopause as well, off-label.) You can also use bremelanotide (Vyleesi), which you self-inject via a clicky pen at least 45 minutes before you might have sex.

Is it legal to put something in someone's drink to boost libido? +

It works by mimicking neurotransmitters in the brain associated with sexual desire. Sexual desire doesn’t just come out of nowhere. There are a lot of things that have to go right in your body to stoke that fire. Health issues like diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, and thyroid disease can sometimes sneak in and steal your sex drive when you're not looking. They might be harboring some libido-dampening culprits too, from cholesterol and blood pressure meds to birth control, antidepressants, and chemo drugs.

Can perimenopause increase libido? +

Some meds can put your desire on pause without giving you a heads-up first so if you started a new medication around the same time you started having desire sexual enhancement pills problems, it may be related. Talk to a healthcare professional to see if any untreated health issues or the medications you take could be to blame. It’s no surprise that your mood and relationships affect if and when you want to have sex. For one, mood disorders like depression can decrease your interest in pleasurable activities (yes sex, but pleasure in general), decrease your self esteem, and lower your energy in ways that put sex and orgasm very low on your list of priorities. Then, in a rather cruel twist, many of the antidepressants prescribed to treat depression also decrease sexual desire. You may also be in perimenopause, and if that’s the case, there are many ways to support sexual wellbeing during these years. 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. 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. 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.

4. Spice up your love life

(Fun tip: Exercising right before having sex might boost your libido if you’re taking antidepressants, one study found.) Keeping that spark alive with your partner isn't just nice—it's often the secret sauce in relationships! Chatting openly with your partner (yes, actually talking about it!) can help you discover fun new ways to get cozy, both emotionally and in the bedroom. And hey, even couples who've been together forever can find this conversation a bit awkward—no shame in that game! If you're both tongue-tied, a relationship or sex therapist can be your personal conversation starter kit, helping knock down those walls so you two can build that connection bridge together. After all, sometimes the most romantic thing you can do is simply ask for directions!

What are the best libido-boosting supplements for females? +

Your sex drive is a serious thing—many women consider their sexual health to be an important factor in their overall quality of life, research shows. If low libido is causing you distress or affecting your relationship, reach out for help. We realize that talking to your doctor can be a tough ask, especially if you two don’t have that type of communication. (You’ll talk to them about how your shoulder hurts or if your blood pressure is okay, but you draw the line at talking about how your husband doesn’t turn you on anymore. Understandable.) That’s why finding a clinician who is willing to have these conversations, who will ask you about these topics without judgment, and who will offer solutions is necessary.

Understanding Your Arousal

Case in point: At Midi, our clinicians specialize in sexual health for women in midlife. You can steps to protect your libido before things start to downshift. All the steps that bring your libido back online, can be done proactively to benefit your overall wellbeing and set you up with a strong foundation for a healthy libido. Finding—and implement—it-works-for-you stress management strategies Prioritize sleeping (aim for at least 7 hours per night) And remember: You're not in this alone: Make an appointment with a clinician if you’re having unexplained symptoms alongside decreased libido. Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may recommend testing to rule out or identify underlying health conditions. Ask your healthcare provider if you are a candidate for bremelanotide, an FDA-approved medication for hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD).