Efficacy of Tribulus Terrestris for the treatment of premenopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder: a randomized double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial

Abstract

Although hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) is the most common sexual complaint, there is no consensus for the ideal treatment. Our study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of treating premenopausal women with HSDD with Tribulus terrestris and its effect on the serum levels of testosterone. We performed a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, with 40 premenopausal women reporting diminished libido, receiving T. terrestris or placebo. The questionnaires FSFI and the QS-F were used to evaluate sexual dysfunction before and after treatment. Patients treated with T. terrestris experienced improvement in total score of FSFI (p < .001) and domains "desire" (p < .001), "sexual arousal" (p = .005), "lubrication" (p = .001), "orgasm" (p <.001), "pain" (p = .030) and "satisfaction" (p = .001). Treatment with placebo did not improve the scores for the "lubrication" and "pain". QS-F scores showed that patients using T. terrestris had improvements in "desire" (p = .012), "sexual arousal/lubrication" (p = .002), "pain" (p = .031), "orgasm" (p = .004) and "satisfaction" (p = .001). Women treated with placebo did not score improvements. Women receiving T. terrestris had increased levels of free (p = .046) and bioavailable (p < .048) testosterone. T. terrestris might be a safe alternative for the treatment of premenopausal women with HSDD as it was effective in reducing the symptoms, probably due to an increase in the serum levels of free and bioavailable testosterone.

A Comprehensive Review of the Phytochemical, Pharmacological, and Toxicological Properties of Tribulus terrestris L.

“…In oxidative stress, the reactive oxygen species and advanced end glycation products react with nitric oxide in the vasculature forming reactive nitrogen species, contributing to the pathogenesis of erectile dysfunction [80]. Furthermore, different studies have shown that TT extracts are efficient in women with sexual disorders by having a favorable action in clinical trials on hypoactive sexual desire in women, as well as in the control of menopausal transition symptoms [81][82][83].…”

Edible halophytes of the Mediterranean basin: Potential candidates for novel food products

“…Puncturevine is one of the most researched aphrodisiac plants known as "plant Viagra", with its therapeutic properties being attributed to the presence of furostanol saponins (Šalamon et al, 2016). Protodioscin is the main phytochemical compound in T. terrestris plants and is suggested to stimulate the production of testosterone in men, while women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSSD) who received T. terrestris exhibited increased levels of testosterone (Vale, Zanolla Dias de Souza, Rezende, & Geber, 2017). In contrast, Antonio et al (2000) reported that oral administration of tribulus (a herbal preparation of T. terrestris) at a dose of 3.21 mg kg −1 body weight, had no significant effect on body composition or exercise performance in resistance-trained subjects.…”

Kadın cinsel fonksiyon bozukluklarında fitoterapi

“…(2018), plasebo grubuna göre Tribulus terrrestries ile tedavi ettikleri kadınlarda cinsel istek, uyarılma, lubrikasyon, orgazm, ağrı, memnuniyet alanlarında iyileşme olduğunu ifade etmişlerdir. [23] Yapılan diğer çalışmalar da, kadın cinsel fonksiyon bozukluklarının tedavisinde etkili ve güvenilir bir uygulama olduğunu göstermektedir. [8,24] Ancak, Tribulus terrestriesin insan cinsel yanıtı üzerindeki etkisinin açık olarak bilinmediği ve kılavuzlarda kullanılacak dozlar hakkında net bir bilginin olmadığı, olumsuz etkilerine ilişkin kanıtların da yeterli olmadığı belirtildiği için uzun vadeli çalışmaların yapılmasının gerekli olduğu üzerinde durulmaktadır.…”