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Libido (women)

A woman’s libido is dependent not just on psychological factors but also on the influence, availability of and interactions between various hormones and neurotransmitters.

The most important of these hormones is testosterone. Often mistakenly believed to be relevant only to men, testosterone is the principal hormone that governs women’s libido. Small (but biologically significant) quantities of testosterone are manufactured by the ovaries up until menopause - this ovary-manufactured testosterone contributes to female libido. After menopause approximately 35% of women have reduced libido due to the cessation of testosterone production by the ovaries. The other 65% of women manufacture enough testosterone in their adrenal glands to sustain their libido. Testosterone exerts its effects on libido by influencing (presently unidentified) receptors in the brain. Even small surges in blood “free” testosterone levels can increase libido.

The next most important hormone for women’s libido is estradiol (one of the estrogen hormones), which increases female libido by stimulating the production of a neurotransmitter named nitric oxide.

Some hormones interfere with women’s libido. One of these is prolactin.

Stress and depression are also common causes of reduced libido in women.

Pharmaceutical antidepressants commonly cause a reduction in libido in women.

The following therapies may improve libido in women:

Arginine:

Rationale:

Arginine is reported to increase libido in women. The mechanism of this effect may involve nitric oxide (via its neurotransmitter function). Another possibility is that nitric oxide (stimulated by arginine) may enhance the ability of testosterone to stimulate sexual desire. Some research indicates that nitric oxide (enhanced by arginine) enhances the ability of pheromones to influence sexual desire.

Dosage:

3,000 mg per day.

Tyrosine:

Rationale:

Tyrosine helps the body to produce the neurotransmitter, dopamine (tyrosine is converted within the brain to dopamine). Dopamine is one the principal neurotransmitters believed to be involved in libido.

Dosage:

2,000 - 4,000 mg per day.

Progesterone:

Rationale:

Many women who use progesterone cream report that this therapy results in an increase in their libido.

Dosage:

Progesterone is most effective when administered topically (by cream).

Peri-menopausal and post-menopausal women usually commence with the application of ¼ to ½ teaspoon of progesterone cream per day.

Pre-menopausal women over the age of 30 usually use ¼ to ½ teaspoon of progesterone on days 12 to 26 of their menstrual cycle.

Boron:

Rationale:

Boron increases libido in women by stimulating the production of estradiol which increases libido by stimulating the production of nitric oxide synthase, an enzyme that, in turn, catalyses the endogenous production of nitric oxide, a neurotransmitter involved in female libido.

In addition, boron has been shown to increase women’s levels of testosterone. Although testosterone is commonly regarded as a “male hormone”, it is responsible for libido in women.

Dosage:

3 - 9 mg per day.

Choline:

Rationale:

Choline supplementation helps to increase libido in women aged 40 and over. Decreased libido in women aged forty and over is partly due to low acetylcholine levels. Increasing acetylcholine levels in women aged forty and over can result in increased libido.

Dosage:

500 - 1,500 mg per day.

Ashwagandha:

Rationale:

A preliminary Indian study found that 70% of women aged 50 - 59 who used ashwagandha for one year reported an increase in their libido.

Dosage:

1,800 - 4,000 mg per day (using crude Ashwagandha capsules or tablets).

450 - 1,000 mg per day (using Ashwagandha capsules tablets concentrated at a ratio of 4:1).

2 - 4 ml per day (using Ashwagandha 1:1 fluid extract).

Tribulus terrestris:

Rationale:

Tribulus terrestris is speculated to improve libido in women. This effect is speculated to occur from steroid saponins in Tribulus terrestris increasing the production of luteinizing hormone, a hormone that increases testosterone production. Increased production of testosterone in women is associated with increased libido.

Dosage:

750 - 1,500 mg per day.

Gotu Kola:

Rationale:

Some women who use gotu kola claim that it increases their libido. These claims have not yet been studied in scientific studies.

Dosage:

600 - 1,200 mg per day (using gotu kola capsules/tablets that have been standardized to contain 10% triterpenic acids).

10 - 20 ml per day (using gotu kola 1:5 tincture/fluid extract).

Marapuama:

Rationale:

A preliminary human study found that marapuama significantly improved libido in 62% of women after two weeks.

Dosage:

1,500 - 2,000 mg per day.

The effect of marapuama on women’s libido may not become apparent until two weeks after commencing marapuama use.

Ginkgo biloba:

Rationale:

A common cause of decreased libido in women is the use of pharmaceutical antidepressants such as prozac.

A recent clinical trial found that Ginkgo biloba improved libido in 91% of women with antidepressants-induced sexual dysfunction.

Dosage:

120 mg per day (of a 50:1 Ginkgo biloba product standardized to contain 24% Ginkgo flavonglycosides and 6.5% terpenes).

Vitamin C:

Rationale:

Vitamin C plays a minor role in female libido. It is involved in the production of some of the steroid hormones that govern female libido.

Dosage:

1,000 - 3,000 mg per day.

Lifestyle Changes to Improve Women’s Libido

Alcohol:

Women with low libido are advised to reduce their consumption of alcohol. Alcohol increases the production of one of the hormones that interfere with female libido, prolactin.

Stress:

Excessive stress increases the production of one of the hormones that interfere with female libido, prolactin.

References

Arginine

· Ito, t. et al. A double-blind placebo-controlled study of ArginMax, a nutritional supplement for enhancement of female sexual function. J Sex Marital Ther. 27(5):541-549, 2001.

Ashwagandha

· Sodhi, V. Ashwagandha for rejuvenation. New Editions Healthworld. July/Augusts 1994:54-55.

Boron

· Nielson, F. H., et al. Effect of dietary boron on mineral, estrogen, and testosterone metabolism in postmenopausal women. FASEB J. 1(5):394-397, 1987.

Choline

· Pearson, D. & Shaw, S. Life Extension: A Practical Scientific Approach. Warner Book, New York, NY, USA. 1982:198.

Ginkgo biloba

· Cohen, A. J., et al. Ginkgo biloba for antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction. J Sex Marital Therapy. 24:139-145, 1998.

Gotu Kola

· ADAM. Nutrition Care Practitioner Manual Edition 4. 2001:1-2.

Progesterone

· Dean, W. Natural progesterone: first choice. Vitamin Research News. 16(6), 2002.

Tribulus terrestris

· Milanov, S., et al. Tribestan effect on the concentration of some hormones in serum of healthy subjects. Med Biol Inf. 4:27-29, 1985.

Tyrosine

· Braverman, Eric R. The Healing Nutrients Within. Keats Publishing, New Canaan, Connecticut, USA. 1997:59-60.

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