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Condition

Female Sexual Dysfunction

Female sexual dysfunction means ongoing trouble with desire, arousal, orgasm, or pain during sex, often driven by hormonal shifts, stress, antidepressants, or medical conditions. Tribulus has moderate evidence behind it, with small trials finding libido went up, and early bremelanotide studies found better subjective arousal. Most of this work was small, though, and one DHEA study found no clear difference in libido.

Sources: PMID 29995725; PMID 33835907

Supplements studied
7
Medicines and peptides
1
Graded outcomes
8
Trials
13
People studied
697

Evidence by supplement

  • Strong
  • Moderate
  • Limited
  • Very limited

7 supplements

Tribulus Terrestris

Tribulus Terrestris: outcomes studied for Female Sexual Dysfunction
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Libido

Small Increase

Improves (the measure goes up)Small effect320 people
Sexual FunctionImproves (the measure goes up)4 studies320 people

Studies that measured sexual function

and 1 more on the Tribulus Terrestris page

TestosteroneImproves (the measure goes up)3 studies45 people

Studies that measured testosterone

Saffron

Saffron: outcomes studied for Female Sexual Dysfunction
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Depression Symptoms

Improvement

Improves (the measure goes down)1 study

Studies that measured depression symptoms

Sexual FunctionImproves (the measure goes up)2 studies34 people

Studies that measured sexual function

Maca

  • Anxiety Symptoms: improves
  • Follicle-Stimulating Hormone: improves
  • Sexual Function: improves
Maca: outcomes studied for Female Sexual Dysfunction
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Anxiety Symptoms

Small Improvement

Improves (the measure goes down)Small effect16 people
Follicle-Stimulating HormoneImproves (the measure goes up)3 studies16 people

Studies that measured follicle-stimulating hormone

Sexual FunctionImproves (the measure goes up)2 studies61 people

Studies that measured sexual function

EstrogenChanges; see studies1 study16 people

Studies that measured estrogen

Depression SymptomsImproves (the measure goes down)16 people
Luteinizing HormoneImproves (the measure goes up)16 people
Menopausal SymptomsImproves (the measure goes down)16 people
Sex Hormone Binding GlobulinImproves (the measure goes up)16 people

Nicotine

  • Blood Pressure
  • Libido: improves
  • Heart Rate: improves
Nicotine: outcomes studied for Female Sexual Dysfunction
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Blood Pressure

No effect

NoneNo effect2 studies25 people

Studies that measured blood pressure

LibidoImproves (the measure goes up)1 study25 people

Studies that measured libido

Heart RateImproves (the measure goes down)25 people

Velvet Antler

  • Follicle-Stimulating Hormone
  • Testosterone: improves
  • Free Testosterone: improves
Velvet Antler: outcomes studied for Female Sexual Dysfunction
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone

No effect

NoneNo effect1 study24 people

Studies that measured follicle-stimulating hormone

TestosteroneImproves (the measure goes up)1 study24 people

Studies that measured testosterone

Free TestosteroneImproves (the measure goes up)24 people
LibidoImproves (the measure goes up)48 people
Luteinizing HormoneImproves (the measure goes up)24 people
ProlactinImproves (the measure goes up)24 people
Sexual FunctionImproves (the measure goes up)24 people

DHEA

  • Libido
  • Testosterone: improves
  • Serum DHEA: improves
DHEA: outcomes studied for Female Sexual Dysfunction
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Libido

No effect

NoneNo effect1 study79 people

Studies that measured libido

TestosteroneImproves (the measure goes up)3 studies79 people

Studies that measured testosterone

Serum DHEAImproves (the measure goes up)2 studies79 people

Studies that measured serum dhea

Ginkgo Biloba

  • Depression Symptoms
  • Libido: improves
Ginkgo Biloba: outcomes studied for Female Sexual Dysfunction
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Depression Symptoms

No effect

NoneNo effect24 people
LibidoImproves (the measure goes up)4 studies92 people

Studies that measured libido

and 1 more on the Ginkgo Biloba page

Prescription medicines and peptides studied, for context

These are not supplements. Most need a prescription, and some are research compounds with no approved use. They are listed so the supplement evidence above can be read against them.

1 medicine or peptide

PT-141 (Bremelanotide)

  • Subjective Sexual Arousal: improves
PT-141 (Bremelanotide): outcomes studied for Female Sexual Dysfunction
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Subjective Sexual Arousal

Early studies showed bremelanotide positively affected subjective sexual arousal in women with female sexual arousal disorder.

Improves (the measure goes up)Moderate effect35 studies

Key findings

  • LibidoTribulus TerrestrisImproves (the measure goes up)
  • Depression SymptomsSaffronImproves (the measure goes down)
  • Anxiety SymptomsMacaImproves (the measure goes down)

The Female Sexual Dysfunction Support protocol

2 primary supplements · 8 supporting supplements

See the full protocol

Shop the evidence-backed picks

Fullscript collectionWomen's health: evidence-graded picksOpen on Fullscript

Or shop one supplement

The supplement graded A or B for Female Sexual Dysfunction. Each opens the products we list for that supplement.

