psyche
Libido Decrease
Adverse effectLibido decrease is an adverse effect involving reduced sexual desire. A person may notice less interest in sex or sexual activity than usual.
Libido Decrease is listed under the psyche category, offering a focused starting point for understanding this effect.
These are research findings, not promises. Most options have little evidence, and results differ from person to person.
What can cause it
How likely each one is to cause it, most likely first.
FastingpracticeUnclear
Based on one study. Strongest study: a systematic review of studies.
A 2026 systematic review described reduced sexual desire in a clinical population; the finding did not quantify the change.
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The expert view shows every study, dose protocol and source.
What can cause it
Interventions reported to bring this on1 listedHighest probability
- →PracticesFastingCertaintyLowSourceClinical1 other source
A 2026 systematic review described reduced sexual desire in a clinical population; the finding did not quantify the change.
How to read the evidence
Evidence tier — overall strength of the evidence for the whole compound
- StrongWell established — backed by strong, consistent human research.
- ModerateSome genuine support, but mostly from small or lower-quality studies. Promising, not proven.
- PreliminaryEarly-stage evidence — a promising hypothesis, not an established effect yet.
- LimitedVery limited evidence — treat this as a hypothesis, not proof.
- InsufficientNot enough good evidence to draw conclusions yet.
Certainty — how sure we can be that the effect is real
- Very highVery sure — strong, consistent evidence
- HighFairly sure — consistent evidence from good studies
- MediumModerately sure — new studies could change this
- LowNot sure — little or mixed evidence
- Very lowVery unsure — almost no usable evidence
Source — where the data comes from
- Meta-analysisPooled analysis of many trials — the strongest evidence
- RCTRandomized controlled trial — a strong human study design
- ClinicalA human clinical study
- Reference knowledgeFrom general health-science or pharmacology references, not a study of this exact claim
- Animal researchStudied in animals, not humans
- Community reportsAggregated user reports — anecdotal signal, not evidence
- TheoreticalMechanism-based reasoning, not yet tested
Study grade — quality of each underlying study (A best, D weakest)
- AHigh-quality — strong, consistent human trials
- BGood — solid evidence with some limitations
- CModerate — limited, small, or mixed-quality studies
- DWeak — preliminary, indirect, or animal-only
Confidence — how strongly the sources back a finding
A 0–100 score from study quality and agreement
Most supplement evidence is graded C–D. Read it as preliminary signal, not proof.
Full write-up
What is it
Libido decrease is an adverse effect involving reduced sexual desire. A person may notice less interest in sex or sexual activity than usual. It describes a change in sexual interest, rather than a desired increase in libido.
How interventions help
For this outcome, the interventions are associated with a decrease in libido rather than an improvement. The clinical findings describe reduced libido, with Potassium specifically described as causing mild decreased libido. These findings come from human clinical evidence, but they do not establish that every person using these interventions will experience the same change.
The evidence is less established for several other interventions. Some associations come from anecdotal reports rather than controlled clinical research, including reports involving American Ginseng, Astaxanthin, Astragalus, Bacopa Monnieri, Ginger, Glycine, and Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma). Ashwagandha is described as having a paradoxical effect in some users despite a typical libido increase, while other reports link decreased libido with long-term high-dose use or hormonal imbalances.
Several descriptions refer to possible hormonal effects. For CBD (Cannabidiol), decreased sexual desire has been reported among some long-term users and may be related to hormonal or endocannabinoid system modulation. Similar hormonal explanations are mentioned for Lavender Extract and Resveratrol, particularly with long-term high-dose use. These proposed explanations are not established equally across the interventions, so the findings are best interpreted as possible associations rather than a single shared mechanism.
Choosing guidance
When choosing among these options, first separate direct clinical evidence from anecdotal reports and pharmacology references. Saw Palmetto, Holy Basil (Tulsi), Potassium, and St. John's Wort have clinical evidence attached to reduced libido, making them more relevant for readers who want findings from clinical research. Reports involving Ashwagandha, American Ginseng, Astaxanthin, Astragalus, Bacopa Monnieri, CBD (Cannabidiol), Ginger, Glycine, Lavender Extract, Resveratrol, Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma), Tribulus Terrestris, and Zinc are anecdotal, so they are better treated as signals for individual variability rather than established effects. Tryptophan and 5-HTP are supported here by pharmacology references concerning serotonin and sexual function rather than direct clinical findings.
Duration and amount may matter for some options. The descriptions specifically mention long-term, high-dose use for Ashwagandha, Lavender Extract, and Resveratrol, while CBD (Cannabidiol) is described in relation to long-term use. Ashwagandha also includes a possible association with hormonal imbalances. These details may be more relevant when an effect develops after extended use than when it appears soon after starting, although no onset timing or dose comparison is provided here.
There is also a difference between consistent study findings and reports of a paradoxical or occasional response. Ashwagandha is described as producing the opposite of its typical libido effect in some users, while several other options rely on isolated community reports. Someone prioritizing human clinical evidence may therefore approach those reports cautiously; someone investigating a personal, uncommon response may still find them relevant. The available information does not establish that one option acts faster than another or identify a universally suitable choice.