4 supplements that might be sneakily sapping your libido

Not all supplements are super.The wellness market is chock-full of supplements that promise you better sleep, healthier skin, improved muscle growth and extended longevity.But while many can support a healthy lifestyle, some may cause supplemental damage in the bedroom, including a popular one for hair loss.Libido, or the biological desire for sexual activity, can be affected by several factors, from what you eat to hormones, stress, vascular health and more.Some people, like those going through menopause, may reach for supplements for a little extra lovin’.But a daily routine of popping a few supplements and herbs to boost your health may actually be draining your desire.Ones like melatonin, saw palmetto, St.John’s wort and licorice root may actually be altering or lowering hormone levels that are tied to libido.If you’re reaching for melatonin every night, but find yourself dozing off before you get lucky, you may want to rethink your nightly dosage.Designed to help people catch some Z’s, it’s often recommended to start with the lowest dose of the sleep and relaxation supplement.

But many may reach for the 20-milligram option to get the best rest.However, this could backfire on libido by negatively influencing the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, a chain of glands that affects reproduction and hormone levels.This, in turn, could suppress reproductive hormones like luteinizing hormone, reducing sexual interest in female animals.The research around melatonin use and sexual drive is limited, though.Men may often take this supplement for hair loss and to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate, a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).But there could be a catch.While saw palmetto is sometimes used to increase libido, it may have the opposite effect due to how it affects testosterone.Saw palmetto works by blocking the enzyme that changes testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, which causes hair loss and affects the prostate.While rare...