Sexual Desire

Also known as:  Libido;  Mounting Urge;  Sex Drive;  Sexual Drive

Sexual Desire is the desire to participate in sexual activity.

 Approximately 22% of women report low Sexual Desire (the prevalence in men is presently unknown).

Foods, Herbs and other substances that increase Sexual Desire are known as Aphrodisiacs.

Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder is a disorder in which sexual fantasies and desire for sexual activity are persistently or recurrently diminished or absent, causing marked distress or interpersonal difficulties.

Alkaloids

 Yohimbine may increase Sexual Desire in males (primarily by increasing the production/release of Norepinephrine).  ^[2]

Amino Acids

 Arginine may enhance (male and female) Sexual Desire.  ^[3]

 L-Dopa may increase Sexual Desire (by stimulating the production of Dopamine).  ^[4]

 Tyrosine (2,000 - 4,000 mg per day) may increase Sexual Desire (by enhancing the function of Dopamine).  ^[5]

Enzymes

 Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) may increase (female) Sexual Desire (by catalyzing the endogenous production of Nitric Oxide (NO)).  

Hormones

 Supplemental Androstenedione (taken approximately 30 - 60 minutes prior to intended sexual activity) has been reported to increase Sexual Desire in some people (this effect is believed to occur from the conversion of Androstenedione to Testosterone).  ^[6]

 Supplemental DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) (25 - 50 mg per day) may increase Sexual Desire (especially in elderly women) - this effect most likely occurs as a result of DHEA stimulating Testosterone production.  DHEA may also increase Sexual Desire in men.  ^[7]

 Estradiol may increase (female) Sexual Desire (by stimulating the production of Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) which in turn may catalyze the production of Nitric Oxide (NO)). 

 Persons who secrete insufficient quantities of Human Growth Hormone (hGH) may experience a reduction in Sexual Desire and persons who restore their insufficient hGH secretion to normal by using supplemental, exogenous hGH report improvement in their Sexual Desire. 

 Progesterone may increase Sexual Desire in females.  ^[8]

 Testosterone (which is manufactured in relatively large amounts by healthy males and in very small amounts by females) may increase Sexual Desire in both males and females:  ^[9]

 Small (but biologically significant) quantities of Testosterone are manufactured by the Ovaries up until Menopause - this Ovary-manufactured Testosterone contributes to female Sexual Desire - after Menopause approximately 35% of females have reduced Sexual Desire due to the cessation of Testosterone production by the Ovaries (the other 65% manufacture enough Testosterone in their Adrenal Glands to sustain their Sexual Desire) - supplemental Testosterone (administered by a qualified practitioner implanting a Testosterone "pellet" under the skin every six months) often restores the libido of such females.

 Testosterone exerts its effects on Sexual Desire by influencing (presently unidentified) Receptors in the Brain.

 Even small surges in Blood “free” Testosterone levels can increase Sexual Desire.

Minerals

 Boron may increase (female) Sexual Desire (by stimulating the production of Estradiol which may increase female Sexual Desire by stimulating the production of Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) which catalyzes the endogenous production of Nitric Oxide).