Natural Libido Boosters for Women: Take Control of Your Sex Drive

Reviewed by Lisa Blohm, Ph.D., MSN, RN

If you’re like me, you might cower at the thought of discussing something so personal — but what’s health if it’s not personal? In fact, libido is so personal that it’s unique to every single one of us. From inside factors to outside influences, your libido is largely determined by your chemical makeup, state of mind, lifestyle choices, and the list goes on.

Thankfully, there are natural libido boosters for women that can help you reclaim a healthy sex drive — whatever that looks like for you!

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Natural Ways to Increase Women’s Sex Drive

If there’s one thing you know about The Healthy Place by now, it’s that we strongly advocate for natural options in caring for our health. Nutrition, diet, exercise, and lifestyle are key to staying healthy in all areas of life — including libido. Let’s take back the wheel of your sex drive with four simple tips you can implement into your daily life!

Exercise

Increases your blood flow to all areas of the body, including the genitals.¹
Relieves stress and stimulates the release of endorphins for a feel-good mood boost.
Boosts your body image and improves self-confidence.

Tip: Try 30 minutes of biking or running to get your heart pumping or an hour of yoga to increase your blood flow. As little as 20 minutes of exercise can increase your sexual arousal by 169%!²

Eat the right foods

Aphrodisiacs are natural libido boosters — add these to your diet for a libido boost!
- Oysters are rich in zinc, which promotes sex hormone production.
- Dark chocolate contains mood-lifting serotonin and blood-flow enhancing compounds like caffeine and antioxidants.
- Watermelon contains citrulline, which helps boost blood flow.
- Avocados provide vitamin E, an essential nutrient to testosterone production.
- Almonds offer a variety of essential nutrients for healthy hormone levels and blood flow.

Herbs are a great addition to a healthy, libido-boosting diet! Check out these herbal solutions to amplify a low libido:
- Maca
- Fenugreek
- Ginseng
- Horny Goat Weed
- Ginkgo Biloba
- Tribulus Terrestris
- Chasteberry

Note: These foods can increase sex drive, but it’s important to remember that there are foods that can also dampen sex drive. Try to avoid foods high in added sugars, sodium, trans fats, and saturated fats. This includes white bread, sodas, baked goods, fried food, and candy. These foods affect hormone production and blood flow which can lead to a lowered libido.

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Try libido-boosting supplements

Lively Vitamin Co. Get Even: Recommended by our certified Wellness Consultants, this women’s balance supplement is loaded with powerful ingredients that are essential to a healthy sex life. Shatavari and magnesium brighten your boost and enhance your libido while L-theanine and chamomile encourage relaxation to help you get in the mood.
Terry Naturally Red Ginseng Female Sexual Enhancement: This supplement contains both sex-boosting and adaptogenic herbs. Korean red ginseng and maca are known to enhance sexual desire while also supporting healthy reproductive function.* Ashwagandha and rhodiola are stress-diminishing herbs so you can have other things on your mind.*
Gaia Herbs Women’s Libido: This supplement consists of the sex-boosting herbs you never knew you needed. horny goat weed has its name for a reason — this herb increases arousal and blood flow for healthier reproductive function.* Additionally, tribulus, maca, and damiana promote vaginal lubrication as well as sex drive.*

Enjoy some aromatherapy!

Oftentimes, a sexy aroma can help to rev your engine. A scented candle, a basil-rich dinner, and some enticing cologne can all lead you to getting in the mood. In fact, your olfactory function can directly impact your state of sexual arousal.³

Prep your next romp with a few drops of Plant Therapy Sensual Synergy Blend in your essential oil diffuser! This rich scent helps to ease your nerves, calm an overactive mind, and supply both you and your partner with that extra prompt toward intimacy that you’ve been longing for.

What causes low libido in women?

It’s important to remember that there’s no template for the perfect libido. As women, we experience constant changes to our hormones alongside our demanding lifestyles. Whether yours is naturally low or high, your libido is unique to you! Monitor your changes and follow your lifestyle choices for better insight into your sex drive.

If that spark you once had in the bedroom now feels like a dimly lit candle, you’re probably wondering what caused this change. It’s safe to say that you are not alone. In fact, nearly one-third of women above the age of 18 will experience a drop in their sex drives at some point.

Here are the psychological, biological, and social factors affecting women’s libidos everywhere!

Age and Women’s Libido: Debunking the Myth

The idea that libido drops as women age is actually a myth. While nearly 40% of women over the age of 60 experience lower libido, the cause isn’t only from older age.⁴ This common misconception originates from what women go through as they age; careers, pregnancies, raising children, and menopause. Typically, women in their early twenties — when women are perceived to have their highest libido — aren’t dealing with the intense lifestyle changes that a woman in her thirties and beyond might be.