  • Grade B

We earn from purchases made in our Fullscript store, and links to Fullscript, iHerb or Thorne carry our referral, so we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Grades come from the research and never change based on what we earn. Full disclosure

Studies cited

66 studies from PubMed

  1. Female Sexual Desire, Arousal, and Orgasmic Dysfunctions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Treatment Options.Journal of minimally invasive gynecology, 2026 · PMID 40543759
  2. Effect of vitamin E with and without saffron on the sexual function in women of reproductive age with sexual dysfunction: a randomized controlled trial.BMC Womens Health, 2024 · PMID 38408971
  3. A Comprehensive Review of Novel FDA-Approved Psychiatric Medications (2018-2022).Cureus, 2024 · PMID 38646400
  4. Effect of bremelanotide on body weight of obese women: Data from two phase 1 randomized controlled trials.Diabetes, obesity & metabolism, 2022 · PMID 35170192
  5. An evaluation of bremelanotide injection for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorderExpert Opin Pharmacother, 2022 · PMID 36242769
  6. Prespecified and Integrated Subgroup Analyses from the RECONNECT Phase 3 Studies of BremelanotideJ Womens Health (Larchmt), 2022 · PMID 35230162
  7. Failure of a Meta-analysis: A Commentary on Glen Spielmans's "Re-Analyzing Phase III Bremelanotide Trials for 'Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder in Women'".Journal of sex research, 2021 · PMID 33835907
  8. BremelanotideLiverTox, 2021 · PMID 34436837
  9. The neurobiology of bremelanotide for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal womenCNS Spectr, 2021 · PMID 33455598
  10. Bremelanotide: New Drug Approved for Treating Hypoactive Sexual Desire DisorderAnn Pharmacother, 2020 · PMID 31893927
  11. Bremelanotide for the Treatment of Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder: Two Randomized Phase 3 Trials.Obstetrics and gynecology, 2019 · PMID 31599840
  12. Responder Analyses from a Phase 2b Dose-Ranging Study of Bremelanotide.The journal of sexual medicine, 2019 · PMID 31277966
  13. Bremelanotide: First ApprovalDrugs, 2019 · PMID 31429064
  14. Female Sexual Dysfunction and the Placebo Effect: A Meta-analysis.Obstetrics and gynecology, 2018 · PMID 29995725
  15. Gateways to clinical trials.Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology, 2008 · PMID 19088949
  16. Gateways to clinical trials.Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology, 2008 · PMID 18806898
  17. Gateways to clinical trials.Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology, 2007 · PMID 18040531
  18. Bremelanotide: an overview of preclinical CNS effects on female sexual functionJ Sex Med, 2007 · PMID 17958619
  19. Melanocortins in the treatment of male and female sexual dysfunctionCurr Top Med Chem, 2007 · PMID 17584134
  20. Gateways to clinical trials.Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology, 2006 · PMID 17235418
  21. An effect on the subjective sexual response in premenopausal women with sexual arousal disorder by bremelanotide (PT-141), a melanocortin receptor agonistJ Sex Med, 2006 · PMID 16839319
  22. Gateways to clinical trials.Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology, 2005 · PMID 16395422
  23. Gateways to clinical trials.Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology, 2005 · PMID 16179960
  24. Gateways to clinical trials.Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology, 2005 · PMID 16082427
  25. Gateways to clinical trials.Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology, 2004 · PMID 15672123
  26. Gateways to clinical trials.Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology, 2004 · PMID 15349141
  27. Gateways to clinical trials.Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology, 2004 · PMID 15319808
  28. Double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of the safety, pharmacokinetic properties and pharmacodynamic effects of intranasal PT-141, a melanocortin receptor agonist, in healthy males and patients with mild-to-moderate erectile dysfunctionInt J Impot Res, 2004 · PMID 14963471
  29. Effect of deer velvet on sexual function in men and their partners: a double-blind, placebo-controlled studyArch Sex Behav · PMID 12807299
  30. Effect of elk velvet antler supplementation on the hormonal response to acute and chronic exercise in male and female rowersInt J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab · PMID 16286669
  31. Clinical Assessment of Tribulus terrestris Extract in the Treatment of Female Sexual DysfunctionClin Med Insights Womens Health · PMID 25574150
  32. Efficacy of Tribulus Terrestris for the treatment of premenopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder: a randomized double-blinded, placebo-controlled trialGynecol Endocrinol · PMID 29172782
  33. Efficacy of Tribulus terrestris for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in postmenopausal women: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trialMenopause · PMID 27760089
  34. Tribulus terrestris for treatment of sexual dysfunction in women: randomized double-blind placebo - controlled studyDaru · PMID 24773615
  35. The aphrodisiac herb Tribulus terrestris does not influence the androgen production in young menJ Ethnopharmacol · PMID 15994038
