Yes, especially in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.
Yes — especially if you’re in your 40s or older. Red clover may help with vaginal health, libido, and sexual function. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a best pill for ed hormone that your body naturally makes. It’s used to make other hormones that are important to your sex life, like testosterone and estrogen. Your DHEA levels are highest when you’re a young adult, then they slowly decrease as you age. In a 2017 literature review, DHEA seemed to help increase libido and arousal in women. It also made sex less painful and more pleasurable. DHEA also seemed to be linked to more frequent sexual activity and orgasms. DHEA can interfere with many common medications, especially psychiatric medications. At high doses, it’s linked to an increased risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer. DHEA seems to be helpful for women before, during, and after menopause. But check with a healthcare professional to make sure DHEA is a safe option for you.
| Extract | Main Active Compound | Evidence Quality | Reported Effect | Typical Dosage | Safety Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Cohosh | Triterpene glycosides | Moderately strong | Relief of menopausal symptoms | 40-80 mg daily | Potential liver concerns |
| Red Clover | Isoflavones | Moderate | Hormonal balance, libido support | 80-160 mg daily | May affect hormone-sensitive conditions |
| Saw Palmetto | Fatty acids | Weak to moderate | Hormone regulation | 160-320 mg daily | Generally safe, use with caution |
| Damiana | Flavonoids | Limited evidence | Aphrodisiac effects | 100-200 mg daily | Caution for hormone-sensitive individuals |
| Muira Puama | Alkaloids | Anecdotal evidence | Libido enhancement | 300-600 mg daily | Limited research available |
Ashwagandha is an herb that’s used frequently in Ayurvedic medicine. It’s often used for reducing stress, anxiety, and inflammation.
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It can be taken as a pill supplement or added to food and tea. According to the Nutritional Medicine Institute, there’s not much evidence on whether ashwagandha helps with sexual problems in women. But in some small studies, ashwagandha did improve lubrication, sexual arousal, and sexual satisfaction. Ashwagandha is generally safe to use in food and tea. But keep in mind that it can interfere with other medications.
Possibly, especially if you take it as part of a combination supplement. If you’re interested in increasing your L-arginine intake, you can also consider adding L-arginine-rich foods to your diet. It’s also sometimes called vitex, chaste tree, or monk’s pepper. Chasteberry may affect hormone production and activity. This includes progesterone and estrogen — two hormones that are important for sexual health.
In at least one study, chasteberry improved sexual function in postmenopausal women. And it may address menopause-related pain and discomfort during sex. There’s also evidence that chasteberry may help with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). This could be useful for women who have PMS-related sexual problems. But some people experience mild side effects, like an upset stomach, headache, and itching.
It’s also not clear whether chasteberry is safe for people with hormone-sensitive conditions (like certain cancers). Be aware that chasteberry can interact with several medications, like birth control pills and antipsychotics. Possibly, especially if your sexual problems seem to be linked to menopause or PMS. But first be sure to check with a trusted healthcare professional about whether chasteberry is safe for you to try. Ginseng is a medicinal plant traditionally used to reduce stress, improve energy levels, and increase blood circulation. And it can cause side effects like nausea, fatigue, and headache. There hasn’t been a lot of research on ashwagandha and sexual problems in women. But keep in mind: It does seem to help with stress and anxiety. So if these are affecting your sex life, ashwagandha could be a good choice for you. Puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris) is a plant traditionally used to improve sexual function in men. It may work by increasing blood levels of testosterone — a hormone that’s related to libido, arousal, and orgasm in both men and women.
Keep in mind that it may be safer to add cooked maca to food, rather than taking it as a higher-dose capsule. Red clover (Trifolium pratense) is a plant rich in phytoestrogens, plant chemicals that act like estrogen in your body. Estrogen is a hormone that has many jobs, including keeping your vaginal tissues healthy. Estrogen also plays a role in libido and sexual arousal. Yes, there’s evidence that red clover can support vaginal health in menopausal women, and reduce vaginal dryness and pain during sex.
