Libido

    Last Updated: October 13, 2024

    Libido, or sex drive, refers to the spontaneity, frequency, and magnitude of sexual desire. It’s affected by hormones and neurotransmitters (their dysfunction, as in depression, can suppress libido).

    1,729 participants in 25 trials

    Summary

    Libido, or sex drive, refer to the spontaneity, frequency, and magnitude of sexual desire. When a persistent lack of sexual fantasies and desire leads to notable distress and difficulties in relationships, that's when it's deemed Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD). It affects both men and women and is fairly common.

    Low libido is a combination of physiological, psychological, and social factors, and varies in its cause from person to person. Fatigue, depression, and stress/anxiety are commonly cited reasons for low libido. Dysfunctional signaling in the dopaminergic reward system of the brain, or an excess of inhibitory neurotransmitters such as serotonin, prolactin, opioids, and endocannabinoids, particularly from drug abuse, is a reason for low libido. On the social end of things, strained relationships may be a common cause, and in that case, supplements will be unlikely to help.

    Examine Database: Libido

    Research FeedRead all studies

    Examine Database References

    1. Nicotine - Harte CB, Meston CMThe inhibitory effects of nicotine on physiological sexual arousal in nonsmoking women: results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trialJ Sex Med.(2008 May)
    2. DHEA - Dayal M, Sammel MD, Zhao J, Hummel AC, Vandenbourne K, Barnhart KTSupplementation with DHEA: effect on muscle size, strength, quality of life, and lipidsJ Womens Health (Larchmt).(2005 Jun)
    3. DHEA - Kritz-Silverstein D, von Mühlen D, Laughlin GA, Bettencourt REffects of dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation on cognitive function and quality of life: the DHEA and Well-Ness (DAWN) TrialJ Am Geriatr Soc.(2008 Jul)
    4. Velvet Antler - Conaglen HM, Suttie JM, Conaglen JVEffect of deer velvet on sexual function in men and their partners: a double-blind, placebo-controlled studyArch Sex Behav.(2003 Jun)
    5. Tribulus Terrestris - Akhtari E, Raisi F, Keshavarz M, Hosseini H, Sohrabvand F, Bioos S, Kamalinejad M, Ghobadi ATribulus terrestris for treatment of sexual dysfunction in women: randomized double-blind placebo - controlled studyDaru.(2014 Apr 28)
    6. Tribulus Terrestris - de Souza KZ, Vale FB, Geber SEfficacy of Tribulus terrestris for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in postmenopausal women: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trialMenopause.(2016 Nov)
    7. Fenugreek - Steels E, Rao A, Vitetta LPhysiological Aspects of Male Libido Enhanced by Standardized Trigonella foenum-graecum Extract and Mineral FormulationPhytother Res.(2011 Feb 10)
    8. Tribulus Terrestris - Gama CR, Lasmar R, Gama GF, Abreu CS, Nunes CP, Geller M, Oliveira L, Santos AClinical Assessment of Tribulus terrestris Extract in the Treatment of Female Sexual DysfunctionClin Med Insights Womens Health.(2014 Dec 22)
    9. Maca - Gonzales-Arimborgo C, Yupanqui I, Montero E, Alarcón-Yaquetto DE, Zevallos-Concha A, Caballero L, Gasco M, Zhao J, Khan IA, Gonzales GFAcceptability, Safety, and Efficacy of Oral Administration of Extracts of Black or Red Maca (Lepidium meyenii) in Adult Human Subjects: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled StudyPharmaceuticals (Basel).(2016 Aug 18)
    10. Rhodiola Rosea - Siegfried Kasper, Angelika DienelMulticenter, open-label, exploratory clinical trial with Rhodiola rosea extract in patients suffering from burnout symptomsNeuropsychiatr Dis Treat.(2017 Mar 22)
    11. Maca - Gonzales GF, Córdova A, Vega K, Chung A, Villena A, Góñez C, Castillo SEffect of Lepidium meyenii (MACA) on sexual desire and its absent relationship with serum testosterone levels in adult healthy menAndrologia.(2002 Dec)
    12. DHEA - Morales A, Black A, Emerson L, Barkin J, Kuzmarov I, Day AAndrogens and sexual function: a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind study of testosterone vs. dehydroepiandrosterone in men with sexual dysfunction and androgen deficiencyAging Male.(2009 Dec)
    13. Panax Ginseng (Korean Ginseng) - Oh KJ, Chae MJ, Lee HS, Hong HD, Park KEffects of Korean red ginseng on sexual arousal in menopausal women: placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover clinical studyJ Sex Med.(2010 Apr)
    14. L-Dopa - Both S, Everaerd W, Laan E, Gooren LEffect of a single dose of levodopa on sexual response in men and womenNeuropsychopharmacology.(2005 Jan)
    15. Ginkgo Biloba - Kang BJ, Lee SJ, Kim MD, Cho MJA placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of Ginkgo biloba for antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunctionHum Psychopharmacol.(2002 Aug)
    16. Ginkgo Biloba - Wheatley DTriple-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Ginkgo biloba in sexual dysfunction due to antidepressant drugsHum Psychopharmacol.(2004 Dec)
    17. Chromium - Docherty JP, Sack DA, Roffman M, Finch M, Komorowski JRA double-blind, placebo-controlled, exploratory trial of chromium picolinate in atypical depression: effect on carbohydrate cravingJ Psychiatr Pract.(2005 Sep)
    18. Tribulus Terrestris - Vale FBC, Zanolla Dias de Souza K, Rezende CR, Geber SEfficacy of Tribulus Terrestris for the treatment of premenopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder: a randomized double-blinded, placebo-controlled trialGynecol Endocrinol.(2018 May)
    19. Nicotine - Harte CB, Meston CMAcute effects of nicotine on physiological and subjective sexual arousal in nonsmoking men: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialJ Sex Med.(2008 Jan)
    20. Tribulus Terrestris - Sellandi TM, Thakar AB, Baghel MSClinical study of Tribulus terrestris Linn. in Oligozoospermia: A double blind studyAyu.(2012 Jul)
    21. Maca - Dording CM, Fisher L, Papakostas G, Farabaugh A, Sonawalla S, Fava M, Mischoulon DA double-blind, randomized, pilot dose-finding study of maca root (L. meyenii) for the management of SSRI-induced sexual dysfunctionCNS Neurosci Ther.(2008 Fall)
    22. Ginkgo Biloba - Meston CM, Rellini AH, Telch MJShort- and long-term effects of Ginkgo biloba extract on sexual dysfunction in womenArch Sex Behav.(2008 Aug)
    23. Ginkgo Biloba - A J Cohen, B BartlikGinkgo biloba for antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunctionJ Sex Marital Ther.(Apr-Jun 1998)
    24. Maca - Stone M, Ibarra A, Roller M, Zangara A, Stevenson EA pilot investigation into the effect of maca supplementation on physical activity and sexual desire in sportsmenJ Ethnopharmacol.(2009 Dec 10)
    25. Tongkat Ali - Ismail SB, Wan Mohammad WM, George A, Nik Hussain NH, Musthapa Kamal ZM, Liske ERandomized Clinical Trial on the Use of PHYSTA Freeze-Dried Water Extract of Eurycoma longifolia for the Improvement of Quality of Life and Sexual Well-Being in MenEvid Based Complement Alternat Med.(2012)