OTHER DRUGS THAT COULD SAP LIBIDO

MANY people will be unaware that their prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines can affect libido and sexual performance, says pharmacist Sid Dajani, of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

BLOOD PRESSURE: Most of the drugs used to treat hypertension can affect a man’s sex drive by reducing blood pressure. ‘Less blood flows to the genitals, which could cause erectile issues,’ says Sid Dajani.

ACNE: Dianette and co-cyprindiol are hormone treatments prescribed to women with acne. ‘They work by blocking the release of the hormone testosterone — but that has the side-effect of lowering libido,’ he explains. HAIR LOSS: Propecia, used to treat male pattern baldness, contains finasteride, a drug that reduces the impact of testosterone. ‘If you can imagine what a chilli with the heat taken out is like, that’s what a man’s testosterone will be like after taking this drug. It reduces the flow of blood to the genitals, which makes it difficult for men to achieve an erection.’