The drop in libido for older women is actually tied more to menopausal changes. The higher your estrogen levels, the easier it will be to become sexually aroused and vaginally lubricated. So, when women reach menopause, their estrogen levels drop, most likely causing a dip in their sex drive as well — but this sudden lack of libido doesn’t usually last forever!

Stress and poor body image cause just as much of a disruption to a woman’s sex life, and women of every age experience these libido killers! The truth is, older women oftentimes have a stronger sex drive than they did when they were young!

The Impact of Stress on Libido

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You’re probably not surprised. Stress is the silent killer, and that includes your sex drive! From occasional, everyday stressors to chronic stress issues, your libido is taking the hit too. Indeed, your tension depletes your sex drive in two different ways: keeping your mind busy and altering the function of your neurotransmitters.

If you’ve just come home from an intense day of work that still has your mind reeling, chances are, you won’t be in the mood for sex. Instead, your mind is probably preoccupied. Additionally, high cortisol levels lead your mind into fight-or-flight mode, leaving behind any unnecessary functions, such as sex drive.⁵ When your stress levels remain elevated, your body might not be able to keep up with cortisol production. This can result in your body stealing sex hormones to assist in your stress response, completely diminishing your libido!

Because your cortisol is produced within your adrenal glands, consider supporting your adrenal health for a healthier stress response and an improved libido. Try Lively Vitamin Co. Adrenal Boost, complete with adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha and schisandra as well as a touch of reproductive support from ginseng and black maca. Lively Vitamin Co. Chill Pill is also a great option with a comprehensive blend of ingredients that not only works to reduce stress but also supports cortisol levels in the body.

How Body Image Affects Women’s Libido and Sex Drive

Another leading cause of a diminished sex drive is how we, as women, perceive our bodies. If we’re not comfortable in our own skin, how will we be comfortable in just our skin?

This can be a distracting thought for women of every age. In fact, about 83% of women aged 18 and older are dissatisfied with their bodies.⁶ This thought alone can dampen your chances of becoming aroused, staying aroused, and reaching orgasm. Poor body image makes the largest impact on the arousal stage, making it difficult for a woman to even begin if she’s not content with the appearance of her body.⁷

On the bright side, as women age, studies show that dissatisfaction with our bodies begins to dissipate! Becoming comfortable in your own skin takes time and it does have its benefits. Because older women tend to appreciate their bodies (and health) more, they may engage in sex more easily and with more enthusiasm.

If you’re looking for a natural way to increase sex drive now, consider changing how you view your body. Practice self-affirmations. Keep a list of all the things you love about yourself. Give yourself compliments in the mirror — because, ladies, you definitely deserve them. These practices are shown to help improve self-confidence and a sense of self-worth!

The Silent Role of Thyroid Health in Women’s Libido

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Maybe you didn’t expect your thyroid to make the list of leading libido killers, but it’s a heavy hitter when it comes to your sex drive. And women are ten times more likely than men to experience thyroid issues, making an area of frequent complications for women even more complicated.

Your thyroid is constantly carrying out countless functions that your body relies on. Metabolism, heart rate, and hormone levels are all regulated by your thyroid. These hormones include the ones crucial to your libido: testosterone and estrogen. Yes, women need testosterone too! Healthy testosterone levels in women aid in sexual desire and arousal while healthy estrogen levels help increase vaginal lubrication to reduce the risk of painful intercourse.

With hypothyroidism, the most common form of thyroid disease, thyroid hormone levels are lower than normal. This results in low energy levels and weight gain. Each of these factors can lead to a depleted sex drive.

If you’re having thyroid issues, you’ve probably already chatted with your doctor or naturopath. If you haven’t and you suspect that you’re struggling with thyroid problems, absolutely get yourself to a holistic medical provider for some help!
And of course, we’re here to help too. Fortunately, if thyroid problems are the root of your low libido, there are some simple support supplements that deliver great results. Lively Vitamin Co. Thyroid TLC provides your thyroid with the iodine and selenium it needs to maintain normal function alongside holy basil leaf for extra adaptogenic support.

Relationship Woes and Low Libido

The highs and lows, the woos and the woes. Relationships are complicated. Interest and sexual desire can rage on in the beginning until it reaches a plateau. The novelty diminishes, real life takes over again, and couples discover the comfortable amount of sex that works for them.

It goes without saying that relationships aren’t always easy. Whether it’s a rough patch together or a difficulty that one-half of the relationship is facing, sexual desire could be the last thing on your mind. Maintaining a healthy relationship is integral to maintaining a healthy sex life — and communication is the key. Get to know your partner’s desires and tell them your own so your sex lives can stay in sync!

Achieve a Healthy Sex Drive for a Happier Life

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A healthy sex life is an important part of leading a happy and healthy life! Remember, every woman’s experience is unique, and it’s okay to seek help or support when needed. Consult with our Wellness Consultants for personalized information and discreet recommendations.