In a small study of women over age 40, taking red clover helped with vaginal dryness, low libido, and pain during sex. Red clover may also help with hot flashes, high cholesterol, and osteoporosis. But the evidence to support these claims hasn’t been consistent. According to the NIH, people have taken red clover for up to 3 years in research studies without any safety concerns. But you shouldn’t take it during pregnancy or while nursing. Overall, the evidence is too limited to say for sure whether puncturevine helps support sexual wellness in women — especially since there haven’t been many well-designed trials yet. In one small study of 60 women, taking puncturevine for a month improved: But in several other studies, it didn’t work better than placebo treatment. Puncturevine may have some risks, including unwanted women libido pills hormonal changes. It can also potentially interact with many medications and cause stomach upset. There hasn’t been a lot of research on puncturevine and sexual health. And in most of the research, puncturevine didn’t seem to work very well. Probiotics are live microorganisms — like bacteria and yeast — that may have health benefits when you eat them or take them as supplements. You can get them from fermented foods like yogurt and kimchi, or from supplements. Most people take probiotics to support gut health.
But they may also help support sexual health. Some research suggests that probiotic supplements may improve sexual function in women — especially those taking antidepressants. In one small study, women who took probiotics for 8 weeks reported less depression and better sexual function compared to those who didn’t. There’s some evidence that gut bacteria can affect hormone levels, which may influence sexual desire. But it’s not clear which probiotic strains work best — or what dose is most helpful. For most healthy people, probiotics are considered safe.
Like L-arginine, ginseng may encourage blood flow to your genitals, which might improve arousal, orgasm, and vaginal health. There are many different types of ginseng. Sexual health studies often focus on Korean red ginseng (KRG), which is a type of Asian ginseng. Ginseng may work for women experiencing symptoms of menopause. One review of research showed that KRG improved sexual arousal in menopausal women.
In another study, menopausal women taking ginseng had better sexual function and improved menopause symptoms and quality of life. What’s not known is whether KRG can improve sexual function in premenopausal women. A 2015 study premature ejaculation treatment suggested that both placebo and KRG led to improved sexual function. So more research is needed to understand how ginseng affects premenopausal women. Ginseng is generally safe for most people in the short term (up to 6 months).
But its long-term safety isn’t clear, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Yes, especially if you’re going through menopause. There’s good evidence that KRG may help with menopause symptoms — including sexual problems. Maca is a root vegetable native to Peru. It’s traditionally used to help with infertility, boost libido, and balance hormone levels. Mild side effects can include gas or bloating. People with weakened immune systems should talk with a healthcare professional before using probiotics. Possibly, especially if low mood or antidepressant use is part of the picture. Probiotics are low risk and may have other health benefits as well. There are many other supplements that claim to help your sex life. But most have little to no evidence to support them. And some can be harmful or toxic. A 2015 literature review of about 50 scientific articles suggests products to avoid, including: When it comes to these supplements, the risks seem to outweigh the benefits. Many supplements are safe to use and have minimal side effects. But just because a treatment is “natural” doesn’t mean it’s free of risk. In fact, many OTC treatments can have powerful effects in your body — but not always in the way you intend.
Researchers don’t know exactly how it works. It may have mild estrogen-like effects in the body. And it may be an “adaptogen” (an herb that helps your body respond to stress). Maca can be prepared as a food, either baked or roasted. It’s also available as a powder that can be mixed into smoothies or other recipes.
In some cultures, maca is prepared as a fermented drink. But most of the published research on maca has been on its effects in men. Only a few studies have looked at maca and women’s sexual health. So far, there’s some evidence that maca might be helpful for sexual function during menopause. Maca may also help with the sexual side effects that antidepressant medications can cause.
Maca seems to be safe when eaten as a food (up to 3 g daily). It may be slightly riskier if taken in larger quantities as a pill. Note that raw maca should be cooked before consuming. Try to avoid taking maca at night because it can disrupt sleep. Possibly, especially if you’re going through menopause, or if an antidepressant causes you to have low libido. If you decide to try an herb or supplement for sexual wellness, talk with a healthcare professional first. This is especially important if you have other health conditions, take prescription medications, or are pregnant or breastfeeding. The FDA doesn’t regulate supplements, so their contents (and safety) aren’t guaranteed. Many commercial products have multiple ingredients, which can make it hard to know exactly what and how much you’re taking. If you do decide to try an herbal preparation or other supplement, make sure you choose a brand that uses independent third-party testing. This ensures that the supplement contains no contaminants and has an accurate ingredient label. Certain foods may help improve your libido by boosting testosterone, nitric oxide, or antioxidants. Foods that increase dopamine or nitric oxide levels may also increase libido. But it’s important to note that many studies on libido have been done on animals.
Examples of foods that may increase libido include: Nuts, such as walnuts, almonds, and peanuts Nuts, such as walnuts, almonds, and peanuts Watermelon juice may be worth trying for its possible effect on female libido.