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Can Girlfriend’s Libido Be Tamed?

Q. I read your article on suppressing sex drive in men. Are the same options effective for women?

My new girlfriend has an extremely high sex drive (yes, I am blessed), but we’d like to hold off until we know that we have a real future together. Your advice will be appreciated.

A. Many prescription drugs lower libido as a side effect. Antidepressants such as Prozac or Zoloft can do this, but such medications carry other risks.

The hormone progesterone is notorious for reducing sexual desire, but it too has numerous side effects including blood clots, breast tenderness, headaches, dizziness and depression. One alternative is chaste tree berry extract (Vitex agnus-castus). This herb has mild progesterone-like effects and is reputed to reduce libido. There is no clinical research to support this claim, however.

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About the Author
Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist who has dedicated his career to making drug information understandable to consumers. His best-selling book, The People’s Pharmacy, was published in 1976 and led to a syndicated newspaper column, syndicated public radio show and web site. In 2006, Long Island University awarded him an honorary doctorate as “one of the country's leading drug experts for the consumer.”.
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