Natural Alternatives to Boost Female Sex Drive

Treatment to improve libido requires a multi-pronged approach.

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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 problems, it may be related. Talk to a healthcare pills to get her in the mood instantly 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.

A note about sex and gender

(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! 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.

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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.

Rx Vaginal Creams

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. Perimenopause and menopause come with major hormonal shifts that can leave your desire running on empty.

Women wanting simplicity & deeper desire

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.

Addyi (filbanserin)

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. 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. Exercise may be one of the best natural libido boosters.

• 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 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 tadalista professional are keeping you up at night, consider if HRT may be right for you. 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.

Choosing The Right Libido Enhancer

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 sex tablet 100mg 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.

What can you do to improve your libido and sexual performance?

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. 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. Our core values guide everything we do, including standards that ensure the quality and trustworthiness of our content and editorial processes.

2. Chasteberry

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. 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 to boost your sex life, you may want to think twice before buying any. "Most are a phenomenal waste of money, in my opinion," says Dr.

• Hormonal supplements like DHEA may boost female libido.
• Flibanserin is FDA-approved for hypoactive sexual desire disorder.
• Addyi is another medication designed to increase women's sexual desire.
• Ginseng supplements are believed to enhance sexual arousal.
• Maca root is traditionally used to increase libido in women.
• L-arginine may improve blood flow, enhancing arousal.
• Yin yang huo (horny goat weed) is a herbal remedy for libido.
• Testosterone therapy can be prescribed for low female libido.
• Bupropion may indirectly boost sexual desire by improving mood.
• Ospemifene is used for menopause-related vaginal dryness and desire.
• Natural oils like clitoral massage oils can improve arousal.