Increase your libido naturally

After launching a male formula in 2023, we genuinely never, ever expected these reactions.

Now, I understand if you – like me – have to giggle at these kinds of messages. Of course, I'm incredibly proud to receive such feedback, but it also made me think again. Especially when women asked me if I wanted to create a similar formula for them. We have since done that, and it has become our bestseller: female formula.

There's a lot of talk surrounding libido, but what exactly is libido? How does it work? How can we optimize it (even without supplements)? 

In this blog, we'll delve deep into libido: the desire for sex. For the first time, we will not differentiate between men and women, as we are firmly convinced that many factors affect both and can therefore be addressed in the same way.

This blog contains some sections that may be very sensitive. It is not my intention to personally offend you. I merely want to offer explanations about various factors influencing libido. As always, this blog is not a substitute for the advice of a doctor or therapist. 

Libido 

Libido refers to one's sexual desire or drive. It is – in my opinion – a fundamental aspect of human sexuality. As you may know, the level of libido can vary greatly among different people and even within the same person at different times in their lives. Factors that can influence libido include: psychological aspects, such as stress and emotional state; physiological factors, such as hormone levels and health status; and external influences, such as relationships and life circumstances.

The term libido was popularized by Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, who described it as the energy of sexual drives as part of his theory of the human psyche. In Freud's model, libido is one of the main drivers of human behavior.

It is normal for libido to fluctuate throughout life. Different life stages, such as puberty, pregnancy, menopause, and andropause (the male menopause), can cause significant changes in libido. Additionally, medical conditions, medications, lifestyle choices, and psychological problems such as depression and anxiety can affect libido. Lack of sex drive (libido) is a common problem among men and women today. A study by the New England Research Institute suggests that 24 percent of men have decreased libido.^[1] Furthermore, an estimated 22 to 44 percent of women have reduced libido.^[2] What are the causes of reduced libido? Let's look at various influencing factors and then seek improvement. 

Psychological aspects 

Psychological aspects play a crucial role in influencing libido. These aspects can range from daily stressors to deep-seated emotional or psychological problems. I only want to give you a few examples here; afterward, I will provide you with several forms of therapy that – depending on the person – could offer relief. We prefer to repeat this more often than less often: this newsletter is for informational purposes only and absolutely not a substitute for therapy or the advice of a doctor or therapist. 

Stress and anxiety

Stress and anxiety can significantly contribute to low libido. When someone is stressed or anxious, the body produces more of the stress hormone cortisol. Excessively high cortisol levels can reduce sexual response and desire by disrupting the balance of other hormones that influence libido, such as testosterone. Moreover, chronic stress or anxiety can lead to fatigue and reduced well-being, which can also diminish sexual desire. 

When our body experiences prolonged stress or anxiety or frequently receives hormetic (acute stress) stimuli, our body enters a state of survival. 

The moment our body enters a state of survival, several functions become incredibly important. The heart must beat faster, focus must increase, and breathing must also accelerate to release a lot of energy in the short term. To achieve this, a lot of cortisol (a hormone produced in the adrenal glands) is released. Cortisol suppresses immune functions (because getting sick is not convenient when you need to survive) and increases the release of sugar into the blood for quick running (flight) or fighting (fight). 

As long as our body is in a state of survival (i.e., increased cortisol production), we see a number of bodily functions suppressed. Specifically, digestion and everything related to reproduction is put on hold. The logical explanation for the latter is simple. If you cannot survive yourself, what is the point of reproducing?

In this case, the HPA axis (hypothalamus, pituitary gland, adrenal gland) takes the lead, and the other two important axes (HPG and HPT) are put on hold. Simply put, the more cortisol, the greater the chance that reproductive organs will not function as they should. 

How do you ensure that cortisol goes down? 

Less stress stimuli and more relaxation. Less time with your phone and more time in nature. Remember that sports, ice baths, breathwork sessions, intermittent fasting, etc., are also stress stimuli. Compensate sufficiently by using nasal breathing, spending time in nature, getting enough hours of sleep, spending hours without stimuli, and doing nothing with your bare feet in the grass.  Additionally, take the first few hours of the day without stimuli (ABSOLUTELY NO PHONE!) and the last 2-3 hours of the day likewise. Please take this seriously if you suffer from low libido. These are steps you can take yourself. Yes. Even you. 

Depression

I deliberately added this chapter because many libido-enhancing supplements advise against taking them when using antidepressants. This also applies to our male formula. 

Now you're probably thinking... hey, where's the rest of this blog? You'll find it in The Elevate Club. Our free loyalty program. Create an account on our website, log in, go to The Elevate Club, and finally to insights. The rest of the blog with important information about depression, nutrition, exercise, and more can be found there.

To help you get started, via this link, you'll receive a hormonal recipe!

^[1]  Travison, T. G., Araujo, A. B., Kupelian, V., O’Donnell, A. B., & McKinlay, J. B. (2007). The relative contributions of aging, health, and lifestyle factors to serum […] in men. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 92(2), 549-555.

^[2] Guay, A., & Davis, S. R. (2002). Testosterone […] in women: fact or fiction?. World journal of urology, 20(2), 106-110.