  36. Short term impact of Tribulus terrestris intake on doping control analysis of endogenous steroidsForensic Sci Int · PMID 18282674
  37. Prospective Analysis on the Effect of Botanical Medicine (Tribulus terrestris) on Serum Testosterone Level and Semen Parameters in Males with Unexplained InfertilityJ Diet Suppl · PMID 27337519
  38. Effects of saffron (Crocus sativus) on sexual dysfunction among men and women: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Avicenna J Phytomed · PMID 31516855
  39. Saffron for treatment of fluoxetine-induced sexual dysfunction in women: randomized double-blind placebo-controlled studyHum Psychopharmacol · PMID 23280545
  40. Acute effects of nicotine on physiological and subjective sexual arousal in nonsmoking men: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialJ Sex Med · PMID 17971108
  41. Nicotine treatment of mild cognitive impairment: a 6-month double-blind pilot clinical trialNeurology · PMID 22232050
  42. The inhibitory effects of nicotine on physiological sexual arousal in nonsmoking women: results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trialJ Sex Med · PMID 18331269
  43. A double-blind, randomized, pilot dose-finding study of maca root (L. meyenii) for the management of SSRI-induced sexual dysfunctionCNS Neurosci Ther · PMID 18801111
  44. A double-blind placebo-controlled trial of maca root as treatment for antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction in womenEvid Based Complement Alternat Med · PMID 25954318
  45. Subjective effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) extract on well-being and sexual performances in patients with mild erectile dysfunction: a randomised, double-blind clinical trialAndrologia · PMID 19260845
  46. Effect of Lepidium meyenii Walp. on Semen Parameters and Serum Hormone Levels in Healthy Adult Men: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Pilot StudyEvid Based Complement Alternat Med · PMID 26421049
  47. Effect of Lepidium meyenii (Maca), a root with aphrodisiac and fertility-enhancing properties, on serum reproductive hormone levels in adult healthy menJ Endocrinol · PMID 12525260
  48. Beneficial effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on psychological symptoms and measures of sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women are not related to estrogen or androgen contentMenopause · PMID 18784609
  49. A placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of Ginkgo biloba for antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunctionHum Psychopharmacol · PMID 12404672
  50. Short- and long-term effects of Ginkgo biloba extract on sexual dysfunction in womenArch Sex Behav · PMID 18274887
  51. Triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Ginkgo biloba in sexual dysfunction due to antidepressant drugsHum Psychopharmacol · PMID 15378664
  52. Ginkgo biloba for antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunctionJ Sex Marital Ther · PMID 9611693
  53. Dietary fish oil and the severity of symptoms in patients with systemic lupus erythematosusAnn Rheum Dis · PMID 1877851
  54. Fish oil in lupus nephritis: clinical findings and methodological implicationsKidney Int · PMID 8355469
  55. The clinical effect of dietary supplementation with omega-3 fish oils and/or copper in systemic lupus erythematosusJ Rheumatol · PMID 15290734
  56. Effect of MaxEPA in patients with SLE. A double-blind, crossover studyScand J Rheumatol · PMID 2186476
  57. Beneficial effect of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids in the management of systemic lupus erythematosus and its relationship to the cytokine networkProstaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids · PMID 7824535
  58. A randomised interventional trial of omega-3-polyunsaturated fatty acids on endothelial function and disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosusAnn Rheum Dis · PMID 17875549
  59. Effects of dietary modification and fish oil supplementation on dyslipoproteinemia in pediatric systemic lupus erythematosusJ Rheumatol · PMID 7562770
  60. A dose-response and meta-analysis of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplementation on testosterone levels: perinatal prediction of randomized clinical trials.Exp Gerontol · PMID 33045358
  61. Androgens and sexual function: a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind study of testosterone vs. dehydroepiandrosterone in men with sexual dysfunction and androgen deficiencyAging Male · PMID 19883295
  62. Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation on cognitive function and activities of daily living in older women with mild to moderate cognitive impairmentGeriatr Gerontol Int · PMID 20497239
  63. Effect of acute DHEA administration on free testosterone in middle-aged and young men following high-intensity interval trainingEur J Appl Physiol · PMID 23417481
  64. Supplementation with DHEA: effect on muscle size, strength, quality of life, and lipidsJ Womens Health · PMID 15989411
  65. Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone vs androstenedione supplementation in menMed Sci Sports Exerc · PMID 10613429
  66. Oral supplementation of turmeric decreases proteinuria, hematuria, and systolic blood pressure in patients suffering from relapsing or refractory lupus nephritis: a randomized and placebo-controlled studyJ Ren Nutr · PMID 21742514

Supplement stack for Female Sexual Dysfunction