Some products, such as different vitamins and herbs, are promoted as natural treatments for sexual problems. But most of these products have not been subject to the same kind of testing for safety and effectiveness that standard medical treatments must go through before they are approved in the United States.
If you decide to use an alternative medicine or supplement, follow these precautions:
- Talk with your doctor first, especially if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, if you take prescription medicines, or if you have another health problem.
- Follow the directions on the label, and don't take more than the recommended dose.
DHEA
Like testosterone, DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is an androgen made in the body. Over-the-counter DHEA:4
- Is not known to improve sexual well-being in healthy women.
- When taken by mouth, has the same risks of liver damage and negative effects on your cholesterol levels as oral testosterone. It also has the same unwanted hair-growth and acne side effects. This is because the body turns DHEA into testosterone.
- Is not regulated by the government, so you cannot know for sure how much you are taking. Some DHEA supplements contain less DHEA than the labels claim. Others contain more than the labels claim.
Eros Therapy device
This is a small battery-operated device used to stimulate engorgement of the clitoris. It was cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for sale in the U.S. in 2000.
Using this device is said to increase lubrication and clitoral sensation, to help with achieving orgasm, and to improve women's sexual satisfaction.
Initial studies have shown good results in women reporting sexual problems and also in women recovering from cervical cancer treatment.4