If you’re a man whose sex life is missing something, there could be help for you in supplement form. Which type you should try depends largely on the problem you’re having, as well as the cause. To understand how supplements may help your sex life, you first need to determine what may be the root of the problem.

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  Hormonal changes. While they’re less common in men than in women, hormonal changes do take place. Whether you call it andropause, male menopause, or a midlife crisis, it’s during this time that you can undergo hormonal changes (such as lower testosterone levels) that can play havoc with your sex life.

  
  


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  Medical conditions. Many medical conditions can cause erectile dysfunction, which interferes with the act of sex. Experience such a problem once, and you can find yourself in a maddening cycle that can test even the strongest relationship: If sexual organs don’t work properly, the mood is ruined; a fear of future difficulty can dampen your libido. (If the problem is ongoing, it’s a good idea to see your doctor, since impotence can be a symptom of a serious underlying medical condition, such as prostate cancer.) Other types of medical conditions may not directly involve sexual organs but still can interfere with sex. High blood pressure, heart conditions, and more can interfere with the ability or desire to have sex.

  
  

A wide variety of sexual supplements are available, including products that address the following areas:

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  Libido. Aphrodisiac supplements help to turn around a loss of interest in sex, and one of the most popular of these has a name that should inspire a smile if not a snicker. Horny goat weed has been used as a sexual enhancer in China for centuries. Now typically available in capsule form, it’s offered by many manufacturers, including Pinnacle and Opus One. Nutrex’s Vitrix increases testosterone levels to create a healthier sexual appetite, and NxCare Natural V has aphrodisiac qualities as well.

  
  


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  Erectile dysfunction. By increasing blood flow to the penis and increasing sensitivity to stimulation, supplements such as Biochem’s DHEA capsules or Life Flo’s DHEA cream can put things back in working order, making sex more enjoyable than ever before. They may work just as well as prescription medications, only without the many health risks associated with those medications.

  
  


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  Sexual experience. Many different types of supplements seek to enhance the sexual experience, making it more enjoyable. This type of supplement, such as Twinlab’s Yohimbe Fuel, can work well when your libido has waned for some reason; even at your most stressed, you’ll enjoy sex so much that you’ll want to keep having it. MM USA’s Stratos Sex Enhancing Serum works in the same way.

  
  


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  General health. Taking vitamin and herbal supplements can improve your health overall, potentially lowering blood pressure, helping your heart, strengthening your back, and increasing your energy and stamina, particularly if you take vitamin E. Taking B complex or vitamin C can improve your health as well, and when your health is better, sex is better.

  
  

Not only can supplements increase your sexual pleasure and desire, but you may find they create a healthier body entirely. And healthy is sexy.

—Joni Mitchell