Vitamins to Increase a Woman's Sex Drive

If your response to sex is more often, “Ugh…” than “Oh Yeah!” you may be suffering from a diminishing libido. While it may be disheartening to admit this to even yourself, don’t think you are alone:

Between 30 to 50 percent of women suffer from a low libido^[1].

Sex isn’t supposed to be something you dread in life, it should be something that excites you and makes your life better. Losing your libido doesn’t mean it’s gone forever and it also doesn’t mean you have to go through extreme measures to get it back. There are natural ways to return your body back to the sex craved state it once was before life got in the way.

Understanding What Happened to Your Sex Drive
Before you learn about the vitamins you can take to increase your libido, it’s useful to understand why your sex drive has diminished. This way, you’ll have a better idea of how to attack the problem.

If you’re pre-menopausal, the biggest sex drive killers are negative emotions. Dr. Glenn D. Braunstein MD, endocrinologist and chair of the department of medicine at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles says that a woman’s sex drive is multidimensional and depression or any emotion can have a profound affect on it.

Depression and anxiety slow down many of your bodily processes, including sex hormone production. Even if you try to get in the mood by touch, your mind won’t send the signal to start the physiological process of getting you excited, which results in vaginal dryness or inability to orgasm.

If you are in the menopausal or post-menopausal stage, Dr. Steven Goldstein, professor of ob-gyn and NYU Medical Center in New York City reports the loss of ovulation can be the culprit to a lower libido.

Reduced estrogen levels may not be the only hormone that plays a role in a woman’s sex drive. Other hormones such as testosterone can also affect the libido. According to the MayoClinic, some women receive testosterone therapy to help increase sexual desire.

Vitamins to Boost Sexual Desire
Undergoing hormonal replacement therapy or taking prescription drugs can result in unwanted side effects. Instead, you may want to consider taking vitamins to help with depression, anxiety and hormone production.

• Vitamin E

Good Housekeeping magazine^[2] has a good tip about vitamin E. Break open a capsule and rub the gel on the vagina several times a week, even if you aren’t having sex. The gel will help lubricate the tissue and intensify sensation. Try using it during sex in place of K-Y Jelly or Astroglide.

• Vitamin C and D

Feeling good is essential to a good sex life. To keep yourself healthy, get adequate vitamin C and D. Not only do they help your body fight germs that make you sick, they also have mood enhancing properties, according to LiveStrong.com^[3].

• Vitamin B6

Aging women may want to consider taking vitamin B6 supplements because it could help lessen the dramatic shift of hormones caused by menopause (specifically estrogen and progesterone). This shift is what causes some post-menopausal women to lose their sex drive.

• Vitamin B2

If you’re experiencing vaginal dryness, try popping a vitamin B2 or riboflavin supplement. This can help your body restore its natural lubrication production.

• Vitamin B3

Women’s Health^[4] reports that research has found women who don’t have enough niacin or vitamin B3 in their uterus are unable to achieve an orgasm. This vitamin helps your adrenal glands’ production of sex hormones. It can also help dilate blood vessels so blood flows easier and faster, which increases arousal and pleasure.

ArginMax
The Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy published a study in 2001 that found that the nutritional supplement, ArginMax increases sexual desire and satisfaction. The main ingredient is an amino acid, L-Arginine, which supports blood vessel tone. The supplement also includes a combination of herbs that support sexual health.

Contact Your Doctor
While you may think vitamins are harmless, they can have drug interactions and you can overdose on some types. it’s always a good idea to contact your doctor whenever you start taking a new vitamin. Your doctor will be able to advice you further on the best course of action to take to help you achieve a sex life you desire.

Sources

1. ^[1] - Interesting Statistics About Women, Power-Surge.com
2. ^[2] - A Woman's Guide to Reviving Sex Drive, Good Housekeeping, GoodHousekeeping.com
3. ^[3] - Vitamins to Enhance Female Libido, Live Strong, LiveStrong.com
4. ^[4] - Vitamins To Increase Libido And Spice Up Your Love Life, Women's Health Network, Womans-Health.net