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LIBIDO:
Sex isn't a 4- letter word.
by Lynn Hinderliter CN, LDN |
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Enjoyment of a
loving sexual encounter should be the most natural thing in the
world - and maybe when we're in the first flush of youth and the
hormones are raging, it is. Time takes its toll, however, and there
comes a time in most of our lives, men and women both, when a little
assist wouldn't hurt!
Dr Jonathan Wright
(together with John Morgenthaler) wrote a book in 1997 called
Natural Hormone Replacement for Women Over 45 - I highly
recommend it. I would like to paraphrase here what he had to say
about natural testosterone, however. He points out that it
raises libido for both men AND women, which may come as something of
a surprise! As far back as 1950 a study was done on the effects of
testosterone on post-menopausal women, and while the study used
synthetic testosterone, there is no reason to suppose that the
natural form would have an effect very far different. Anyway, what
they discovered was that women increased their sex drive by 65% -
and other researchers have noted that among the effects of
testosterone supplementation for women are greater sexual response,
and increased frequency of intercourse, sexual desire, sexual
fantasies and level of arousal. All very positive!
Dr Wright adds that
low levels of testosterone in some women (and men) may contribute
to bone loss, so if you test low for this hormone, it might benefit
you on more than one level to supplement with it.
There is a site called
the-clitoris.com
dedicated to the sexual health and pleasure of women, which has some
very lively, frank and interesting discussions of female sexuality.
If you have any questions on the subject, I recommend going there
and checking it out.
A new study from
Australia, presented by Dr. Rebecca Goldstat at the 10th
International Congress of Menopause in June 2002, studied the
effect of testosterone supplementation in 49 women , whose average
age was 39. These women were suffering from low libido, but were
not depressed. What the double blind study showed were
significantly improved scores of both well-being, and libido. There
were no side effects in the form of facial hair, voice or weight
changes. The study was using your actual testosterone, naturally:
but see Dr. Wright's comments above.
For men, the
following questionnaire from the University of St. Louis will give a
clue as to whether your hormone levels are too low:
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Do you have a
decrease in libido? |
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Do you have a
lack of energy? |
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Do you have a
decrease in either strength or endurance? |
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Have you lost
height? |
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Have you noticed
a decreased enjoyment of life? |
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Are you sad
and/or grumpy? |
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Are your
erections less strong? |
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Have you noticed
a recent deterioration in your ability to play sports? |
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Are you falling
asleep after dinner? |
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Has there been
recent deterioration in your work performance? |
The compilers says
that if you answer "yes" to questions 1 or 7, or at least 3 of the
other questions, you may have low levels of testosterone.
Here's a weird one -
be careful if you are eating a lot of licorice, or taking a
formula that has whole (as opposed to deglychyrrhizinated) licorice
root in it, be aware that
licorice lowers testosterone levels, and has been connected
to erectile dysfunction.
L-Arginine,
a naturally occurring amino acid, is another substance which has a
great deal of research and anecdotal evidence to bolster its claim
to be a sexual stimulant. The main thing to realize with this
supplement is that one has to take enough of it if one wants
results: many studies have shown no effect at all at low doses
(1500 mg per day) , but higher doses ( 5gm per day ) have very
encouraging results. There are many other plusses to using
L-Arginine, to include cardiovascular health, memory and growth
hormone release. The only caveat is for people susceptible to cold
sores: you may need to balance the Arginine with Lysine to protect
yourself from an outbreak.
There are many
herbal formulas, most of which contain all or some of the
following: Horny Goat Weed, a provocative name for a Chinese
herb with centuries of use behind it, Muira Puama , a herb
from the Amazon also known as Potency Wood, Mucuna Pruriens,
an Ayurvedic herb which has been shown to inhibit prolactin
release (blamed for many erection failures), Yohimbe, a
chemical version of which is used as a prescription drug to reverse
impotence, Avena Sativa, or Wild Oats ( a particularly good
choice for women), and Tribulus Terrestris,
a plant with a long history of use, going back to Ayurvedic, Chinese
and Greek medicine. Mostly it has been used as a tonic,
cardiovascular support, liver and kidney problems, though Ayurvedic
medicine values it as an aphrodisiac and treatment for sexual
problems.
Ginseng and
Vitamin E are valuable ingredients to look for because of their
effect on energy levels. After all, without energy the desire and
the will are lacking - which kind of makes performance ability moot.
Before taking any
herb or nutrient to help your situation, take the time to check and
see whether the problem may be the result of a medication you are
taking. many medication deplete certain nutrients: often replacing
those is the best place to start, and the rest will follow.
Since I have had a
few queries related to PEYRONIE' DISEASE, which at the time I
had little advise for, other than vitamin E and anti-inflammatory
enzymes, I am appending this information here. Studies have been
completed in Italy comparing Acetyl-L-Carnitine and the only
medication which has had any effect on the problem to date -
Tamoxifen. Since Tamoxifen has real dangers attached to its use, I
am glad to report that there was absolutely no doubt about the
results: at the end of the study, participants were asked about
pain during erection. About 50% of the drug group reported lessened
pain, while over 90% of the Carnitine users were improved. The
drug had no effect on curvature of the penis, while the Acetyl-L-Carnitine
users experienced a 47% improvement. Plaque ( the cause of the
curvature) was also significantly reduced. This is excellent!
Remember, too, that ACL has other benefits for the brain, the mood
and vision. (Biagiotti G, Cavallini G. BJU
Int 2001;88:63-67. ) The
recommended dosage is half a gram four times a day for a total of 4
grams, with meals and at bedtime.
| Keywords: testosterone gel,
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A site dedicated to the sexual health and
enjoyment of women
Be aware: this is very frank and open
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